A refugee from Ukraine, stabbed on a train in Charlotte.
Two children gunned down during Mass at a Catholic school in Minneapolis.
Students wounded and killed on a Colorado school campus.
Different cities. Different weapons. The same unseen war.
America is unraveling. Not in open battle, but in silence. Tens of millions suffer from mental illness, and most will never see treatment. The casualties rise quietly, while the nation looks away.
Americans from all age groups, income brackets, and ethnic backgrounds are grappling with deteriorating mental health. The problem has reached a critical juncture, and many are sounding alarm bells.
By some estimates, fifty million Americans are suffering from some form of mental illness, from anxiety and depression to Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and schizophrenia. From anxiety related to global events to perpetual worries about personal finances, job security, health, and safety, maintaining mental health has become a challenge for many. The modern lifestyle – a hyper-connected world, economic instability, political uncertainties, 24/7 news cycles, and pressures induced by social media, among other factors – has made matters worse.
Americans are coping as best they can. While most are able to deal with the stressors, others are choosing to isolate or develop complex conditions like bipolar disorder or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Some are abusing drugs, alcohol, and other substances to cope with the emotional distress.
Healthcare professionals say that at least fifteen percent of those struggling with mental health issues are also dealing with substance abuse disorders. More than half of the fifty million are living with untreated mental health conditions. Suicide and drug overdoses remain among the leading causes of death. Though the illness affects individuals, their families and communities are paying a price in myriad ways.
While mental health is being talked about more openly, the stigma surrounding mental illness remains. Though there is more awareness regarding the significance of mental wellbeing, lack of support and fear of judgment prevent many from accessing even the meager resources available.
An overwhelming majority agrees that America is facing a mental health crisis. The awareness is prevalent across age groups, pointing to the prevalence of mental health struggles, in a cross-section of the population.
Besides mental health concerns, the country is facing another severe public health crisis marked by the dramatic rise in the misuse of prescription drugs and illegal opioids. The situation is so dire that the authorities admit that America is in the grip of an epidemic and declared the opioid crisis a public health emergency in 2017.
Over the past decades, the U.S. has witnessed a sharp increase in overdose deaths, addiction, and associated social harms. Illicit fentanyl smuggled across the southern border is said to account for nearly 90% of opioid-related deaths. Recreational drug use and opioid abuse have become increasingly prevalent across age groups. The opioid epidemic does not just affect the individual substance abuser; it places a heavy burden on families, healthcare systems, and communities.
About a quarter of those who took part in the nationwide Newsmax/TIPP Poll described the opioid epidemic as a crisis. More than a third viewed the issue as “a very big problem,” while a quarter saw it as “a moderate problem.”
Gun violence has rocked the country time and again, and scores of innocents have lost their lives to the senseless violence. From mass shootings in schools and public spaces to domestic disputes escalating into tragedies, each incident has left the nation shocked and devastated. Gun violence is shattering families, traumatizing communities, and instilling a sense of foreboding and anxiety among citizens. Calls for stricter gun control laws often devolve into polarized rhetoric, with neither side willing to concede or make changes. Unfortunately, each needless gun tragedy takes a toll on mental health, particularly among survivors and first responders. There is an urgent need to provide adequate resources for prevention, support, and healing; however, communities and authorities seem to be at a loss so far.
Interestingly, only a fifth (22%) consider gun violence related to mental health a “crisis” facing the country. While more than a third (35%) view it as “a very big problem,” a quarter opine it’s “a moderate problem.”
The triple threats of mental illness, the opioid epidemic, and rising gun violence are threatening the very fabric of American society. There is enough evidence to show that mental health disorders and illnesses lie at the root of most cases of substance abuse and acts of violence. There is an urgent need to educate, prevent, and treat mental illness, while simultaneously creating the necessary support systems and making the existing resources accessible across all communities.
The Silent War will not end with a treaty. Only with care.
📊 Market Mood — Thursday, September 18, 2025
🟢 Fed’s Risk-Management Cut Lifts Sentiment
U.S. futures are modestly higher as investors welcome the Fed’s first rate cut since December, seen as a “risk management” move to support a weakening labor market without stoking inflation too aggressively.
🟡 Policy Divide and Political Undercurrents Loom
While Powell emphasized the Fed’s independence, debate over future cuts is intensifying. Some officials push for steeper easing aligned with Trump’s calls, while others urge caution, highlighting rising political scrutiny of the central bank.
🟣 Eyes on Projections and Global Central Banks
Markets now price in two more cuts this year, though Fed projections remain split; meanwhile, traders await Thursday’s BoE decision (likely on hold) and Friday’s BoJ meeting, framing a global backdrop of diverging monetary paths.
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📅 Key Events Today
🟨 Thursday, September 18
08:30 – Initial Jobless Claims
Gauge of new unemployment filings.
08:30 – Philadelphia Fed Manufacturing Index (Sep)
Regional factory activity measure.
