May is Mental Health Awareness Month — a time to talk openly about what weighs on people. And right now, one of the heaviest weights is money.
A 2025 study found that 69% of Americans say financial uncertainty has made them feel depressed or anxious — up 8 percentage points from 2023. Nearly two-thirds say it has disrupted their sleep. Nearly half report that it has affected their job performance. These aren’t abstract statistics. They describe how a significant portion of the population is actually living.
This year’s Mental Health Awareness Month theme from Mental Health America is “More Good Days, Together” — a recognition that wellbeing is built through stability, connection, and a sense of control. Insurance, at its core, is one of the few tools that directly addresses the financial unpredictability that fuels so much of that anxiety.
The Link Between Coverage Gaps and Mental Health
The connection between financial insecurity and poor mental health is well-documented. A 2025 CDC analysis found that depression rates are roughly three times higher among lower-income Americans than higher-income groups — and financial stress, regardless of income level, compounds that risk.
Among the most anxiety-producing financial exposures are the ones that are sudden and uncontrollable: a major home insurance claim after a storm, a car accident that triggers a lawsuit, the loss of income following an illness or injury. These aren’t low-probability hypotheticals. They are the events that personal insurance exists to address.
Nearly 1 in 3 homeowners say they’re not confident they can maintain adequate insurance coverage through 2026. Only 19% of Americans have individual disability insurance, despite the fact that 1 in 4 workers will face a disabling condition before retirement. These gaps don’t just represent financial risk — they represent a persistent background hum of anxiety for millions of families.
What ‘Adequate Coverage’ Actually Feels Like
There’s a meaningful psychological difference between having insurance and knowing your insurance is right.
Many people carry policies they set up years ago and haven’t reviewed since. Their dwelling coverage may no longer reflect current rebuild costs. Their auto liability limits may be far below what a serious accident could generate. They may have no income protection if a disability keeps them out of work for six months.
The anxiety that comes from not knowing whether you’re actually protected is different from the anxiety that comes from a known, specific gap. The first can be addressed by doing a comprehensive review. The second requires closing the gap.
A Mental Health Month Prompt Worth Taking
This May, the most concrete mental health action many families could take has nothing to do with therapy or mindfulness apps. It’s a 30-minute conversation with an insurance professional.
Are your home and auto liability limits still appropriate for where your life is now? Do you have income protection if you couldn’t work for three months? Six months? Is your life insurance coverage sized for your current obligations? Are there gaps you’re quietly aware of but haven’t addressed?
The goal isn’t to spend more on insurance. It’s to close the gaps that are generating low-grade financial anxiety — often in exchange for surprisingly affordable protection.
Our personal lines team and life insurance advisors are here to help you move from “I think I’m covered” to “I know I’m covered.” That shift is worth more than most people realize — including for your peace of mind.
Ready to replace financial uncertainty with real clarity? The team at Tooher-Ferraris has been helping families build stable financial foundations since 1932. Contact us today to schedule a no-obligation consultation.
