Mental Health of Emerging Adults in New York City in 2023.

Abstract

Objectives. To investigate the prevalence of serious psychological distress (SPD), mental health treatment, unmet need for mental health treatment, social isolation, and barriers to treatment access among emerging adults, aged 18 to 24 years, and compared with older adults. Methods. We use data from the New York City (NYC) Neighborhood Wellness Survey (2023), a representative survey of adults in NYC (n = 43 606), to calculate weighted prevalence estimates and fit logistic regression models controlling for sociodemographic characteristics. Results. Emerging adults had higher odds of SPD and social isolation than adults aged 35 to 44 years, 45 to 64 years, and 65 years or older, and lower odds of past-year mental health treatment among those with SPD compared with all other age groups. Emerging adults reported different reasons for unmet need for mental health treatment than other age groups. Among emerging adults, individuals who identified as noncisgender, bisexual, or unsure of their sexual orientation, or who experienced financial strain, violence, or discrimination, had poorer mental health outcomes. Conclusions. These findings demonstrate the need for expanded efforts to increase mental health treatment access focused on those aged 18 to 24 years, as their needs may differ from those of other age groups. (Am J Public Health. Published online ahead of print July 10, 2025:e1-e10. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2025.308163).