Responsibility.org believes education is key to making the individual decisions that add up to a lifetime of alcohol responsibility. As an organization, we recognize that we must continue to address emerging risks, target interventions, and expand collaboration among stakeholders. Mental health is one of these emerging risks in each of our mission areas, as well as in the hospitality industry.
The relationship between mental health and alcohol misuse is growing in significance, therefore we will continue to take opportunities to educate and advocate for screening and treatment.
While not always related to mental illness, mental health conditions are among the most common health conditions in the United States.
Source: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 2025 Annual National Report. July 2026
Overconsumption of alcohol can negatively affect an individual’s mental health in a number of ways, including changes in brain chemistry, hangovers, and reactions to life’s challenges.
- 49% of consumers agree that “alcohol consumption has an impact on their mental health.”
(Source: APCO Insights, Alcohol Consumption Tracking Study, 2025, commissioned by Responsibility.org) - 64% of consumers and 75% of healthcare workers see “using alcohol to deal with stress, anxiety, or mental health issues” as a risk factor to drinking in excess of recommended guidelines.
(Source: APCO Insights, Alcohol Consumption Tracking Study, 2024, commissioned by Responsibility.org; Reputation, Inc., Alcohol Responsibility and Mental Health Benchmark, 2024, commissioned by Responsibility.org)
54.6M
In 2025, 20.6% of adults aged 18 or older (54.6 million) had a mental illness (mental, behavioral or emotional disorder excluding developmental or substance use disorders) in the past year, including 18.2 million who had a serious mental illness.
15.3%
In 2025, 44.6 million people aged 12 or older (15.3%) had a substance use disorder (SUD) in the past year, including 25.7 million people who had an alcohol use disorder (AUD), 26.0 million people who had a drug use disorder (DUD), and 7.1 million people who had both.
In 2025, about 18% of adolescents aged 12 to 17 (4.6 million) had moderate or severe anxiety symptoms in the past 2 weeks and 15.1% (or 3.7 million) had past year major depressive episode.
18.5M
adults, 18 or older, had a co-occurring mental illness and substance use disorder.
6.6%
In 2025, 6.6% of adults aged 18 or older (17.5 million) had moderate or severe symptoms of anxiety in the past 2 weeks.
More statistics about the prevalence of mental illness are available here.
Help is available. Seeking professional help when needed can be crucial to maintaining mental health and well-being. In 2025, nearly 57.3 million adults report receiving mental health treatment, and nearly 7.1 million adults aged 18 or older received substance use treatment.
Source: SAMHSA, 2025 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 7/2026
If a mental health or substance use challenge is affecting you or someone you know, there are many resources available including helplines, online support groups, apps and in-person counseling, etc. Explore the resources below to learn more or get connected with help. For medical advice or diagnosis, consult a physician or other professional.
Mental Health & Underage Drinking Prevention:
Keeping Kids Safe
Mental Health Resources for Parents and Families
Because mental health challenges often go hand-in-hand with underage drinking and substance use, the need for providing kids with healthy tools to manage their mental health is essential to keeping them safe. As parents, it is important to encourage your kids to develop good practices for positive communication and smart decision making. Whether it is checking in on how your kids are feeling, modeling appropriate coping strategies or connecting your kids to a mental health professional, parents can do a lot to support their kids’ mental health during this important time in their lives. Below are some resources that can help you with conversations with your kids around mental health.
Responsibility.org’s Ask, Listen, Learn: Kids and Alcohol Don’t Mix program offers resources to help parents talk about the risks of underage drinking and underage marijuana use, with a specific section on mental health and substance use.
The mental health resources also include a short video that explains the impact of alcohol and cannabis on the developing brain, which is directly related to mental health.
Teenagers are faced with countless pressures – on top of academics, sports, and extracurriculars, kids today are growing up with technology, social media and increased stress and anxiety. Navigating these years with your kids can prove overwhelming for any family; giving them the tools to make good decisions despite the pressure and stress they may face is crucial.
On Responsibility is a video series featuring unique leaders in parenting and beyond. Our experts offer thoughtful and practical advice to parents as they navigate the teenage years with their kids, sharing skills and tips they’ve learned to help raise responsible teenagers.
View all of the On Responsibility videos here.
Additional Resources for Parents and Families
- Center for Parent & Teen Communication: Information for families and teens to strengthen family connections and encourage conversation about a number of topics relating to emotional health.
- Children and Mental Health: Is this Just a Stage: Resources and information the National Institute of Mental Health about mental health disorders and children.
- Erika’s Lighthouse Family Resources: Evidence-informed resources that provide the knowledge and tools you need to support children’s mental well-being.
- National Alliance on Mental Illness- Kids, Teens, and Young Adults: Essential information and resources intended to help young people get the mental health support they need.
- National Institutes of Health Emotional Wellness Toolkit: Includes tips for coping with feelings, traumatic events.
- Partnership to End Addiction – Is My Child at Risk: A risk assessment to help parents better understand their risks related to mental health.
- You Are Okay – Mental health is different for teens and young adults. Created by the Child Mind Institute, You Are Okay is a digital resource for teens and young adults navigating mental health issues, designed to help individuals get answers, find the words to describe how they are feeling, and to empower them in life in general.
Mental Health & Safer Roads:
Eliminating Drunk and Impaired Driving
Mental Health Resources for the Complex DUI System
Mental health and impaired driving are interconnected public safety issues. Research has shown that untreated mental health conditions and substance use disorders can contribute to behaviors that increase the risk of impaired driving, making prevention, early intervention, and access to care critical components of traffic safety.
