Mental health is foundational to TB12. It is the bedrock on which cognitive performance and other measures are based.
But we are leaving performance and talking about actual mental health. Without it, nothing else works.
When looking at the state of the union, the numbers paint a pretty ominous picture.
According to the Mental Health America 2024 State of Mental Health in America Report, nearly 60 million adults, one in four, wrestled with mental illness last year, and 13 million had serious thoughts of suicide.
Those aren’t just statistics. They’re wake-up calls.
The numbers keep coming.
The CDC reported in 2023 that America’s youth are feeling it even more; two in five high schoolers say they’re stuck in sadness or hopelessness. Zooming out, Gen Z, as a whole, has been reported to suffer from the highest rates of mental illness, most notably anxiety, of any other age group.
This isn’t about weakness. It’s about reality.
Luckily, there is a flipside to this reality.
Americans are resilient. When we see a problem, we fix it.
Change starts with acknowledging the problem and putting in the work to fix it at the individual level. According to the American Psychiatric Association, 33% of us made mental health resolutions for 2025, the highest rate in years. Therapy, mindfulness, and self-care are moving from the margins to the mainstream, especially among younger adults.
The stigma is cracking, and the conversation is louder than ever.
As conversation continues and the mental health status of the nation continues to be scrutinized, real changes are being made on a much larger scale. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has started to expand efforts like the expanded 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, and new crisis care models are making it easier to get help.
While improvements are being made, the work isn’t done. Some barriers remain. Too many still face high costs, long waits, or no providers at all (source).
America’s emotional health is bruised but not broken. The grind is real, but so is the resolve. People are talking, reaching out, and demanding better.
While progress has been slow, it is picking up speed. One conversation, one act of courage, one day at a time. That’s how resilience is built. That’s how we move forward.
Mental health is not a joke. It isn’t a talking point. It’s a foundational pillar of the TB12 lifestyle.
For those out there fighting the mental health battle, know we see you. We know your struggle, because we have been there.
If you or someone close to you is struggling with mental health, we encourage you to reach out to the many services in your area and get help.
You are not alone. Together, we can climb out of the valleys of mental illness and stand with the sun on our faces again.
