Lessons from MHA Screening
Mental Health Data and Trends
In 2014, Mental Health America (MHA) created the Online Screening Program (www.mhascreening.org), a collection of 11 free, anonymous, confidential, and clinically validated screens that are among the most commonly used mental health screening tools in clinical settings. Since its launch, over 19 million people have taken a screen to check their mental health concerns online, making this program the nation’s largest ongoing, real-time mental health early identification program.
COVID-19 has had a profound negative effect on the mental health of the nation. Since the onset of the pandemic in 2020, MHA has witnessed a substantial increase in screens taken as more people are experiencing anxiety, depression, psychosis, loneliness, and other mental health concerns.
In 2022, over 6.3 million (N=6,371,173) people took a mental health screen globally, a nearly 138% increase from 2020 and a 19% increase from 2021.
Since the launch of MHA Screening, we’ve made an effort to respond and adapt to the dynamic needs of the communities we serve and ever changing policies and recommendations from mental health professionals. Over the years, we have expanded to 11 screens and periodically update questions we ask to make our screens as clear, inclusive and accessible as possible. The following changes were made in 2021-2022:
May 2021 changes to screening questions
- With recommendation from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, MHA Screening added a “9-10” option in the age category
March 2022 changes to screening questions
- “Another Gender” was renamed to “Non-Binary”
April 2022 changes to screening questions
- With recommendation from the U.S. Preventative Services Task Force, MHA Screening added an “8-10” option in the age category
- Added the question “Do you live in the United States or another country?”
- Revised the categories under the question “Think about your mental health test. What are the main things contributing to your mental health problems right now?” The options now include: Abuse or violence, Basic needs (no food or housing), Body image or self-image, and School or work problems. Past trauma, Coronavirus, and Current events (news, politics, etc.) were removed
June 2022 changes to screening questions
- Added the ADHD screen
Key Findings
For the report, MHA reported analysis for only screeners who voluntarily identified living in the US. This excluded users who did not answer that particular question and users who identified as being international screeners. Analysis of survey respondents shows that users who opt out of answering questions (chooses to remain anonymous) report higher risk (scoring higher at risk for symptoms and score) as compared to users who share demographic information.
- Youth are struggling with their mental health and are seeking support online. 38% of individuals in the U.S. who took a screen in 2022 were under 18.
- Across all screens, 78% (N=1,166,703) of users in the U.S. scored positive or with moderate to severe symptoms of a mental health condition in 2022. This was equal to the average in 2021.
- The number and percentage of people screening with moderate to severe symptoms of anxiety remain higher than rates prior to COVID-19, and are particularly severe for youth and BIPOC screeners. In total, 357,968 people in the U.S. took an anxiety screen in 2022, which was 21% higher than the number taken in 2021 (N=295,449). In 2022, 79% of screeners scored with symptoms of moderate to severe anxiety.
- Within 6 months of its addition, the ADHD screen has surged in popularity, eclipsing both bipolar and anxiety in screens per month by the end of 2022. Most who take an ADHD screen reports issues with starting and staying on a difficult task.
- Overall, 35.27% (N=225,031) of individuals in the U.S. who took the depression screen reported frequent suicidal ideation in 2022.
- Rates of suicidal ideation are highest among youth, especially LGBTQ+ youth of color. Overall, 48.65% of all youth depression screeners under 18 reported frequent suicidal ideation on more than half or nearly every day of the previous two weeks. LGBTQ+ youth identifying as Other race were most likely to report suicidal ideation (62%).
- Rates of suicidal ideation for all Black, Indigenous and people of color were higher than rates for white screeners. 38% of BIPOC screeners reported frequent suicidal ideation, as opposed to 33% of white screeners.
- People screening at risk for mental health conditions are struggling most with body image or self-image and relationship problems. The differences in the things contributing most to mental health concerns among individuals of different races and ethnicities reveal inequities in the experience of 2021-2022. Among individuals who screened positive or moderate to severe for a mental health condition in 2022, 60% reported that one of the top three things contributing to their mental health concerns was body image or self-image. This was followed by 51% reporting relationship problems and 48% reporting loneliness or isolation.
