As we head into a new year, many Americans are reporting anxiety about current events and/or future uncertainties, according to APA’s latest Healthy Minds Poll. Concurrently, 38% of adults say they plan to make a mental health–related New Year’s resolution, up 5% from the previous year’s survey.Why It’s Relevant
Whether it’s a gym membership, a new diet, or “Dry January,” lifestyle resolutions have long been popular. But as many health professionals advocate, one cannot have good physical health without good mental health, and vice versa.
By the Numbers
- Overall, 82% of respondents to the Healthy Minds Poll planned to make at least one New Year’s resolution for 2026.
- Resolutions centered on physical fitness (44%), financial goals (42%), and mental health (38%) were the top areas of focus.
- Younger adults ages 18 to 34 (58%) and 35 to 44 (51%) were much more likely to plan a mental health resolution than adults 45 to 64 (32%) and 65+ (11%).
- Among respondents who were planning mental health resolutions, 32% said they would see a mental health professional while 20% said they would try a mental health app.
Additional Context
- Overall, 22% of U.S. adults rated their mental health as excellent in 2025, while 41% rated it as good, 28% as fair, and 8% as poor.
- The 2025 values were lower than 2024, when 67% of adults rated their mental health as excellent or good.
Takeaway Message
“It’s encouraging to see more individuals planning to prioritize their mental health in 2026, particularly younger adults,” said APA President Theresa M. Miskimen Rivera, M.D. “The strategies people are embracing—such as regular physical activity, mindfulness practices, adequate sleep, time in nature, and engaging in therapy—reflect a growing recognition that mental health is deeply connected to daily habits. Even small. Intentional changes can have a meaningful and lasting impact on overall well-being.”
Source
APA Healthy Minds Poll, conducted by Morning Consult, December 2-3, 2025, among 2,208 adults.
APA Healthy Minds Poll, conducted by Morning Consult, December 2-3, 2025, among 2,208 adults.
(Image: Getty Images/iStock/LanaSweet)
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The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Department of Health and Human Services have issued a fourth extension of telemedicine flexibilities for the prescribing of controlled medications through December 31, 2026. This permits practitioners to remotely prescribe controlled substances to a patient so long as such prescriptions are issued for a legitimate medical purpose while acting in the usual course of professional practice and in compliance with other relevant federal and state statutes and regulations. APA will continue to advocate for a permanent solution to the teleprescribing of controlled medications. For more information about using telemedicine in your practice, refer to APA's telepsychiatry toolkit.
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