Understanding Population Mental Health to Promote and Improve Mental Well-Being

National Institute On Minority Health And Health Disparities

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Abstract

In FY25, as part of our program objectives, we focused on identifying factors that contribute to mental health in the US. In one of our studies, we examined the intersection of chronic diseases, race and/or ethnicity, sex, and insurance coverage. The findings provide important insights into how these factors interact to shape risks for psychological distress and highlight opportunities to strengthen population-level mental health strategies. The study revealed a dose–response relationship: as the number of chronic diseases increased, so did the risk of psychological distress. These results underscore the importance of integrating mental health care into chronic disease management to improve both physical and psychological outcomes. The results also revealed important disparities. Psychological distress was more common among female, uninsured individuals, and those with lower socioeconomic status. Moreover, the effects of chronic diseases on psychological distress varied by sex, race and/or ethnicity, and insurance coverage. For example, uninsured individuals with multiple chronic diseases faced the highest risk of psychological distress. These findings indicate that addressing mental health requires a tailored approach. Since mental health challenges contribute to premature mortality, higher health spending, and years of potential life lost, reducing psychological distress could substantially improve national health outcomes and reduce healthcare costs. In another study, we examined the relationships between attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnosis, physical activity, parental nativity, and anxiety/depression among children, and whether parental nativity moderated the association between physical activity and mental health. Our findings showed that engaging in physical activity significantly reduced the likelihood of anxiety and depression for all children, regardless of ADHD status. Children who exercised at least 1–3 days a week had lower odds of mental health issues, with the strongest benefits observed among those active most days. These results demonstrate that both physical activity and parental influence play important roles in shaping children’s mental health.