Mental health in uncertain times: 5 key takeaways from APA and APHA CEOs

Economic uncertainty. Political division. Global conflict. For many Americans, these aren’t just headlines. They are daily stressors shaping how we feel and function.

“Over time we have understood the real impact that stress collectively can have on us and some of the factors that are in our environment that drive the stress that we experience,” said Arthur C. Evans Jr., PhD, American Psychological Association CEO, in a special episode of APA’s Speaking of Psychology podcast with Georges C. Benjamin, MD, CEO of the American Public Health Association.

In the episode, they explore how chronic societal stress affects both mental and physical health—and share evidence-based strategies to cope, an especially timely conversation as Mental Health Awareness Month begins.

“It’s not just a mental health issue, it’s actually a whole body issue,” Benjamin said. “And from a public health perspective, a whole community health issue.”

Here are five key takeaways from their conversation.

Stress isn’t just a feeling. It is a biological response. When it becomes chronic, the body stays in a prolonged state of alert.

Over time, that can lead to disrupted sleep, inflammation, and increased risk for conditions like heart disease and diabetes. This cumulative wear and tear on the body is referred to as allostatic loadopens in new window, Benjamin said.

“The population in our country has not had any downtime for the last 20 years,” Benjamin said. “The fact is that you have had these recurring events—a pandemic, economic disruptions, social unrest, political polarization—that have not resulted in any ability of the body to reduce the amount of stress.”

Chronic societal stress is linked to higher rates of anxiety, depression, and substance use. Research shows chronic stress can alter brain function and emotional regulation,opens in new window making people more reactive to everyday challenges and less able to cope effectively. It can also show up in more subtle ways, such as irritability, withdrawal, or conflict with others, Evans said.

“Stress not only affects us from a physical standpoint, but from a mental standpoint and from a social standpoint,” Evans said.

While stress is widespread, it’s not evenly distributed, Evans said. Factors like financial strain, job instability, and caregiving responsibilities can intensify how stress is experienced and managed. A large body of research shows social determinants such as income, housing stability, and access to resources play a central role in shaping mental health outcomes and stress exposureopens in new window.

“Depending on who you are in our society, you may be experiencing stress differently,” he said. “We saw during the pandemic that parents of young children in particular experienced more stress than other people.”

There are several ways to reduce the impact of stress. Three areas matter most: connection, mindset, and daily habits.

“Social support is a very important factor in how much stress and distress we experience,” Evans said.

How we think also matters, he added. Techniques like cognitive reframing can help shift perspective and reduce emotional strain.

Small, consistent habits make a difference:

• Getting enough sleep
• Exercising regularly
• Taking breaks from constant news and devices

“You need some ‘me time’ every day, even if it’s 15 minutes,” Benjamin said.

Equally important: doing things you enjoyopens in new window.

“We often ask people to intentionally do things they enjoy,” Evans said. “But when we ask when they last did those things, it’s often been months or even years—cutting off an important way of coping with stress.”

One challenge is stress can be hard to recognize in ourselves.

“Often, we’re not aware that we are under stress, but our family members know, our coworkers know,” Evans said. “One of the things we can do is give them permission to give us that feedback.”

Learning your personal stress signals, such as irritability, trouble sleeping, or feeling cynical, can help you respond earlier.

Focus on strategies that support long-term health, like connecting with others, engaging in your community, and giving yourself permission to rest.

Today’s high-stress environment may not be going away anytime soon, so it’s important to learn to adapt as a society, Benjamin said.

The goal is not to eliminate stress, but manage it more effectively, Evans said.

“We have to encourage a culture where we understand that taking a day off is not being lazy,” he said. “It’s actually helping you to sharpen your act so you can do your work more efficiently.”

Stress may be unavoidable, but how we respond to it can make all the difference.