Mental Health is something that greatly affects the lives of all individuals within the United States each and every day. Therefore, it is a highly important issue that must be taken seriously and addressed in a pertinent manner, as demonstrated by the following statistics:

• 90% of adults think there is a mental health crisis in the country (KFF, 2025).
• 80% of adults say the cost of mental health care is a “big problem” in the U.S. (KFF, 2025).
• 51% of adults say a family member has experienced a severe mental health crisis (KFF, 2025)
• 47% of parents say the Covid-19 pandemic has had a negative impact on their child’s mental health (KFF, 2025).
• Nationwide, an estimated 52 million nonelderly adults live with mental illness, and Medicaid covers nearly one in three (29%) of them, or about 15 million adults (Saunders, et. al., 2025).
• More than ⅕ (20%) of adults live with a mental health condition (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2024).

If this issue continues to progress, it could lead to the closure of essential mental health programs, increased pressure on already limited mental health resources, and reduced access to evidence-based practices. Vulnerable populations would be disproportionately affected, and we may see an increased risk in mental health crises, suicide, and the overall deterioration of the mental well-being of citizens. Lastly, it would create an increased strain on mental health care providers, create a further economic burden, and perpetuate the already ongoing stigma and discrimination that surrounds mental health care as a whole (Neuroscience Institute, 2023; Chronic Disease Coalition, 2025; American Psychological Association; 2025).

Therefore, we are asking you to respond to this pertinent matter now. Mental health crises are on the rise, and delaying this process will only perpetuate this issue further by continuing to restrict the most at-risk populations from receiving the necessary care they need, furthering strains upon family, friends, and communities alike. By signing this petition you will aid in combating existing barriers, including high treatment costs, a shortage of mental health providers, the negative stigma that surrounds mental health, and insurance limitations (Exploring Barriers to Mental Health Care in the U.S., 2022).