In total, 2,078,549 people from the United States took a screen through MHA Screening in 2022. The top three screens taken were the depression screen (31%), anxiety (17%), and bipolar screens (17%).
Depression
- 2021: 32.25%
- 2022: 30.53%
Anxiety
- 2021: 19.57%
- 2022: 17.22%
Bipolar
- 2021: 17.46%
- 2022: 16.64%
ADHD
- 2021: --
- 2022: 9.77%
ADHD added to MHA Screening in June 2022
Psychosis
- 2021: 8.91%
- 2022: 6.75%
Eating Disorder
- 2021: 8.15%
- 2022: 6.83%
PTSD
- 2021: 5.82%
- 2022: 4.97%
Youth
- 2021: 4.17%
- 2022: 4.12%
Alcohol or Substance Use
- 2021: 1.57%
- 2022: 1.32%
Parent
- 2021: 1.02%
- 2022: 1.09%
Postpartum Depression
- 2021: 1.09%
- 2022: 0.75%
With the addition of the ADHD test to MHA Screening, the percentage of screens taken varied across all screens. If we remove the number of ADHD screens when looking at the frequency of and types of screens taken, screeners were more likely to take depression (34%) and bipolar screens (18%) in 2022 than in 2021. Screeners were less likely to take a psychosis screen (7%) in 2022 than in 2021.
65 percent of screeners identified as female, 30% identified as male, and 5% identified as non-binary. The percentage of screeners who identified as non-binary increased 1% from 2021 to 2022. 6 percent of screeners from the U.S. (N=124,995) identified as transgender in 2022, a 67% increase from 2021.
38 percent of screeners in 2022 were under 18, a 3% increase from 2021 (35%). People under 25 made up over two thirds of all screens for 2021 (65%) and 2022 (66%).
The race/ethnicity demographics of U.S. screeners in 2022 were mostly on par with demographics from 2021. Notably, the percentage of Hispanic or Latino and multiracial screeners increased slightly. All 2021 data represents data collected after changes to our demographic questions from May 2021-Dec 2021.
American Indian or Alaska Native
- 2021: 1.80%
- 2022: 1.88%
Asian
- 2021: 6.87%
- 2022: 6.52%
Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
- 2021: 9.71%
- 2022: 9.53%
Hispanic or Latino
- 2021: 14.41%
- 2022: 15.06%
Middle Eastern or North African
- 2021: 1.10%
- 2022: 0.97%
Middle Eastern or North African was not added as an option on the demographic questions until May 2021.
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander
- 2021: 0.44%
- 2022: 0.48%
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander was not added as an option on the demographic questions until May 2021.
White (non-Hispanic)
- 2021: 57.47%
- 2022: 57.10%
More than one of the above
- 2021: 5.62%
- 2022: 5.85%
Other
- 2021: 2.58%
- 2022: 2.60%
Screeners in 2022 reported slightly higher household incomes than those in 2021. Forty-two percent of screeners in the U.S. reported a household income of less than $40,000 in 2022, compared to 46% in 2021. Nearly a quarter (22%) of screeners in the U.S. reported a household income greater than $80,000 in 2022, compared to 19% of screeners in 2021.
Household income less than $20,000
- 2021: 24.96%
- 2022: 22.27%
Household income $20,000-$39,999
- 2021: 21.17%
- 2022: 19.40%
Household income $40,000-$59,999
- 2021: 15.64%
- 2022: 15.77%
Household income $60,000-$79,999
- 2021: 11.61%
- 2022: 12.08%
Household income $80,000-$99,999
- 2021: 8.13%
- 2022: 8.89%
Household income $100,000-$149,999
- 2021: 10.11%
- 2022: 11.48%
Household income $150,000+
- 2021: 8.39%
- 2022: 10.10%
Across all screens, 78% (N=1,618,617) of users in the U.S. scored positive or with moderate to severe symptoms of a mental health condition in 2022. This was nearly half a million more people than screened at risk in 2021 (N=1,169,205). Since August 2020, the percentage of individuals scoring positive or with moderate to severe symptoms of any mental health condition has been higher than pre-COVID-19 rates. The highest rates of positive screens were seen at the last part of the year, with the highest percentage in 2022 reported in December (80.4%).
