Journaling &
mental wellness
statistics

23.1%

of U.S. adults

An estimated 59.3 million adults had a mental illness in 2022. That is the broad national context, not a measure of journaling or a diagnosis.

36.2%

of adults ages 18–25

This age group had the highest past-year prevalence of any mental illness in the same 2022 national estimate.

40%

of U.S. high school students

reported persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness in 2023. CDC rounds this figure to four in ten.

20%

of U.S. high school students

seriously considered attempting suicide in 2023. Nearly one in ten reported an attempt. These findings point to the importance of real support, not a do-it-yourself fix.

77%

of U.S. adults surveyed

called the future of the nation a significant source of stress in 2024, the most commonly reported stressor in the survey.

65%

of U.S. adults surveyed

said housing costs were a significant source of stress in 2024.

31

randomised writing studies

were included in a 2023 review of expressive writing, representing 4,012 participants with follow-up assessments.

−0.12

small overall effect size

The same review found a small, statistically significant reduction in depression, anxiety and stress symptoms for expressive writing in healthy and subclinical samples. It does not show that journaling replaces professional care.