The prevalence of anxiety and depression among Americans has reached alarming levels, with significant increases observed across all age groups but particularly affecting younger populations, according to recent federal data.
Nearly one in five U.S. adults (18.2%) reported experiencing anxiety in 2022, marking a concerning rise from 15.6% in 2019, according to researchers Emily Terlizzi and Benjamin Zablotsky from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Depression rates showed a similar upward trajectory, increasing from 18.5% to 21.4% during the same period.
Young Adults Bear the Heaviest Mental Health Burden
The mental health crisis is most pronounced among young adults aged 18-29, with more than a quarter (26.6%) reporting anxiety symptoms over a two-week period. This compares to approximately 21% of those aged 30-44, 16% for those aged 45-64, and 11.2% among seniors 65 or older.
For nearly 10% of young adults, anxiety symptoms were classified as moderate to severe, indicating significant functional impairment. Depression follows a similar pattern, with nearly 27% of young adults reporting depressive symptoms, and approximately 10% experiencing moderate to severe depression.
"Young people are bombarded with messages through the media and popular culture that erode their sense of self-worth — telling them they are not good-looking enough, popular enough, smart enough or rich enough," U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy noted in a 2021 report that characterized youth mental health as being in "crisis."
Children and Adolescents Showing Alarming Trends
The mental health decline extends to children and teenagers, according to a study published April 21 in JAMA Pediatrics. Researchers found that anxiety among children increased from 7.1% in 2016 to 10.6% in 2022, while depression rose from 3.2% to 4.6% during the same period.
"Our findings underscore the critical need to prioritize youth mental health, which continued to worsen even as we emerged from the pandemic," said lead researcher Marie Heffernan, assistant professor of pediatrics at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.
Interestingly, while mental health conditions increased, some physical health conditions among children showed improvement. Asthma rates declined from 8.4% to 6.5%, and severe headaches or migraines decreased from 3.5% to 2.6% between 2016 and 2022.
Socioeconomic Disparities in Mental Health
The CDC data reveals significant socioeconomic disparities in mental health outcomes. Anxiety and depression rates were inversely related to income and education levels. While 13.4% of individuals in the highest income bracket reported anxiety symptoms, this figure more than doubled to 28.4% among those in the lowest income category.
"Mental and physical health are strongly linked, as adults diagnosed with mental health conditions are more likely to have physical health issues, as well as decreased health-related quality of life," Terlizzi and Zablotsky emphasized in their report published in National Health Statistics Reports.
Recognizing Warning Signs in Children
According to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, parents and caregivers should be vigilant for symptoms of mood disorders in children, which may include:
- Sad, depressed, irritable, angry or elevated moods that are more intense than usual
- Increased friction with family members
- Lack of motivation or pleasure in previously enjoyed activities
- Changes in sleeping or eating patterns
- Frequent physical complaints such as headaches, stomach aches, or fatigue
- Declining academic performance
Call for Comprehensive Action
Mental health experts emphasize that the worsening trends demand a coordinated response from healthcare systems, schools, and policymakers.
"Parents and schools need more support to be better equipped to help children suffering from anxiety or depression," Heffernan stated.
Dr. Michelle Macy, an emergency medicine physician at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, added: "Continued attention and resources are warranted at a national level to clarify and address the multitude of potential causes of worsening anxiety and depression in children and adolescents."
The findings underscore the urgent need for expanded mental health services, improved screening protocols, and preventive interventions targeting vulnerable populations, particularly youth and those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds. As mental health conditions continue to rise, addressing this growing crisis has become a critical public health priority requiring immediate and sustained action.