Among positive screens, 57% of responses (N=255,162) indicated they had never been diagnosed with a mental health condition. 54% (N=584,772) had never received treatment or support before.
The only increases in the percentages of people scoring positive from 2021-2022 was on the parent screen (2%), bipolar screen (1%), youth screen (0.5%), psychosis screen (0.4%), and those who screened at risk for Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (0.4%). Additionally, postpartum depression screens notably increased by 2% from 2021-2022. All other screens, with the exception of ADHD since it was added in 2022, had similar rates of minimal to mild and moderate to severe results from 2021 to 2022. The stagnant rates in severity could be a reflection of screeners adjusting to new norms as a result of the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Depression screen
Minimal to mild screening result
- 2021: 16.27%
- 2022: 16.29%
Moderate to severe screening result
- 2021: 83.73%
- 2022: 83.71%
Anxiety screen
Minimal to mild screening result
- 2021: 20.87%
- 2022: 21.23%
Moderate to severe screening result
- 2021: 79.13%
- 2022: 78.77%
Bipolar screen
Bipolar negative result
- 2021: 51.99%
- 2022: 50.79%
Bipolar positive result
- 2021: 48.01%
- 2022: 49.21%
ADHD screen
ADHD unlikely result
- 2021: --
- 2022: 16.04%
ADHD likely result
- 2021: --
- 2022: 83.96%
ADHD added to MHA Screening in June 2022
Psychosis screen
Low/No risk result
- 2021: 21.89%
- 2022: 21.47%
Possible risk result
- 2021: 78.11%
- 2022: 78.53%
Eating disorder screen
Low risk for ED result
- 2021: 1.12%
- 2022: 1.22%
At risk for ED result
- 2021: 93.09%
- 2022: 92.42%
At risk for Avoidant Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) result
- 2021: 5.79%
- 2022: 6.36%
PTSD
PTSD negative result
- 2021: 8.22%
- 2022: 8.66%
PTSD positive result
- 2021: 91.78%
- 2022: 91.34%
Youth
Low risk result
- 2021: 21.46%
- 2022: 20.99%
At risk result
- 2021: 78.54%
- 2022: 79.01%
Alcohol or substance use screen
Unlikely substance use result
- 2021: 17.50%
- 2022: 17.48%
Likely substance use result
- 2021: 82.50%
- 2022: 82.52%
Parent screen
Low risk result
- 2021: 29.25%
- 2022: 27.19%
At risk result
- 2021: 70.75%
- 2022: 72.81%
Postpartum depression screen
Not likely or probable result
- 2021: 14.72%
- 2022: 16.64%
Probably/Fairly high possibility result
- 2021: 85.28%
- 2022: 83.36%
Numbers of Individuals Screening for Depression Increased
MHA uses the Patient Health Questionnaire 9-item (PHQ-9) tool to screen for depression. 634,547 people in the U.S. took a depression screen in 2022, a 30% increase from the number of depression screens taken in 2021 (N=486,848).
Of those who took a depression screen in 2022, 84% (N=531,209) scored with moderate to severe symptoms of depression. This is equal to the percentage of people who screened at risk for depression in 2021 (84%, N=407,660).
Depression Highest Among Youth
On average, 89% (N=204,613) of people under 18 in the U.S. who took a depression screen scored with symptoms of moderate to severe depression in 2022. Screeners under 18 had the highest rates of screening severity, around 89%. Trends indicate that rates of screening severity decrease as age increases.
On average, 89% (N=204,613) of people under 18 in the U.S. who took a depression screen scored with symptoms of moderate to severe depression in 2022. Screeners under 18 had the highest rates of screening severity, around 89%. Trends indicate that rates of screening severity decrease as age increases.