Responsibility.org’s National Alliance to Stop Impaired Driving (NASID) is advancing this work through the Mental Health and Impaired Driving Working Group, which brings together experts to identify solutions at the intersection of behavioral health and roadway safety.
Understanding and addressing the connection between impaired driving and mental health is essential to reducing repeat offenses and improving long-term outcomes.
Responsibility.org has partnered with the Cambridge Health Alliance Division on Addiction, a Harvard Medical School teaching hospital, for more than 15 years to develop and advance the Computerized Assessment and Referral System (CARS). Designed for use with individuals convicted of impaired driving offenses, CARS Connect helps identify mental health disorders, alcohol dependence, and drug dependence that may contribute to impaired driving behavior.
Public education also plays an important role in helping people understand how mental health, substance use, and impaired driving can intersect. Individuals taking medications for mental health conditions should be educated about how mixing medications (even those prescribed by a medical professional) with alcohol or other drugs can lead to impairment and dangerous driving behaviors, even when the effects are unintentional.
Mental Health & Responsible Alcohol Choices
Keeping Individuals Safe
Understanding the Connection between Mental Health and Alcohol Consumption
Alcohol should not be used as a coping mechanism or treatment for stress, anxiety, depression, or other mental health challenges. While it may seem to provide temporary relief, alcohol can worsen mental health symptoms and make it harder to recognize or address underlying concerns.
Healthy coping strategies can support both mental and physical well-being.
Consider activities such as:
- Exercising and spending time outdoors
- Practicing mindfulness and meditation
- Spending time with supportive friends and family
- Engaging in hobbies
- Taking time away from social media “doomscrolling”
- Getting adequate sleep
- Talking to a professional
Seeking support is a sign of strength. Talking with a mental health professional, support group, or trusted healthcare provider can help individuals develop effective, evidence-based strategies for managing life’s challenges.
Building healthy habits over time can improve resilience and overall well-being. Small, consistent actions that support mental health can help individuals navigate stress and maintain a healthier, more balanced lifestyle.
Mental Health Resources for Individuals
Helplines and Treatment Resources
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: Offers 24/7 judgment-free support for mental health, substance use, and more. Text, call, or chat 988.
- FindTreatment.gov: A confidential and anonymous resource for persons seeking treatment for mental and substance use disorders in the United States and its territories.
- Psychologist Locator: A tool developed by the American Psychological Association to make it easy for you to find practicing psychologists in your local area.
- SAMHSA’s National Helpline or 1-800-662-HELP (4357): A free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders.
- SAMHSA- Find Support: Resources from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration to help find health care or support for issues with mental health, drugs, or alcohol.
- Veterans Crisis Line: Free and confidential support for veterans and their loved ones to call, chat or text to connect with a qualified responder. Dial 988 then press 1 or text 838255.
- Additional support and resources might be available through your employer’s employee assistance program (EAP).
Screening and Assessment Resources
- AlcoholScreening.org: A screening tool for individuals to assess their own and others’ alcohol drinking patterns to determine if it is harming their health or increasing their risk for future harm.
Substance Abuse Resources
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism Navigator: The NIAAA Alcohol Treatment Navigator® has been developed by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), a part of the National Institutes of Health. The NIAAA is the lead U.S. research agency studying the causes, outcomes, prevention, and treatment of alcohol-related problems.
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Helpline: SAMHSA’s National Helpline is a free, confidential, 24/7, 365-day-a-year treatment referral and information service (in English and Spanish) for individuals and families facing mental and/or substance use disorders.
Additional Resources on Alcohol and Mental Health
- National Institute of Health- Emotional Wellness Toolkit: A collection of tools with tips for coping with feelings, traumatic events and depression.
- National Institute of Mental Health- Factsheets: Information on mental disorders and related topics for the general public, including patients and their families, health professionals, and other audiences offered in English and Spanish.
- National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism- Alcohol’s Effects on Health: Science-based information on the effects of alcohol on health from National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.
- NIAAA Treatment Navigator: Resource from the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism to help adults find alcohol treatment for themselves or an adult loved one.
Mental Health, Responsibility, & Hospitality
Mental Health Resources for the Hospitality Industry
Members of the hospitality industry serve diners, patrons and guests with a goal of making sure they have a great time and enjoy the experience. These same workers work long hours in high-pressure environments, which can lead to unhealthy consumption of alcohol and drugs as a means of coping with stress. It is important for individuals working in this industry to be provided specific tools and resources to support their mental health.
Hospitality Industry Statistics
- Nearly 1 in 5 employees in the hospitality industry reported the use of illicit drugs within the past month, the highest rate of any industry. (SAMHSA)
- 12% of hospitality employees engaged in heavy alcohol use during the past month. (SAMHSA)
- 17% of hospitality industry employees were diagnosed with a substance use disorder, the highest rate of any industry. (SAMHSA)
- 84% of food, beverage and hospitality workers reporting that they feel stress from their job and 65% of those workers reporting using substances at work. (CHOW)
Hospitality Support Groups and Resources
- Culinary Hospitality Outreach Wellness (CHOW): A non-profit mental health and wellness support group for people who work in food, beverage, and hospitality.
- Southern Smoke Foundation: No-cost counseling for food and beverage workers.
- Ben’s Friends: A coalition for sober people in the food and beverage industry committed to their sobriety in an industry filled with drugs, alcohol, and stress.