Mental Health of Emerging Adults in New York City in 2023

Bibliographic Data

ID11018399
AuthorsRachel Su (0000-0002-0537-6694, Rachel Suss, Jo-Anne Caton, Melanie Close, Ellenie Tuazon, and Christina Norman are with the New York City (NYC) Health Department. Dewi Sihaloho was with the NYC Health Department at the time of this study.), Jo-Anne Caton (Rachel Suss, Jo-Anne Caton, Melanie Close, Ellenie Tuazon, and Christina Norman are with the New York City (NYC) Health Department. Dewi Sihaloho was with the NYC Health Department at the time of this study.), Melanie Close (0000-0002-8566-8389, Rachel Suss, Jo-Anne Caton, Melanie Close, Ellenie Tuazon, and Christina Norman are with the New York City (NYC) Health Department. Dewi Sihaloho was with the NYC Health Department at the time of this study.), Dewi Sihaloho (0009-0008-8181-6904, Rachel Suss, Jo-Anne Caton, Melanie Close, Ellenie Tuazon, and Christina Norman are with the New York City (NYC) Health Department. Dewi Sihaloho was with the NYC Health Department at the time of this study.), Ellenie Tuazon (0000-0002-8779-1604, Rachel Suss, Jo-Anne Caton, Melanie Close, Ellenie Tuazon, and Christina Norman are with the New York City (NYC) Health Department. Dewi Sihaloho was with the NYC Health Department at the time of this study.), Christina Norman (0000-0003-1746-8622, Rachel Suss, Jo-Anne Caton, Melanie Close, Ellenie Tuazon, and Christina Norman are with the New York City (NYC) Health Department. Dewi Sihaloho was with the NYC Health Department at the time of this study.)
Year2025
Volume115
Issue9
Pages1426-1435
Publication date2025-09-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueAmerican Journal of Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0090-0036 • E-ISSN: 1541-0048
PublisherAmerican Public Health Association (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.2105/ajph.2025.308163
PMID40643379
OpenAlexW4412200876
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited22

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. 2025;115(9):1426–1435. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2025.308163 )

Environmental health · Mental health · Psychiatry · Family Support in Illness · Health disparities and outcomes · Medicine · Mental Health Treatment and Access · Gerontology

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