The latest Gallup poll finds a record-low 72% of Americans rate their mental health as "good" or "excellent," with fewer than 30% calling it "excellent." Experts say reduced stigma and greater awareness may increase reporting, but pandemic trauma, political and economic uncertainty, and social fragmentation are key contributors. The largest declines occurred among Republicans and college graduates, narrowing demographic gaps. Researchers note some distress is a normal response to prolonged stress even as diagnoses of anxiety and depression have risen.
Gallup: Record Low Share Of Americans Rate Their Mental Health As Good Or Excellent
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A Gallup poll released Thursday found a record-low share of Americans describing their mental health as "good" or "excellent".
What the Poll Shows
For the first time this year, fewer than 30% of respondents rated their mental health as "excellent," and the combined share saying it was either "good" or "excellent" fell to a historic low of 72%. Gallup's data show the downward trend began after the Covid-19 pandemic; before 2020, at least 42% of Americans routinely rated their mental health as "excellent."
Experts' Take
"In some ways, people acknowledging and being willing to talk about mental health struggles is actually a good sign," said David Radley, senior scientist for health system tracking at the Commonwealth Fund.
Dr. Lisa Rosenthal, a psychiatry professor at Northwestern University, suggested the figures may partly reflect reduced stigma and greater awareness of psychiatric symptoms. Social media content about conditions such as bipolar disorder, complex PTSD, autism and ADHD appears to be helping some adults recognize that long-standing difficulties could be related to treatable mental-health conditions.
Diagnosis Trends And Drivers
A White Paper from the nonprofit Fair Health documents a sharp rise in mental-health diagnoses since 2019. Some increases—such as generalized anxiety disorder and major depressive disorder—may be linked to pandemic-related stress, while others, including ADHD and bipolar disorder, are typically lifelong conditions not caused by a single event.
Radley and Rosenthal agreed that growing openness about mental health likely plays a role in the lower self-ratings, but they also pointed to the trauma of the Covid-19 pandemic and ongoing pressures—political polarization, economic uncertainty and social fragmentation—as major drivers of worsening well-being. Rosenthal cautioned that not all distress requires clinical treatment: some reactions to prolonged stress are normal, even if painful.
"Not all unhappiness is something that needs to be treated, and some reactions are totally normal, even if they're very unpleasant," Rosenthal said.
Who Saw The Biggest Drops
The poll shows the steepest declines among groups that historically reported higher well-being, narrowing gaps across demographics. Among Republicans, the share rating their mental health as "excellent" fell from 53% in 2014–2019 to 40% in 2020–2025. College graduates' "excellent" ratings dropped by 17 percentage points to 36%, bringing them closer to adults without a college degree (30% rated their mental health "excellent" in 2020–2025).
"[College graduates'] mental health worsened more, but it made them more equal to people without a college education. I think it means we're all pretty unhappy," Rosenthal said.
Bottom Line
The Gallup poll highlights both a worsening in how Americans rate their mental health and a growing willingness to acknowledge struggles. Researchers urge viewing the trend with nuance: some of the rise in reported problems likely reflects reduced stigma and greater awareness, while other elements point to real increases in stress and diagnosable conditions. Health professionals recommend people who are struggling seek support from clinicians, community resources or trusted networks.
