Frequent mental distress among young U.S. adults declined for the second consecutive year in 2024, though prevalence remained significantly higher than in 2012, according to the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report published Oct. 8.
The findings were based on Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data from 424,558 adults ages 18-29 between 2012 and 2024. Researchers defined frequent mental distress as experiencing 14 or more mentally unhealthy days during the past 30 days.
Here are five things to know:
1. The prevalence of frequent mental distress declined from 23.7% in 2022 to 22.5% in 2023 and 21.3% in 2024. Both annual declines were statistically significant.
2. Despite recent improvements, frequent mental distress increased from 12.7% in 2012 to 21.3% in 2024, an 8.6 percentage point increase.
3. Among 53 jurisdictions analyzed, 47 (88.7%) experienced statistically significant increases in frequent mental distress between 2012 and 2024.
4. Oregon reported the highest prevalence of frequent mental distress in 2024 at 30.2%, followed by Nevada at 27.9% and Louisiana at 27.1%.
5. Puerto Rico had the lowest prevalence at 6.1%, followed by Guam at 14.7% and Hawaii at 14.8%. Researchers said the findings were based on self-reported data and could be subject to reporting biases.
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