Teens Open Up About Mental Health Struggles in Latest NAMI Poll

The 2022 NAMI poll on teen mental health reveals that while many teens recognize the importance of mental health, barriers to care remain.

Published May 9, 2023 | 1 min read

Key Points

  • 1 in 6 teens report experiencing negative emotions all the time or often, with girls more likely to say they are anxious or stressed out often or all the time
  • 1 in 4 have been diagnosed with a mental health condition, with 28% reporting having received mental health treatment
  • Teens want schools to play a big role in their mental health, and they trust the information they get there

The 2022 NAMI poll on teen mental health provides insights into the mental health experiences of teens across the U.S. The report is based on a survey of 1,015 teenagers between the ages of 12 and 17, conducted in July and August of 2022.

Read the Full Report

According to the poll, a quarter of teens have been diagnosed with a mental health condition. This trend is also reflected in the fact that a majority of teens (64%) feel the world is more stressful now than when their parents were their age. A similar percentage (65%) said they felt comfortable talking about their mental health, but less than half (48%) talked regularly with their parents, and only 22% reached out to their friends.


Overall, the poll underscores the need for increased access to mental health care for teens and for continued efforts to reduce the stigma surrounding mental health concerns. It also highlights the importance of addressing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on teen mental health.

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