Nearly one-quarter of American adults (22.8%), or almost 60 million, were living with mental illness during the past year. Recent survey data indicate that mental health conditions are even more common: One-half (51%) of Americans “have experienced depression, anxiety or some other mental or emotional condition in the past 12 months,” according to a 2024 West Health and Gallup survey.
Over the course of their lives, nearly one-half (46%) of Americans “will meet the criteria for a diagnosable mental health condition”; one-half of these cases start by 14 years of age and three-fourths by 24. In 2023, 18% of adolescents, or 4.5 million, had past-year major depressive episodes and 12.3%, or 3.2 million, had past-year serious thoughts of suicide. Among children and adolescents, 10%, or 6.5 million, have ADHD, and from 2016 to 2020, they had “significant increases” in anxiety (7% to 9%) and depression (3% to 4%).
nside Philanthropy has published columns and analyses revealing the relative lack of philanthropic funding for mental health in general and mental health research in particular. U.S. mental health research funding was only $2.6 billion in 2018 — a decrease from previous years — of which philanthropy accounted for just 1.3%, according to the latest available data from the International Alliance of Mental Health Research Funders. Moreover, half of Ph.D.s leave academic research within five years of graduation due to lack of funding, undercutting the potential for research breakthroughs.
As Inside Philanthropy has noted: “The lack of funding for research on mental health is a perennial issue. While more philanthropic support is going to research, these resources pale in comparison to amounts going for cancer, heart disease and other conditions that affect similar numbers of people.” These gaps have prompted some foundations and nonprofit organizations to step up. By expanding the scale and scope of investment in research, foundations can reduce the burden of mental health conditions for millions of Americans, as well as globally.
While the mental health research community has made significant progress, additional funding is needed for prevention, diagnosis and treatment advancements to improve outcomes. The tens of millions of Americans, and countless people globally, managing mental health conditions require it.
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