Adults who identify as LGBTQ+ and took a depression screen were 10% more likely to screen with moderate to severe depression than non-LGBTQ+ adults. Similarly, LGBTQ+ youth under 18 were more likely than non-LGBTQ+ youth to screen with symptoms of moderate to severe depression. Ninety-four percent of youth under 18 who took a depression screen and identified as LGBTQ+ scored with moderate to severe depression, compared to 85% of youth who did not identify as LGBTQ+.
2022 Depression Screen Results, % Scoring Moderate to Severe
LGBTQ+ and Non-LGBTQ+ Youth & Adults
Under 18 age range
- LGBTQ+: 94.38%
- Non-LGBTQ+: 84.92%
Over 18 age range
- LGBTQ+: 90.48%
- Non-LGBTQ+: 80.06%
Similar to 2021, the percentage of people scoring with moderate to severe symptoms of depression was highest among screeners who identified as more than one race in 2022 (89%). The percent positive increased the most for American Indian or Alaska Native screeners (3%). Average rates of moderate to severe depression were similar or higher in 2022 than in 2021 for screeners of nearly every race/ethnicity, except for African American and Middle Eastern or North African screeners.
Rates of Moderate to Severe Depression by Race/Ethnicity
American Indian or Alaska Native
- 2021: 83.72%
- 2022: 86.53%
Asian
- 2021: 79.05%
- 2022: 80.35%
Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
- 2021: 82.23%
- 2022: 81.75%
Hispanic or Latino
- 2021: 84.99%
- 2022: 85.32%
Middle Eastern or North African
- 2021: 83.45%
- 2022: 82.87%
Middle Eastern or North African was not added as an option on the demographic questions until May 2021.
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander
- 2021: 83.34%
- 2022: 83.75%
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander was not added as an option on the demographic questions until May 2021.
White (non-Hispanic)
- 2021: 83.22%
- 2022: 83.65%
More than one of the above
- 2021: 88.66%
- 2022: 88.64%
Other
- 2021: 83.69%
- 2022: 84.94%
Rates of moderate to severe depression among youth of color were lower than white youth in the U.S. In 2022, 88% (N=107,004) of youth of color under 18 who took a depression screen scored with moderate to severe depression, compared to 89% (N=91,650) of white youth.
However, when results are broken down by race/ethnicity, there are more notable differences. Rates of moderate to severe depression were highest among youth who identified as more than one race (91%) and American Indian or Alaska Native screeners. (91%)
Rates of Moderate to Severe Depression, by Race/Ethnicity, Youth Screeners
American Indian or Alaska Native
- 2021: 90.50%
- 2022: 89.38%
Asian
- 2021: 85.03%
- 2022: 84.75%
Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
- 2021: 88.28%
- 2022: 87.20%
Hispanic or Latino
- 2021: 89.07%
- 2022: 88.23%
Middle Eastern or North African
- 2021: 87.51%
- 2022: 87.16%
Middle Eastern or North African was not added as an option on the demographic questions until May 2021.
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander
- 2021: 88.46%
- 2022: 88.96%
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander was not added as an option on the demographic questions until May 2021.
White (non-Hispanic)
- 2021: 89.14%
- 2022: 88.74%
More than one of the above
- 2021: 91.29%
- 2022: 90.74%
Other
- 2021: 89.30%
- 2022: 90.42%
High Rates of Anxiety Persist in the U.S., Especially for Youth and American Indian or Alaska Native Individuals
MHA uses the Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item (GAD-7) tool to screen for anxiety. The number of help-seekers experiencing anxiety and the severity of that anxiety increased in 2021-2022. In total, 357,968 people in the U.S. took an anxiety screen in 2022, which was 21% higher than the number taken in 2021 (N=295,449).
Rates of moderate to severe anxiety began increasing in June 2020 and have remained above pre-COVID-19 levels through December 2022. Of the people who took an anxiety screen in 2022, 79% scored with symptoms of moderate to severe anxiety. Though similar to the rate in 2021, the number of positive anxiety screens has started to decrease for the first time since 2021.
Similar to depression screen trends, youth under 18 were more likely to score with moderate to severe symptoms of anxiety than any other age group throughout the pandemic. 84% (N=181,008) of those under 18 who took an anxiety screen in 2022 scored with symptoms of moderate to severe anxiety.
