In this week’s iHeard survey, Atlanta residents identified mental health as the city’s most pressing health challenge, with 36% selecting it as a top concern—surpassing other major issues such as sexually transmitted infections (26%) and gun violence (22%).
Key Findings:
- Mental Health was named as the biggest health problem by 22% of respondents, and as the second biggest by an additional 14%.
- Healthcare Access & Cost (21%) and Drug Abuse/Addiction/Overdose (17%) were also named by at least one in six residents.
- Chronic Diseases—diabetes, obesity, and cancer—remain leading causes of death in Georgia but combined were cited by only 37%, roughly equal to mental health alone.
Not in the Top 10:
Extreme weather, high blood pressure, harmful chemicals, stroke, respiratory infections, reproductive healthcare, and mother/child health all ranked low, with 5% or fewer mentions. Food safety, falling birth rates, and suicide were not mentioned by any respondents.
How Atlanta Compares to Other States (GA, MS, MO, NC):
- Atlanta: Mental health ranks #1.
- Four-State Average: Gun violence ranks #1.
Survey Details:
This poll was conducted July 19–21, 2025, among 509 adults across Atlanta, GA (n=78), St. Louis, MO (n=186), North Carolina (n=81), and Mississippi (n=164).
What’s Your Take?
Do these findings reflect your personal concerns about health in Atlanta? Join the conversation and share your thoughts on our Facebook or Instagram pages.
