With mass layoffs, inflation and a rising cost of living, the mental health gap in America is growing, according to survey results from Scottsdale, Ariz.-based LifeStance Health published July 22.
For the report, researchers conducted an online survey of 1,026 U.S. adults aged 18 and older June 4-5. Key findings were based on comparative analysis of survey data from 2023, 2024, and 2025.
Researchers found that 83% of Americans reported elevated financial stress levels — referred to as “stressflation” — stemming from the current economic climate, with millennials and Gen Zers being most affected.
These pressures have discouraged 60% of Americans from seeking mental health services due to financial concerns. Those experiencing this stress are twice as likely as their unstressed counterparts to forgo mental health treatment.
Despite access limitations, 93% of Americans now regard mental health care as “just as important as physical health care,” according to the report.
“In a period of economic uncertainty, when individuals experience greater stress and anxiety, they may benefit from mental healthcare, and this could result in increased demand for services,” LifeStance Health CEO Dave Bourdon said earlier this year.
This dynamic creates a self-reinforcing cycle in which financial pressure worsens mental health, yet access to ameliorative services is limited due to costs. Expanding healthcare systems and improving access to mental health services will be essential as money-related stress continues to rise, according to the report.
Unaddressed mental health challenges can also lead to physical ailments, placing further strain on the healthcare system.
Read the LifeStance report here.