The percentage of people in 2022 scoring with moderate to severe symptoms of anxiety was highest among American Indian or Alaska Native screeners (84%), a 2% increase from 2021. Between 2021-2022, rates of anxiety increased the most for those who identified as Other (3%). Rates of those at risk for anxiety decreased for Black or African American (0.3%), white (0.4%) and multiracial (0.9%) screeners.
Rates of Moderate to Severe Anxiety, by Race/Ethnicity
American Indian or Alaska Native
- 2021: 81.93%
- 2022: 83.65%
Asian
- 2021: 73.31%
- 2022: 74.78%
Black or African American (Non-Hispanic)
- 2021: 76.76%
- 2022: 76.46%
Hispanic or Latino
- 2021: 78.24%
- 2022: 78.61%
Middle Eastern or North African
- 2021: 79.77%
- 2022: 79.58%
Middle Eastern or North African was not added as an option on the demographic questions until May 2021.
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander
- 2021: 79.85%
- 2022: 80.43%
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander was not added as an option on the demographic questions until May 2021.
White (non-Hispanic)
- 2021: 79.56%
- 2022: 79.21%
More than one of the above
- 2021: 83.33%
- 2022: 82.45%
Other
- 2021: 78.63%
- 2022: 81.12%
ADHD Becoming a Popular Concern
MHA uses the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale (ASRS) to screen people for Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. The ADHD screen was added to the MHA website in June of 2022. Within 6 months of its addition, it has surged in popularity, eclipsing both bipolar and anxiety in screens per month by October 2022.
At 84% of screeners (N=203,103) scoring at risk, the ADHD is among the top screens with highest percent of users scoring positive/at risk. Ninety one percent of users scored at risk for the PTSD screen and and 92% scored at risk for the Eating Disorder Screen.
Interestingly, the people taking ADHD screens tend to be slightly older than the general screening average. About 65% of ADHD screeners are over 18, compared to the 62% of screeners over 18 in the general population. Despite this, ADHD screeners under 18 have the highest screening severity, with about 88% of youth scoring at risk.
More Screeners Report Suicidal Ideation and Thoughts of Self-Harm
Suicidal/self-harm thinking, especially among young people, was epidemic in 2021 and 2022. In March 2020, MHA Screening saw an uptick in the rate of self-reported suicidal ideation (35%) and since June of 2020 we’ve seen a steady increase in the rate. Overall, 35% (N=225,031) of individuals in the U.S. who took the Patient Health Questionnaire 9-item (PHQ-9) screen for depression reported frequent suicidal ideation (defined as more than half or nearly every day of the previous two weeks) in 2022. Nearly 60,000 more people reported suicidal ideation in 2022 than in 2021 (N=167,768).
Analysis of survey respondents shows that users who opt out of answering the demographic questions (chooses to remain anonymous) report higher risk of suicide as compared to users who share demographic information.
When examined by age, youth under 18 have the highest rate of suicidal ideation. Overall, 49% (N=233,269) of all youth depression screeners under 18 reported frequent suicidal ideation on more than half or nearly every day of the previous two weeks. This was slightly lower to the percentage of youth reporting suicidal ideation in 2021 (50%, N=156,091).
Rates of suicidal ideation continue to be much higher than the pre-pandemic average for screeners of every race/ethnicity. In 2022, the percentage of people reporting frequent thoughts of suicide or self-harm was highest among American Indian or Alaska Native screeners (46%), followed by those who identified their race as Other (43%). The increase in rate of reported suicidal ideation for American Indian or Alaska Native screeners from 2021-2022 was over 3%, the highest among any other ethnicity. Interestingly, rates of suicidal ideation for all Black, Indigenous and people of color were higher than rates for white screeners.
