A new poll from the West Health-Gallup Center on Healthcare in America shows that the proportion of Americans rating their mental health as 'good' or 'excellent' has fallen to a record low of 72%. The percentage rating it as 'excellent' dropped below 30% for the first time this year, continuing a downward trend that began after the Covid-19 pandemic.
Experts note that while the decline is concerning, it may partly reflect reduced stigma around mental health. David Radley of the Commonwealth Fund said, 'In some ways, people acknowledging and being willing to talk about mental health struggles is actually a good sign.' Dr Lisa Rosenthal of Northwestern University agreed, suggesting the numbers 'might be a signal that stigma is improving'.
The poll also found that mental health declines were more pronounced among groups that historically reported higher mental health, such as college-educated adults and Republicans. The number of Republicans rating their mental health as 'excellent' fell from 53% (2014-2019) to 40% (2020-2025), aligning them more closely with Democrats. College graduates saw a 17% drop to 36%, narrowing the gap with non-graduates.
Rosenthal attributed the overall decline to factors including political uncertainty, economic stress, and social disconnection. 'There's just so much anger that civility and discourse have been so disrupted,' she said. Radley added, 'A lot of shoes feel like they're about to drop for a lot of people. I don't think the shoes dropping discriminates.'
