Mental health crises and help-seeking among US adults in 2024-2025

Introduction: Mental health crises—including suicidal thoughts and other acute psychological distress—are pressing public health concerns in the United States. However, little is known about how many people experience a crisis, who is most affected, or what services they seek. Methods: We analyzed nationally representative data from wave 6 of the CLIMB study, collected March 27-April 30, 2025 (N = 1916). We estimated past-year prevalence of self-reported mental health crises, identified demographic and clinical correlates, and examined help-seeking behaviors and barriers to care. Results: Nearly 1 in 10 adults (8.9%) reported a mental health crisis in the past year. Prevalence was highest among adults aged 18-29 (15.1%) and among Black (11.8%) and Hispanic (10.5%) individuals. Mental health crises were more common among those with probable depression (22.4%), PTSD (22.4%), or housing instability (37.9%). Among those who sought help (72.6%), some contacted the 988 hotline (17.5%) and fewer used a mobile crisis team (9.9%); most relied on health care providers (53.2%) or family and friends (39.8%). Conclusion: Mental health crises are common but often go unaddressed by formal services. Expanding public awareness and improving access to timely, trusted support remain key challenges.