Suicidal Ideation More than Half or Nearly Every Day, by Race/Ethnicity
American Indian or Alaska Native
- 2021: 43.01%
- 2022: 46.21%
Asian
- 2021: 35.28%
- 2022: 36.10%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)
- 2021: 36.29%
- 2022: 36.95%
Hispanic or Latino
- 2021: 35.51%
- 2022: 37.02%
Middle Eastern or North African
- 2021: 36.05%
- 2022: 36.36%
Middle Eastern or North African was not added as an option on the demographic questions until May 2021.
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander
- 2021: 39.44%
- 2022: 39.17%
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander was not added as an option on the demographic questions until May 2021.
White (non-Hispanic)
- 2021: 31.63%
- 2022: 32.75%
More than one of the above
- 2021: 42.57%
- 2022: 43.23%
Other
- 2021: 42.20%
- 2022: 43.49%
Rates of suicidal ideation were also higher among Black, Indigenous, and youth of color than among white youth. Among youth of color, 50% (N=61,695,) reported thoughts of suicide or self-harm more than half or nearly every day, compared to 47% (N=48,566) of white youth. The percentage of youth under 18 reporting frequent thoughts of suicide or self-harm was also highest among those who identified their race as “other” (56%), youth who identified as American Indian or Alaska Native (54%), and Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander youth (54%) in 2022. Overall, rates of suicidal ideation among youth slightly decreased across all races/ethnicities.
Suicidal Ideation More than Half or Nearly Every Day, by Race/Ethnicity, under 18
American Indian or Alaska Native
- 2021: 54.37%
- 2022: 53.99%
Asian
- 2021: 48.84%
- 2022: 47.86%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)
- 2021: 53.57%
- 2022: 52.16%
Hispanic or Latino
- 2021: 48.79%
- 2022: 48.31%
Middle Eastern or North African
- 2021: 47.49%
- 2022: 47.11%
Middle Eastern or North African was not added as an option on the demographic questions until May 2021.
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander
- 2021: 53.67%
- 2022: 52.78%
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander was not added as an option on the demographic questions until May 2021.
White (non-Hispanic)
- 2021: 47.34%
- 2022: 46.66%
More than one of the above
- 2021: 53.46%
- 2022: 52.14%
Other
- 2021: 55.59%
- 2022: 55.45%
Rates of suicidal ideation were particularly high among people of color who identified as LGBTQ+. LGBTQ+ individuals who identified their race as “Other” had the highest reported rates of suicidal ideation (62%), followed by LGBTQ+ individuals identifying as American Indian or Alaska Native (61%) and those identifying as more than one race (55%).
Suicidal ideation more than half or nearly every day, by race/ethnicity, LGBTQ+ individuals
American Indian or Alaska Native
- 2021: 62.54%
- 2022: 61.27%
Asian
- 2021: 53.40%
- 2022: 53.79%
Black or African American (non-Hispanic)
- 2021: 54.37%
- 2022: 53.60%
Hispanic or Latino
- 2021: 52.52%
- 2022: 53.33%
Middle Eastern or North African
- 2021: 54.17%
- 2022: 54.94%
Middle Eastern or North African was not added as an option on the demographic questions until May 2021.
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander
- 2021: 53.01%
- 2022: 53.73%
Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander was not added as an option on the demographic questions until May 2021.
White (non-Hispanic)
- 2021: 49.91%
- 2022: 50.40%
More than one of the above
- 2021: 55.72%
- 2022: 55.16%
Other
- 2021: 61.42%
- 2022: 62.02%
Continued Increases in Emotional, Attentional, or Behavioral Difficulties Among Youth
MHA uses the Pediatric Symptom Checklist (PSC-35) tool to screen youth for emotional, attentional, or behavioral difficulties. In total, 217,195 individuals in the U.S. took the youth screen in 2022, a 36% increase over the number taken in 2021.
Of the individuals who took the youth screen in 2022, 79% (N=85,603) scored at risk for emotional, attentional, or behavioral difficulties. This was equivalent to the average rate in 2021 (79%, N=62,891). In July 2022, about 83% of youth scored at risk for emotional, attentional, or behavioral difficulties, the highest percentage recorded in any month since the onset of the pandemic.
