As economic stress, social shifts, and digital fatigue weigh on people’s daily lives, mental health has become a more urgent and personal priority. Rula’s 2025 State of Mental Health Report found that over half of Americans (53.4%) have accessed mental health services at some point in their lives. Of those who had accessed mental health services, 28.3% were currently in therapy and 25% had gone to therapy within the past year. Our report reveals themes around why people seek therapy, who tends to seek therapy, and other trends in the quest for improving mental health.
Even as seeking mental health support becomes more widely accepted, many people still face significant barriers to care. Our 2025 State of Mental Health Report reveals that cost remains the biggest obstacle to mental healthcare access, with a quarter of respondents (25%) saying that the cost of care would discourage them from seeking mental health support. Beyond cost, access to mental healthcare is shaped by a range of factors, with other notable differences across demographics.
Doug Newton, our Chief Medical Officer at Rula, reflected on the impact of cost and other barriers to care highlighted in the report: “The insights from this report underscore the importance of creating accessible, effective mental healthcare for everyone. As we see an increasing number of individuals seeking support, it’s clear that barriers to access are still pervasive, even though we’re making progress. At Rula, we are committed to bridging these gaps by providing access to personalized, quality, in-network care that is known to improve overall health outcomes and lower cost of care. This care is not only tailored to patients’ unique needs, but also easy to access when they need it most.”
When it comes to perceptions and pressures around mental health, 57.9% of those surveyed in our report say mental health has become more important to them in the last five years. And our report found that of the factors that influenced people to take action around their mental health, the strongest influence people reported was their close social circles. For example, 41.7% of respondents said they would be more likely to seek mental health support if they saw people in their close circle seeking support or speaking about it.
Mental health in America is evolving, and the 2025 State of Mental Health Report points to both the progress and the challenges that continue to shape how people access care. While the data reveals encouraging improvements in mental health awareness and access, it also shows that significant barriers still exist and that further attention is required to ensure people get the support they need.
Check out the full 2025 State of Mental Health Report for more insights on mental healthcare in a changing world.
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Rula's editorial team is on a mission to make science-backed mental health insights accessible and practical for every person seeking to better understand or improve mental wellness.
Members of Rula’s clinical leadership team and other expert providers contribute to all published content, offering guidance on themes and insights based on their firsthand experience in the field. Every piece of content is thoroughly reviewed by a clinician before publishing.
