Mental Health in Asian Americans

Mental health is about how we think, feel, and connect with others. It affects how we handle stress, make decisions, and go about our daily lives. When our mental health is good, it helps us take care of our responsibilities and enjoy life. When it is not, it can affect our physical health, our self-esteem, and how we behave and relate to other people.

Some people have mental health symptoms that are strong, long-lasting, and make it hard to function day to day. This may be a sign of a mental health condition, such as depression, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), or panic disorder. Others may not have a diagnosed condition but still struggle with their mental health. This can include feeling stressed, anxious, overwhelmed, or emotionally distressed.

Mental Health Status

Adults

Adults ages 18 and over who regularly had feelings of worry, nervousness, or anxiety, percentage, 2024
AsianTotal PopulationRatio (Asian / Total)
6.412.20.52
Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. (2025). Interactive summary health statistics for adults: Percentage of regularly had feelings of worry, nervousness, or anxiety for adults aged 18 and over, United States, 2024. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Any mental illness in the past year among persons ages 18 and over, percentage, 2024
Asian*Total PopulationRatio (Asian* / Total)
17.023.40.73
Source: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality. (2025). Results from the 2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Mental health detailed tables (Table 6.7B). U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Serious psychological distress in the past year among persons ages 18 and over, percentage, 2024
Asian*Total PopulationRatio (Asian* / Total)
10.213.90.73
Source: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality. (2025). Results from the 2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Mental health detailed tables (Table 6.88B). U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Major depressive episode in the past year among persons ages 18 and over, percentage, 2024
Asian*Total PopulationRatio (Asian* / Total)
5.68.20.68
Source: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality. (2025). Results from the 2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Mental health detailed tables (Table 6.41B). U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Adolescents

Students in grades 9–12 who seriously considered attempting suicide in the past 12 months, percentage, 2023
Asian*Total PopulationRatio (Asian* / Total)
Male11.014.10.78
Female18.027.10.67
Both Sexes14.420.40.71
Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System. (2024). 1991-2023 High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey data: High school students who seriously considered attempting suicide. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Students in grades 9–12 who attempted suicide in the past 12 months, percentage, 2023
Asian*Total PopulationRatio (Asian* / Total)
Male7.16.41.10
Female8.812.60.70
Both Sexes8.09.50.84
Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System. (2024). 1991-2023 High School Youth Risk Behavior Survey data: High school students who actually attempted suicide. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Mortality

Adults

Age-adjusted death rates for suicide by sex, race, and Hispanic origin, 2022
Asian*Total PopulationRatio (Asian* / Total)
Male10.123.00.44
Female3.95.90.66
Both Sexes6.914.20.49
Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Health Statistics. (2025). Deaths: Final data for 2022 (National Vital Statistics Report, Vol. 74, No. 4, Table 11). U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Adolescents

Death rates for suicide: ages 15–19, 2022
Asian*Total PopulationRatio (Asian* / Total)
Male10.413.90.75
Female4.44.70.94
Both Sexes7.59.50.79
Source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. (2022). Web based injury statistics query and reporting system (WISQARS): Violent deaths report. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Health Care Use

Adults ages 18 and over who received mental health treatment in the past year, percentage, 2024
Asian*Total PopulationRatio (Asian* / Total)
12.522.90.55
Source: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality. (2025). Results from the 2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Mental health detailed tables (Table 6.21B). U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Adults ages 18 and over who received mental health treatment through prescription medication, percentage, 2024
Asian*Total PopulationRatio (Asian* / Total)
6.016.70.36
Source: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality. (2025). Results from the 2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Mental health detailed tables (Table 6.25B). U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Adults ages 18 and over with a major depressive episode in the past year who received treatment for depression, percentage, 2024
Asian*Total PopulationRatio (Asian* / Total)
48.064.40.75
Source: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, Center for Behavioral Health Statistics and Quality. (2025). Results from the 2024 National Survey on Drug Use and Health: Mental health detailed tables (Table 6.43B). U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

*Population is non-Hispanic in the data source.


Date Last Reviewed: January 2026