Highest Rates Of Psychosis Risk
MHA uses the Prodromal Questionnaire – Brief version (PQ-B) to screen for psychosis. In total, 140,327 individuals took the psychosis screen in 2022, a 4% increase over 2021 (N=134,542). Rates of those at risk for psychotic experiences still trend higher than pre-pandemic rates. Of the individuals who took the psychosis screen, 79% scored at risk for psychotic-like experiences, slightly higher than the rate in 2021 (78%).
Since the onset of the pandemic, the rate of positive screens has significantly increased from 73% in 2019 to a staggering 79% in 2022.
Self-Image and Relationship Problems Top Concerns, Loneliness Still an Issue
In April 2022, MHA revised answer choices to the question, “Think about your mental health test. What are the main things contributing to your mental health problems right now? Choose up to three.” Since its addition in 2020, feelings of loneliness or isolation had eclipsed all other concerns for those at risk. However, in 2022, issues with body image or self image have become the top concern across all screens for those at risk.
Main Concerns: People Scoring at Risk for Any Screen (Excluding Parent and Youth Screens)
Data from April-Dec 2022
Body image or self-image: 59.72%
Relationship problems (friends, family, or significant other): 51.23%
Loneliness or isolation: 48.47%
School or work problems: 42.38%
Financial problems: 19.99%
Grief or loss of someone or something: 16.08%
Abuse or violence: 10.29%
Racism, homophobia, transphobia, or discrimination: 5.04%
Basic needs (no food or housing): 2.94%
Among youth under 18 who scored positive or with moderate to severe symptoms of a mental health condition, body image or self-image and relationship problems remained top concerns. Unlike the general population, school or work problems rounded out the top 3 main concerns for youth.
Main concerns: Youth scoring at risk for any screen (excluding parent and youth screens)
Data from April-Dec 2022
Body image or self-image: 70.16%
School or work problems: 53.89%
Relationship problems (friends, family, or significant other): 52.69%
Loneliness or isolation: 50.46%
Grief or loss of someone or something: 13.03%
Abuse or violence: 11.09%
Racism, homophobia, transphobia, or discrimination: 9.02%
Financial problems: 3.34%
Basic needs (no food or housing): 1.32%
Among youth who screened at risk for emotional, attentional, or behavioral difficulties, they had higher rates of concerns with relationship problems (55%), and loneliness or isolation (53%) when compared to youth who took any other screen. Similar to youth who took other screens, body image or self-image was the top concern for youth who scored at risk on parent and youth screens and was at a significantly higher rate than those who scored at risk for any screen (62%).
Main concerns scoring at risk on parent and youth screens
Data from April-Dec 2022
Body image or self-image: 62.48%
Relationship problems (friends, family, or significant other): 55.30%
Loneliness or isolation: 52.55%
School or work problems: 48.99%
Grief or loss of someone or something: 13.72%
Abuse or violence: 11.04%
Racism, homophobia, transphobia, or discrimination: 7.70%
Financial problems: 4.91%
Basic needs (no food or housing): 1.73%
Although the averages across screeners reveal the main concerns of the population throughout this year, the events of 2021 and 2022 had profoundly different mental health impacts on different racial and ethnic groups, and the differences reveal some of the inequities that Black, Indigenous, and people of color face in the U.S. that directly affect their mental health.
- American Indian or Alaska Native screeners were most likely to select abuse or violence (16%), followed by screeners who identified as Other (14%) and multiracial screeners (12%).
- Black or African American screeners were most likely to select relationship problems (54%) followed by Hispanic or Latino screeners (54%) and Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander screeners (53%).
- Screeners who identified as Hispanic or Latino were most likely to select body image or self-image (64%) followed by American Indian or Alaska Native screeners (62%) and multiracial screeners (62%).
- Asian screeners were most likely to select school or work problems (56%) followed by Middle Eastern or North African screeners (51%) and screeners who identified as Hispanic or Latino (45%).
- Black or African American screeners were most likely to select basic needs (5%) followed by American Indian or Alaska Native screeners (4%) and Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander (4%).
- Black or African American screeners were most likely to select financial problems (26%), followed by Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander screeners (23%) and white screeners (21%).
