# Americans name mental health the top public-health priority for federal officials

Canonical page: https://data.verasight.io/health/americans-name-mental-health-the-top-public-health-priority-for-federal-officials/

> Indexed question in Health.

## Reading

Of all the health challenges the federal government could take on, one rises above the rest for Americans: three-in-ten (30%) name mental health as the most important public health issue for U.S. federal officials to focus on, according to a Verasight survey conducted Nov. 19-22, 2024.

Access to care follows at 20%, with gun violence (16%) and substance abuse (12%) next. Smaller shares prioritize nutrition (7%), environmental health (5%), or infectious diseases (5%), and 4% name something else.

## Topline

In your opinion, what is the most important public health issue U.S. federal officials should be focusing on at this time?

Americans name mental health the top public-health priority for federal officials.

- Mental health: 30.1%
- Access to care: 20.1%
- Gun violence: 15.9%
- Substance abuse: 12.3%
- Nutrition: 7.2%
- Environmental health: 5.3%
- Infectious diseases: 5.0%
- Other (please specify): 4.1%

## Methodology

- Mode: Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting
- Population: United States adults
- Field dates: 2024-11-19 → 2024-11-22
- Base (unweighted): 1,000
- Margin of error: +/- 3.4%
- Module: B
- Sponsor: Verasight
- Weight variable: weight
- Weighting targets: age, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status

## Source

- Canonical question URL: [https://verasight-apha-2024.tiiny.co#top-public-health-issue](https://verasight-apha-2024.tiiny.co#top-public-health-issue)

## Citation

Verasight APHA Omnibus Survey #2024-122, fielded November 19-22, 2024, N=1,000 United States adults, +/- 3.4%.

Canonical question URL: [https://verasight-apha-2024.tiiny.co#top-public-health-issue](https://verasight-apha-2024.tiiny.co#top-public-health-issue)