49% of U.S. adults say living in America hurts their mental health

By AI, Created 5:27 AM UTC, May 28, 2026, /AGP/ – A new BasePoint BreakThrough survey of 1,000 U.S. adults finds rising costs, burnout, safety fears and falling trust are intensifying stress nationwide. Nearly half say living in America negatively affects their mental health or leaves them conflicted about staying.

Why it matters: - Nearly half of U.S. adults say living in America is hurting their mental health, pointing to a broad strain that goes beyond money and into sleep, relationships and daily functioning. - The findings suggest financial pressure, public-safety anxiety and declining trust in institutions are reinforcing each other. - The study also shows many Americans are changing behavior, avoiding care, and pulling back from public life because of stress.

What happened: - BasePoint BreakThrough surveyed 1,000 U.S. adults on emotional stress, financial stability, safety concerns and trust in institutions. - 49% said living in America negatively affects their mental health or leaves them conflicted about staying. - 62% said their stress is higher than a year ago. - 86% said rising living costs have reduced their optimism about the future. - 73% said the cost of living contributes to their stress.

The details: - 38% said their stress is somewhat higher than last year, and 24% said it is much higher. - Only 9% reported lower stress levels. - 36% said they experience occasional stress regularly. - 26% said they feel stressed or anxious several days a week. - 12% said they feel emotionally drained most days. - 10% said they feel overwhelmed nearly every day. - Women reported higher stress than a year ago at 65%, compared with 58% of men. - 44% said heavy police presence raises anxiety in public. - 41% said seeing someone openly carrying a firearm raises anxiety. - 41% said loud political arguments in public raise anxiety. - 36% said political protests raise anxiety. - 18% said they can comfortably cover expenses and still save money. - 31% said they can pay bills but struggle to save. - 29% said one unexpected expense would create financial hardship. - 20% said they struggle to cover basic living expenses. - 73% said rising living costs are a major source of day-to-day stress. - 62% pointed to a lack of affordable housing. - 57% pointed to a lack of affordable healthcare. - 55% pointed to gun violence. - 48% pointed to actions of the federal government. - 45% pointed to unregulated AI adoption. - 69% reported difficulty sleeping. - 66% said they feel emotionally withdrawn or disconnected. - 62% said they procrastinate or avoid responsibilities because of stress. - 61% said they feel overworked or burned out. - 61% reported increased irritability or anger. - 50% said stress has increased arguments with family or partners. - 53% said they avoid medical or mental healthcare because of cost. - 33% avoid concerts, sporting events or large gatherings. - 33% avoid nightlife areas. - 27% avoid shopping malls or retail centers. - 27% avoid downtown or urban centers. - 23% avoid public parks or outdoor spaces. - Nearly one-third said they have not changed their behavior because of safety concerns. - Respondents said they trust less in Immigration and Customs Enforcement at 60%. - 56% said they trust the federal government less. - 54% said they trust mainstream news media less. - 50% said they trust the U.S. healthcare system less. - 46% said they trust local government less.

Between the lines: - The results show stress is no longer just a mental health issue; it is affecting spending, medical access, work performance and social behavior. - The sharp drop in optimism about the future suggests Americans are reacting to persistent affordability pressures, not just short-term inflation. - The trust findings point to a wider confidence problem that may be shaping how people interpret safety, institutions and public policy.

What’s next: - The study argues that emotional support systems, healthier coping strategies and accessible mental health resources are becoming more important as stress remains elevated. - BasePoint BreakThrough says it provides mental health and behavioral treatment services for adults ages 18 to 35 and their families to help manage stress, anxiety, burnout and emotional well-being. - View the full study

The bottom line: - The survey suggests the pressures of modern American life are increasingly overlapping, leaving many adults more stressed, less trusting and less financially secure.