Mental Health in 2026: Blog Updates and Our Top Predictions

Hi everyone,

Welcome to the Voices Meet Minds Blog! We’ve been updating the blog for a while now with the Collective Journal, Thought Wall, and Stories of The System. But we know that’s not all we have to offer or to share, so we’ve decided to add blog posts to share our perspectives on the millions of things going on in the mental health space right now. It has definitely been a lot to digest, but with the platform we have, we want to be a good resource and safe space for those that are suffering with their mental health in silence. So with that in mind, making sense of the trends you’re seeing and the news headlines and providing the resources and the factual information you need is a top priority for us.

So without further adieu, we would like to discuss a report that we saw on LinkedIn from Talkspace recently and our predictions for what is next as a response. The report detailed the trends that Talkspace is expecting to see in the mental health industry this year, from safer AI tools for patients to adding the right mental health support in our workplaces.

The Continued Rise of Holistic Mental Health Treatment

A 2024 study from The National Institute of Health revealed a substantial increase in the overall use of holistic health treatments for mental health by American adults from 2002 to 2022. What the organization defines holistic treatments as are methods like yoga, meditation, and a focus on nutrition from a mental health perspective.

We believe this will continue to grow in 2026, especially for Gen Z, who has become increasingly more focused on wellness. McKinsey found that Gen Z outspends older consumers on mindfulness-related wellness products such as meditation classes, mindfulness apps, and therapy sessions.

Reduced Mental Health Stigma in the Workplace

Another 2024 poll from The National Alliance on Mental Illness found that 74% of full-time employees in the U.S. say it is appropriate to discuss mental health concerns at work, but only 58% say they feel comfortable sharing about their mental health at work. This is a significant disparity and it should make us pause.

But with Gen Z employees facilitating conversations about mental health in the workplace and more than a third of current undergrads saying it is essential that their employers provide mental health coverage, we believe the stigma around mental health in the workplace will start to decrease.

Rising Demand for Human Connection in AI Therapy Tools

With a 2025 study from Stanford University showing the negative effects of mental health patients turning to AI chatbots as therapists, it’s clear that there will be a huge demand for a more human connection from AI therapy tools. The study emphasized that AI chatbots can introduce biases and inspire patients to cope with their mental health issues in destructive ways like suicide, which outlets like NPR and AP News have covered.

Additionally, the author of the Stanford University study emphasized that “Human problems require a human touch to solve,” which we expect to see reinforced as mental health app developers continue to create new tools to solve ongoing mental health issues.

Conclusion

If you’re interested in reading more about mental health trends that are expected to emerge in 2026, download the PDF of Talkspace’s report here and tune into our blog and Instagram for continued perspectives on the latest mental health trends and featured stories from our contributors in The Collective Journal, Stories of The System, and Thought Wall.