People with disabilities experience mental distress at significantly higher rates than nondisabled people. This isn’t because disabled people are “more sensitive” or “less resilient.” It’s because they face more barriers, more often, with fewer resources and less support.
Mental distress is often a logical response to an environment that is unequal, unsafe, or inaccessible. Below are several reasons why mental distress is high for people with disabilities.
Employment Barriers
People with disabilities are employed at far lower rates than nondisabled people. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, in 2025, only 22.5% of people with disabilities were employed compared to 65.8% of nondisabled people
For many, unemployment is not about lack of motivation or skill. It’s about discrimination, inaccessible hiring processes, inflexible workplaces, and systemic bias.
Long-term unemployment also has well-documented mental health impacts. A recent systematic review found that extended unemployment is closely tied to:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Trauma symptoms
- Substance use
Healthcare Access
People with disabilities face significant obstacles to receiving consistent, adequate healthcare. A 2022 Health Affairs study found:
- Disabled adults are twice as likely to delay needed care
- 30% report unmet healthcare needs
Reasons include:
- Inaccessible clinics or equipment
- Lack of providers knowledgeable about disability
- Insurance limitations
- Transportation barriers
- Fear of being dismissed or not believed
Delayed care can worsen medical conditions, increase pain, and heighten stress, all of which contribute to mental distress.
Housing Instability
Housing insecurity is one of the strongest predictors of mental distress. According to an NLM study on housing, half of all people receiving homelessness services in the U.S. have a disability.
A USICH report also found that on any given night, 1 in 4 people experiencing homelessness is disabled.
Disabled people face:
- Higher rent burdens
- Fewer accessible housing options
- Long waiting lists for subsidized or supported housing
- Discrimination from landlords
- Greater risk of eviction during illness or flare-ups
Housing instability increases anxiety, reduces safety, disrupts routines, and creates constant stress around survival.
Education Barriers
Education opens doors to employment, income, and stability — all things that protect mental health. But people with disabilities face significant educational inequalities.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey:
- Disabled people are twice as likely to drop out of high school
- Only 21% of people with disabilities have a bachelor’s degree compared to 36% of nondisabled people
These gaps aren’t about ability. They come from:
- Inaccessible classrooms
- Unaccommodated learning needs
- Bias from educators
- Lack of support or early intervention
- Higher rates of bullying
Lower educational attainment can limit future opportunities, making distress more likely later in life.
Higher Rates of Victimization
According to a BJS report on Crime Against Persons with Disabilities, disabled people are four times more likely to be targets of physical assault, sexual assault, abuse, and robbery. This increased risk stems from:
- Social isolation
- Dependence on others for support
- Being perceived as “easy targets”
- Lack of accessible safety resources
- Not being believed when reporting crimes
Experiencing violence or repeated threats of violence significantly increases the likelihood of depression, anxiety, and trauma.
Overrepresentation in the Criminal Justice System
People with disabilities are overrepresented on both sides of the criminal justice system. According to the BJS survey of prison inmates:
- 2 in 5 incarcerated people report a disability
- Over one-third report a mental health condition
Factors contributing to this include:
- Unmet mental health needs
- Poverty-related offenses
- Communication barriers
- Policing bias
- Lack of accommodations during arrest or trial
This involvement deeply impacts long-term mental health and stability.
Discrimination and Negative Attitudes
A 2023 Urban Institute study found that 4 in 10 adults with disabilities reported being treated unfairly in at least one setting over the past year. This is more than twice the rate for nondisabled people
Discrimination creates a constant sense of vigilance and self-protection, both strong predictors of mental distress.
Reflection Exercise
Take a moment to pause and consider the questions below. You can reflect quietly, write a few notes, or skip this section if now isn’t the right time.
- Which of the barriers described on this page feel most visible in your current work or community?
- How have you seen mental distress emerge as a response to systemic barriers rather than individual “coping failures”?
- Are there ways these factors may shape how you interpret a client’s motivation, behavior, or emotional state?
You may notice that distress often makes more sense when viewed in context. This reflection is meant to support that broader lens.
Notice what you’re thinking and learning. Take a break if you need one.
When you’re ready, continue to Warning Signs for Mental Distress
Disability and Mental Distress 