As healthcare providers, we’re trained to assess symptoms, deliver interventions, and develop treatment plans grounded in clinical evidence. But some of the most influential factors affecting a patient’s well-being, like financial stress, don’t always show up in the exam room, even though they’re often quietly shaping the bigger picture.
A recent national survey underscores just how deeply economic stress is embedded in the mental health of Americans. According to the findings, 87 percent of respondents feel anxious about their finances, and 79 percent report that this anxiety has increased since the start of 2025. That means nearly 8 in 10 patients you see this year are likely carrying economic fear into their appointments, whether they say it out loud or not.
Perhaps more concerning is how often this anxiety is showing up. Seventy percent of people experience financial stress more than once a week, with many reporting daily worry. And it doesn’t stay confined to bank accounts or budget, 77 percent say it disrupts their sleep, 67 percent say it strains their relationships, and nearly 60 percent report a decline in work performance.
This data provides a critical insight: financial anxiety is not just a personal or economic issue, it’s a public health issue. And we, as providers, are in a unique position to recognize it, validate it, and help patients navigate it without stigma.
Recognizing the Signs Behind the Symptoms
When a patient presents with insomnia, irritability, or fatigue, our clinical lens typically leads us toward exploring anxiety, depression, or lifestyle contributors. But we should also be asking: Could this be rooted in financial distress?
Three-quarters of respondents cited housing costs, debt, healthcare expenses, and retirement planning as contributors to mental strain. These are not abstract stressors. They are concrete, chronic concerns that often remain invisible unless we ask about them directly.
Moreover, 60 percent of survey participants admitted to postponing mental health treatment due to cost concerns. That figure should be a red flag to all of us. It’s not just about affordability; it’s about perceived accessibility and the emotional calculus patients are forced to make between their finances and their health.
What Providers Can Do
The goal isn’t to become financial advisors, but we can be better-informed, more compassionate clinicians by understanding how money stress is shaping our patients’ emotional realities. Here are a few practical, clinically relevant steps:
- Validate the concern. Even a simple statement like, “Many people are feeling financially stressed right now. Has that been a factor for you?” can open the door to meaningful conversation.
- Screen gently for financial-related avoidance. If a patient is skipping sessions, under-utilizing prescriptions, or resisting referrals, explore whether cost is a barrier rather than assuming resistance or disengagement.
- Normalize alternative care options. Referring patients to community clinics, teletherapy platforms, nonprofit support lines, or employer assistance programs can make support feel more attainable.
- Encourage simple coping strategies. Techniques like writing down worries, scheduling limited time to check financial news, or incorporating short grounding practices can help reduce the physiological load of chronic anxiety.
- Recognize the compounding nature of economic stress. Patients managing financial uncertainty may also be navigating grief, job loss, or relationship conflict. These are not separate issues, they’re intersecting challenges that shape a person’s mental health trajectory.
Bringing Empathy Into the Exam Room
As providers, we often focus on diagnoses, medications, and measurable outcomes. But this data is a reminder that the emotional impact of financial stress, whether it be sleepless nights or postponed care, is widespread and increasingly urgent.
By remaining attuned to what patients are experiencing outside the clinical setting, we can offer more empathetic care and help prevent everyday stressors from escalating into crisis. Sometimes, the most powerful intervention is simply recognizing what someone is carrying and letting them know they don’t have to carry it alone.
Ashley Peña
Ashley Peña is the National Executive Director for Mission Connection, the outpatient extension of AMFM Healthcare’s compassion-driven and evidence-based clinical programs. She leads a team of clinicians offering intensive outpatient services, both in-person and via telehealth, ensuring the highest quality of care. With a background as a licensed clinician, Ashley’s leadership is rooted in compassion, trust, and inclusivity. Her strength-based clinical approach integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and Solution-Focused Therapy. Passionate about helping individuals embrace vulnerability and resilience, Ashley is committed to fostering a supportive, inclusive environment. She holds a Master’s in Social Work from Rutgers University and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in California.
