05/30/2026
Mental Health Awareness Month, observed each May, provides an important opportunity to increase understanding and support for individuals living with mental health conditions and disorders. In alignment with the Interagency Committee on Disability Research’s (ICDR) mission to improve the lives of people with disabilities through research, practice, and innovation, we are sharing key information, data, and resources to help increase awareness, encourage knowledge-sharing, and strengthen disability and mental health research.
Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention highlights the importance of this effort: an estimated 17.4 million adults with disabilities experience frequent mental distress, which is 32.9% of this population, a rate more than three times higher than that of adults without disabilities. These disparities underscore the need to expand awareness, invest in research, and advance advocacy efforts that support individuals with disabilities who are affected by mental health challenges.
Below, please find relevant data and resources for Mental Health Awareness Month.
Facts & Statistics
Adults with disabilities report frequent mental distress 4.6 times more often than adults without disabilities (CDC)
More than half of adults with both cognitive and mobility disabilities report frequent mental distress, indicating compounded risk across disability types (CDC)
In the United States, more than 1 in 4 adults live with a disability, highlighting the large population impacted by these disparities (CDC)
Frequent mental distress among people with disabilities is associated with chronic conditions, higher healthcare use, and limitations in daily functioning (CDC)
Adults with disabilities are more likely to experience barriers to healthcare access, including cost-related unmet needs, which are linked to worse mental health outcomes (CDC)
During crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic, people with disabilities experienced heightened mental health impacts due to isolation, disrupted routines, and reduced access to services (CDC)
Resources
Disability and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
National Institute of Mental Health
National Center on Health, Physical Activity and Disability
Independent Living Research Utilization Program
Healthy People 2030