Abstract: A new survey released by LifeStance Health in late July reveals a symptom known as stressflation is affecting many Americans. “The number of respondents who have been deterred from seeking mental health care due to financial constraints remains consistently high (60 per cent), increasing two percentage points from 2024,” a release from LifeStance, a provider of mental healthcare services.
A new survey released by LifeStance Health in late July reveals a symptom known as stressflation is affecting many Americans, with upwards of 83 per cent reporting financial stress driven by inflation, mass layoffs, the rising cost of living and recession fears.
No generation is spared it appears with Generation X, Generation Z and Millennials all reporting the most significant mental health impacts. A key finding relating to GenXers is this: When asked overall costs is deterring more people from starting therapy, 40 per cent of respondents said that it was. This compares to 17 per cent of baby boomers.
“The number of respondents who have been deterred from seeking mental health care due to financial constraints remains consistently high (60 per cent), increasing two percentage points from 2024,” according to a release from LifeStance, a provider of mental healthcare services.
“Those experiencing high financial stress levels are more than twice as likely to forgo mental health treatment due to cost, highlighting a mental health gap where financial strain exacerbates mental health challenges while limiting access to care.”
Dr. Rachel Dalthorp, the firm’s executive medical director, said that while people are prioritizing their mental health like never before, “economic challenges – from increased grocery bills to housing costs – are making it harder for many to get the care they need.
“As demand for mental health care continues to grow, our health care system must rise to meet that need by improving access to high-quality, affordable mental health care.”
Key findings include:
- Most Americans are experiencing financial stress driven by factors like inflation, the rising cost of living and recession fears, pointing to a heightened need for mental health care. An estimated 49 per cent of Gen X respondents surveyed feel this way. The numbers are even higher for Gen Z (58 per cent) and millennials (67 per cent.)
- Those experiencing high financial stress levels are more than twice as likely to forgo mental health treatment due to cost.
- An overwhelming 93 per cent of respondents view mental health care as at least as important as physical health care.
- Nearly one-third (30 per cent) consider mental health care to be more important than physical health care. Nearly half (47 per cent) of respondents said they skipped a therapy session due to cost. Respondents say the rising costs of everyday expenses – such as groceries (60 per cent), gas/transportation (43 per cent), housing (42 per cent) and utility bills (41 per cent) – are making it more challenging to pay for mental health care.
Results also revealed that despite those challenges, respondents are returning to therapy more quickly in 2025 than last year despite cost, suggesting a growing prioritization of mental health.
“More than four in ten (44 per cent) of respondents have had to choose between paying for mental health care and other critical life expenses,” the release stated. “Compared to 2024, respondents are returning to therapy sooner after cost-related breaks.” The findings are based on an online survey of 1,026 U.S. adults that took place in early June.
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