Poll of Public Perspectives on the U.S. Mental Health Care System (2025)

A NAMI/Ipsos poll conducted in Fall 2025 found overwhelming public support for policymaker action to address the mental health needs of Americans. Additionally, the poll highlights continued strong support for NAMI’s 988 and crisis response policies and protecting Medicaid. Dig into the results further with this slide deck.

Jump to Key Findings:

• Key Findings on State of Americans’ Mental Health
• Key Findings on Taking Action to Address Mental Health Needs
• Key Findings on Federal Cuts to Mental Health System
• Key Findings on 988 & Crisis Response
• Key Findings on Medicaid
• Other Key Findings
• Resources

Key Findings on State of Americans’ Mental Health

• 1 in 6 people (17%) currently say they have poor mental health.
• Americans are currently facing many factors negatively impacting their mental health, including uncertainty about the future (80% negative impact), cost of living increases (78%), financial worries or debt (71%), health concerns (64%), the political environment (63%), news and current events (62%), social isolation or loneliness (56%), and the October-November federal government shutdown (55%).

Key Findings on Taking Action to Address Mental Health Needs

• 57% of adults have an unfavorable view of the current state of the U.S. mental health care system.
• Americans believe their policymakers are doing too little to address the current state of mental health care in the U.S.
  • 64% say Congress is doing too little, while 58% say the same about the president.
  • At the state level, 46% say the same about their governor and 50% say their state legislature is doing too little.
• Nearly two in three (64%) say the U.S. spends too little on resources for mental health services.
• Americans believe federal funding for mental health care (63%), affordable housing (60%), suicide prevention programs (55%) and 988 (55%) should be a high priority for Congress.

Key Findings on Federal Cuts to Mental Health System

• 73% of Americans oppose cutting federal jobs and programs focused on mental health services, opioid treatment, suicide prevention programs, and the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Half (49%) strongly oppose these cuts.
• If significant federal jobs were cut, Americans are concerned about the possible negative impacts on:
  • Mental health services for veterans (85% concerned)
  • 988’s ability to answer calls (79%)
  • Suicide prevention programs in schools (76%)
  • Mental health services in their community (75%)
  • Mental health research and data collection (71%)
• 83% of U.S. adults support protecting federal funding to help people access mental health care.

Key Findings on 988 & Crisis Response

• Awareness of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline has remained steady since the last NAMI/Ipsos poll in Summer 2025.
  • Nearly three-quarters of Americans have at least heard of 988 (73%).
  • One in four are very or somewhat familiar with 988 (25%).
• Public support remains high for policies that create 24/7 crisis call centers (91% support), as well as providing state funding (89%) and federal funding (87%) for 988 and crisis response services.
• 86% of Americans support policies that raise awareness of the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline by adding 988 to K-12 student identification cards.
• When someone is in a mental health or suicidal crisis, 85% of Americans believe people should receive a mental health response, not a police response.
• Nearly two in three Americans (64%) support funding services for LGBTQ+ youth, who are at a higher risk to attempt suicide than their peers, as part of 988. These services were eliminated on July 17, a move NAMI opposed.

Key Findings on Medicaid

• Three in four (76%) people agree that Medicaid is an essential program for providing health care to vulnerable populations.
• Seven in ten (70%) believe that Medicaid funding cuts would lead to worse health outcomes for low-income individuals and families.
• 64% agree that Medicaid saves lives by helping people access mental health care.
• Two in three (65%) disagree that Medicaid funding should be cut to reduce government spending.
  • In fact, 83% support protecting federal Medicaid funding to help people access mental health care.
• Three in five people (61%) oppose stripping Medicaid coverage from people who are working but did not submit the correct paperwork. Learn more at nami.org/workrequirements.
• More than half of Americans (58%) have a favorable view of Medicaid.

Other Key Findings

• Three in four Americans (75%) support providing federal funding for installation of suicide prevention measures, including barriers or netting on bridges.
• People were asked how likely, if at all, they are to use artificial intelligence (AI) in the next six months:
  • Seek mental health treatment or therapy from an AI chatbot:
    • 4% are very likely or already doing it
    • 85% are unlikely to do so
  • Use an AI-based app for mental health treatment or therapy
    • 4% are very likely or already doing it
    • 84% are unlikely to do so
  • Seek health advice from an AI chatbot:
    • 7% are very likely or already doing it
    • 77% are unlikely to do so
  • In an appointment with a health care provider:
    • 9% are very likely or already doing it
    • 74% are unlikely to do so
  • Schedule a medical appointment using an AI chatbot:
    • 9% are very likely or already doing it
    • 70% are unlikely to do so

Resources:

• Press Release: New NAMI Poll Shows Americans Want Congress to Act as Mental Health System Reaches Breaking Point
• Poll Topline Results & Methodology
• Poll Research Slide Deck