- Screeners who identified as more than one race were most likely to select loneliness or isolation (50%), followed by screeners who identified as Hispanic or Latino (50%) and Asian screeners (50%).
- American Indian or Alaska Native screeners were most likely to select grief or loss (20%) followed by white screeners (17%), and Black or African American screeners (17%).
- Screeners who identified as Other were most likely to select racism (8%), followed by screeners who identified as more than one race (8%) and American Indian or Alaska Native screeners (8%).
Data from April-Dec 2022
Abuse or violence
- American Indian or Alaska Native: 15.68%
- Asian: 9.22%
- Black or African American (non-Hispanic): 10.54%
- Hispanic or Latino: 10.27%
- Middle Eastern or North African*: 11.05%
- Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander**: 11.9%
- White (non-Hispanic): 9.85%
- More than one of the above: 12.41%
- Other: 13.70%
Relationship problems
- American Indian or Alaska Native: 51.41%
- Asian: 52.98%
- Black or African American (non-Hispanic): 54.28%
- Hispanic or Latino: 53.59%
- Middle Eastern or North African*: 51.07%
- Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander**: 53.05%
- White (non-Hispanic): 49.85%
- More than one of the above: 52.78%
- Other: 51.02%
Body image or self-image
- American Indian or Alaska Native: 62.45%
- Asian: 56.35%
- Black or African American (non-Hispanic): 53.21%
- Hispanic or Latino: 64.31%
- Middle Eastern or North African*: 58.67%
- Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander**: 57.54%
- White (non-Hispanic): 59.71%
- More than one of the above: 62.16%
- Other: 58.96%
School or work problems
- American Indian or Alaska Native: 41.97%
- Asian: 56.07%
- Black or African American (non-Hispanic): 41.09%
- Hispanic or Latino: 44.61%
- Middle Eastern or North African*: 51.11%
- Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander**: 41.06%
- White (non-Hispanic): 40.27%
- More than one of the above: 43.17%
- Other: 42.62%
Basic needs (no food or housing)
- American Indian or Alaska Native: 4.33%
- Asian: 1.36%
- Black or African American (non-Hispanic): 4.60%
- Hispanic or Latino: 2.57%
- Middle Eastern or North African*: 1.89%
- Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander**: 4.32%
- White (non-Hispanic): 2.89%
- More than one of the above: 3.25%
- Other: 3.39%
Financial problems
- American Indian or Alaska Native: 14.36%
- Asian: 13.49%
- Black or African American (non-Hispanic): 25.91%
- Hispanic or Latino: 19.22%
- Middle Eastern or North African*: 13.80%
- Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander**: 23.15%
- White (non-Hispanic): 21.07%
- More than one of the above: 17.41%
- Other: 13.40%
Loneliness or isolation
- American Indian or Alaska Native: 46.12%
- Asian: 49.80%
- Black or African American (non-Hispanic): 49.31%
- Hispanic or Latino: 49.96%
- Middle Eastern or North African*: 48.37%
- Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander**: 47.34%
- White (non-Hispanic): 47.80%
- More than one of the above: 50.48%
- Other: 45.28%
Grief or loss of someone or something
- American Indian or Alaska Native: 19.75%
- Asian: 9.91%
- Black or African American (non-Hispanic): 16.96%
- Hispanic or Latino: 13.42%
- Middle Eastern or North African*: 11.92%
- Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander**: 16.61%
- White (non-Hispanic): 17.22%
- More than one of the above: 15.71%
- Other: 16.36%
Racism, homophobia, transphobia, or discrimination
- American Indian or Alaska Native: 7.50%
- Asian: 5.56%
- Black or African American (non-Hispanic): 6.57%
- Hispanic or Latino: 4.18%
- Middle Eastern or North African*: 6.15%
- Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander**: 5.10%
- White (non-Hispanic): 4.46%
- More than one of the above: 7.64%
- Other: 8.25%
*Middle Eastern or North African was not added as an option on the demographic questions until May 2021.
**Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander was not added as an option on the demographic questions until May 2021.