Nearly identical percentages believe mental health is handled "much&quote (38%) or 'somewhat' worse (37%) than physical health ailments. This negative assessment of mental health care comes as 4 in 5 Americans perceive an increase in conditions such as depression or anxiety over the past five years, including 42% who think they have increased a lot. The West Health-Gallup survey finds 51% of Americans say they have experienced depression, anxiety or some other mental or emotional condition in the past 12 months