New NAMI Poll Shows Americans Want Congress to Act as Mental Health System Reaches Breaking Point

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Nearly one in five rate their mental health as poor, and large majorities oppose federal cuts to services, housing, Medicaid, and suicide prevention.

ARLINGTON, Va., Dec. 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- With the country's mental health system reaching a breaking point, the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) released a new poll today highlighting Americans' concerns about the nation's mental health system and showing their strong support for Congress to address the mental health needs of Americans. As recent federal actions cut funding from important services and support, including supportive housing, early intervention, and Medicaid coverage, the new poll finds Americans overwhelmingly oppose federal cuts for mental health-related programs and are concerned about their negative impacts.

"At NAMI, we hear every day how hard hit our communities are by federal cuts while demand for mental health support is skyrocketing — and this new poll shows the public is noticing, too," said NAMI CEO Daniel H. Gillison, Jr. "People are worried about their finances, their housing, and the uncertainty around them, including what kind of mental health care and support will be there for them moving forward. With the strain on the country's mental health system growing more dire, we have to come together and provide the resources that our communities need. We urge policymakers to act quickly to keep mental health care and services within reach for people who need it."

Today's poll of 2,046 U.S. adults, conducted with Ipsos, finds:

"Far too many Americans are stressed out and struggling, worried about staying afloat or the collective uncertainty we face. This NAMI/Ipsos research once again highlights the continuing support for policymakers to do more to address the mental health needs of our country," said Mallory Newall, Vice President at Ipsos.

NAMI advocates from around the country are on Capitol Hill today to push for extension of enhanced Advance Premium Tax Credits (eAPTCs), protection of federal funding for mental health, and suicide prevention and workforce programs. NAMI will continue advocating with Congress and the Administration to protect federal mental health funding, programs, and staff – and ensure that lived experience of people with mental illness and the public's perspectives are heard loud and clear.

Find more poll findings at nami.org/Dec2025Poll.

This NAMI/Ipsos poll was conducted November 7 – 9, 2025, by Ipsos using the probability-based KnowledgePanel®. This poll is based on a nationally representative probability sample of 2,046 general population adults age 18 or older. The survey has a margin of error of ± 2.3 percentage points. Learn more about the poll methodology.

The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is the nation's largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to improving the lives of individuals and families affected by mental illness.

SOURCE National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

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