Young adults have the highest reported rates of mental illness of any adult age group. This guide covers what SAMHSA’s national survey, the Healthy Minds Study of college students and NIMH report, what the numbers can and cannot show, and how to take a first step. It is general education, not medical advice.
By the Exsura Team · October 25, 2026
NIMH says: “If you or someone you know is struggling or having thoughts of suicide, call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org . In life-threatening situations, call 911.” The 988 Lifeline says: “The 988 Lifeline is available 24/7/365. Your conversations are free and confidential.” Its home page says text and chat services are available in Spanish. For help choosing between 988 and 911, see 988 vs 911: when to call which.
Two sources are used below, and they measure different people.
SAMHSA’s 2025 report says: “In 2025, the percentage of adults aged 18 or older who had AMI in the past year was highest among young adults aged 18 to 25 (28.6 percent or 10.3 million people), followed by adults aged 26 to 49 (27.1 percent or 28.5 million people), then by adults aged 50 or older (12.8 percent or 15.8 million people)” (AMI means any mental illness). The 26 to 49 figure is close to the 18 to 25 figure. In the same report, 12.1% of adults aged 18 to 25 had serious mental illness in the past year and 14.2% had a major depressive episode.
of adults aged 18 to 25 had any mental illness in the past year in 2025, according to SAMHSA’s national survey (10.3 million people).
On treatment, SAMHSA reports that an estimated 49.7 percent of young adults aged 18 to 25 with any mental illness received any mental health treatment in the past year, and about three fifths (59.1 percent) of those with a major depressive episode did. Among adults with any mental illness who did not receive treatment, the share with a perceived unmet need for treatment was highest among young adults aged 18 to 25 (35.9 percent). Among adults of all ages with any mental illness and a perceived unmet need for treatment, the most common reason for not receiving treatment was thinking they should have been able to handle their mental health, emotions, or behavior on their own (72.9 percent), and the second most common was thinking treatment would cost too much (61.4 percent). SAMHSA says percentages for additional reasons were not necessarily significantly different from one another, so ranking beyond those two should not be assumed. These reasons are for adults of all ages, not only young adults.
A nationally representative U.S. household survey conducted between February 2001 and April 2003 (Kessler and colleagues, 2005) of 9,282 English-speaking adults found that “Half of all lifetime cases start by age 14 years and three fourths by age 24 years.” The authors reported median ages of onset of 11 for anxiety disorders, 20 for substance use disorders and 30 for mood disorders, and concluded that “Interventions aimed at prevention or early treatment need to focus on youth.” Onset was reported by adults looking back, and the survey is more than twenty years old.
NIMH says: “Feeling anxious is a normal part of life.” It says anxiety disorders involve more than occasional worry or fear, and that about a third of U.S. adolescents and adults experience an anxiety disorder at some point in their lives. NIMH also names youth, including the college transition and social media use, as an area of research interest on anxiety, which is not a statement that college causes anxiety.
The 2024-2025 Healthy Minds Study included 84,735 students from 135 colleges and universities. Its national data report lists:
The report describes the PHQ-9 and GAD-7 as screening instruments covering the past two weeks, so these are not diagnoses. The University of Michigan says that for the third year in a row students reported lower rates of depressive symptoms, anxiety symptoms and suicidal thoughts. In a 2024 release from the same study, investigator Justin Heinze said: “Mental health problems continue to be highly prevalent in college student populations, but the reports from students for this year’s study are promising.”
The report also lists factors that students said caused them to receive fewer services (counseling, therapy, or medications) for their mental or emotional health than they would otherwise have received, where they could select more than one: not enough time (24%), financial reasons (20%), preferring to deal with issues on their own or with support from friends or family (19%), not sure where to go (14%), and difficulty finding an available appointment (10%). These percentages are among all students, and the report also shows that 34% selected no need for services and 18% selected no barriers.
NIMH says: “Seek professional help if you are experiencing severe or distressing symptoms that have lasted 2 weeks or more, such as:” difficulty sleeping, difficulty concentrating, and loss of interest in things you usually find enjoyable. It says: “If you have concerns about your mental health, talk to a primary care provider.” It adds that a primary care provider can refer you to a psychologist, psychiatrist, or clinical social worker.
For how to find a provider and prepare for a first visit, see how to find a mental health provider, or low-cost mental health care in Dallas County. If anxiety is part of it, see panic attacks; if you feel worn down by pressure, see burnout: what it is and when to get help; for sleep, see our sleep and mental health guide.
In SAMHSA's 2025 national survey, 28.6% of adults aged 18 to 25 had any mental illness in the past year, the highest of the adult age groups, with 27.1% for ages 26 to 49. These are model-based estimates for all young adults, not diagnoses and not only college students.
In the 2024-2025 Healthy Minds Study of 84,735 students at 135 colleges and universities, 37% had moderate or severe depressive symptoms and 33% had moderate or severe anxiety symptoms on screening questionnaires. These are screens, not diagnoses, and the study covers only participating schools.
NIMH says to seek professional help if you are experiencing severe or distressing symptoms that have lasted 2 weeks or more, and to talk to a primary care provider if you have concerns about your mental health.
Call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org. In life-threatening situations, call 911.
Sources last checked October 25, 2026. This article is general education, not financial, legal or medical advice. Rules, fees and programs change, so confirm details with the organization before you act.
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