adoptee mental health
May is Mental Health Awareness Month—and it’s a good time to talk about the mental health of adoptees.
While adoption is often portrayed as a fresh start or a happy ending, the mental health side of the story doesn’t always get the attention it deserves. Research consistently shows that adoptees are more likely to experience mental health challenges compared to their non-adopted peers. But that doesn’t mean something is “wrong” with them—it means we need to listen more closely to what’s really going on.
This month is about raising awareness, reducing stigma, and making space for conversations that often stay hidden. And in the adoption community, there’s still a lot that gets left unsaid.
what the research shows
Let’s look at the numbers:
Adoptees are 3 to 4 times more likely to attempt suicide than non-adopted individuals.
50–70% of adopted youth in clinical settings meet criteria for a mental health diagnosis.
Adopted children and teens are more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD, depression, anxiety, conduct disorders, and PTSD.
One-third of adoptees experience post-adoption instability—this includes things like running away, residential placements, or disrupted family relationships.
Adoptees use mental health services at 2–5 times the rate of non-adoptees.
These numbers aren’t meant to be alarming—they’re meant to be validating. For adoptees who’ve ever felt like something was off, overwhelming, or hard to explain, these stats are a reminder: you’re not imagining it. And you’re not alone.
what this means in real life
Even adoptees who grow up in loving, stable families can still experience emotional and psychological stress that goes under the radar. Things like:
Feeling different or out of place, even in their own home
Anxiety about abandonment or rejection
Confusion about identity or heritage
Pressure to feel “grateful” while struggling internally
A constant undercurrent of stress, even when things seem fine
These aren’t always the kinds of things people know how to name—or even feel allowed to talk about.
awareness is just the beginning
Mental Health Awareness Month is about opening the door. But adoptees don’t just need awareness—they need access to therapists who understand adoption, safe spaces to ask complicated questions, and support that validates their full story.
For parents, professionals, and adoptees themselves, the takeaway is simple: don’t wait for a crisis to take mental health seriously. If you or someone you care about is adopted and struggling with anxiety, depression, identity issues, or emotional overwhelm, support is available—and it can make a real difference.
We can’t change the statistics, but we can change how we respond to them. That starts with listening to adoptees, validating their experiences, and making mental health care more adoption-competent and accessible.
This May, let’s normalize those conversations.
