Protecting the Nation's Mental Health

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Key points

  • Data show that the United States—especially its youth—is in mental health crisis.
  • A public health approach that helps to improve environments where we live, work, learn, and play can positively impact mental health.
  • Focusing on health equity can help ensure all groups of people have fair access to health and can live to their fullest potential.
A rainbow from a line; birds flying, the sun is behind a mountain; a stream is flowing down the mountain.

Overview

Recent data show that the United States is in mental health crisis, experienced by people of all ages—but especially among young people. This trend was observed prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, but has been worsened by pandemic-related factors. In addition, drug overdose and suicide remain leading causes of deaths in the U.S. These deaths, often associated with mental distress, continue to impact families and communities socially, emotionally, and economically long after they occur.

Explore mental health data

U.S. map overlay with bar chart
Access the latest mental health and well-being data among U.S. youth and adults on ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø's Mental Health Data Channel.

Improving mental health through public health

No one approach can solve the mental health crisis alone. ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø uses its expertise in public health data, science, and systems to improve mental health outcomes in the U.S.

  • Public health uses a primary prevention approach to promote positive mental health by focusing on the drivers of well-being and mental distress. This approach aims to prevent mental health conditions before they develop or worsen.
  • We identify, understand, and intervene on upstream protective factors, i.e., environmental and societal factors, to prevent mental distress and promote well-being for individuals and communities.
  • We work with partners at the federal, state, and community level to improve mental health. These partners can include health care providers, public health workers, community organizations, faith-based communities, employers, local government leaders, and others.

Public Health's role in mental health promotion and suicide prevention

Mental health promotion and suicide prevention framework image
ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø and several partners released a to help public health practitioners communicate with multisector partners about their role in mental health promotion.

ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø's Mental Health Strategy

ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø's Mental Health Strategy for Individual, Family, Community, Society builds on the Mental Health Framework created in partnership between ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø, the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials (ASTHO), Mental Health America (MHA), and the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP) in October 2023.

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The ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø Mental Health Strategy content table with three columns outlining the framework, the pillars and the goals.
The ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø Mental Health Strategy takes a public health approach. It includes a framework to promote well-being and improve access to supports and opportunities.

ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø Mental Health Strategy for Individual, Family, Community, Society

Guiding Principle: ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø works with communities and partners to promote mental well-being to ensure everyone has an equitable chance to thrive.

Mental Health Framework Strategies (ASTHO, MHA, CLASP, ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø)

  • Promote Well-being
  • Improve Access to Supports and Opportunities

Pillars

  • Collect and use data
  • Promote mental well-being and prevent mental distress
  • Educate and inform about mental health and public health
  • Strengthen mental health systems and support providers
  • Engage and empower partners and communities to improve mental health

Goals

  • Improve population surveillance of mental well-being and mental distress
  • Use data to inform recommendations
  • Support caregivers and communities, especially related to early childhood and adolescence
  • Promote quality social connections
  • Increase awareness and decrease stigma
  • Develop and share tools, trainings, guidance, and resources for evaluation
  • Increase access to and awareness and availability of services and supports
  • Strengthen health workforce capacity and resilience
  • Strengthen partnerships and create new opportunities
  • Build state, territorial, local, and tribal capacity
  • Strengthen supportive environments where we live, work, learn, and play

ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø recognizes that mental health is closely linked to physical health and social determinants and impacts health-related outcomes throughout life.

Health equity

ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø's public health strategy to improve mental health is guided by principles of health equity. Health equity is the state in which everyone has a fair and just opportunity to attain their highest level of health.1 When people have limited access to resources they need to be healthy, such as access to health care, they are more likely to struggle with health issues. ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø works with partners to promote policies and focus resources on improving the lives of populations disproportionately impacted by the mental health crisis. This includes a focus on addressing differences in social determinants of health to accelerate progress towards achieving health equity.

Disproportionately affected populations include:2

  • Racial and ethnic minority groups, e.g., Black, Hispanic and Latino, American Indian/Alaska Native (AI/AN), Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AA and NHPI)
  • Sexual minorities
  • People experiencing
  • People who are
  • People who live in rural areas
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Content Source:
National Center for Injury Prevention and Control
  1. ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø. (2024). What is Health Equity? Retrieved August 1, 2024 from /health-equity/what-is/?ÐÇ¿ÕÓéÀÖ¹ÙÍø_AAref_Val=/healthequity/whatis/index.html
  2. Mongelli, F., Georgakopoulos, P., & Pato, M. T. (2020). Challenges and Opportunities to Meet the Mental Health Needs of Underserved and Disenfranchised Populations in the United States. Focus, 18(1), 16–24.