Elmo’s social media wellness check inspired a nationwide mental health survey

The State of Happiness report was conducted in collaboration with the consulting and market research firm Harris Poll, which interviewed 2,012 Americans ages 16 and older in May. The survey results were released on Tuesday.

Survey results showed that when asked what they would prioritize when it came to their future well-being, the majority of participants considered mental health to be nearly as important as financial security.

“We could never have anticipated the overwhelming response that followed Elmo’s post,” Sesame Workshop chief marketing and brand officer Samantha Martin said in a news release, adding that the Muppet’s post garnered millions of responses. “As Elmo’s viral hit and this new research show, mental health and emotional well-being are among the most pressing issues facing American families today.”

A third of parents and half of teenagers also say mental health issues are having a significant impact on their well-being, with many parents citing a lack of access to a quality education and the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic as reasons for the negative impact.

Other common stressors to well-being reported in the survey included physical health, the effects of climate change, lack of strong networks of friends and family, and racism and discrimination.

When Elmo’s innocent question went viral in January, the official Sesame Street account posted Links to mental health resources.

Aaron Bissman, vice president of audience development at Sesame Workshop, told NBC News at the time that “leveraging the interest in Elmo’s tweet” to share resources for emotional well-being “is exactly what Sesame Workshop was created for.”

Despite the online doom and gloom, the survey also found a glimmer of hope for the next generation of Americans: 67% of respondents said they wished their parents had been more honest about their mental health struggles, including 79% of parents themselves.

Majorities of Gen Z and millennials, as well as 71% of educators surveyed, said they believe schools “should place as much emphasis on social and emotional skills as academics.”

While there appears to be a wide gap between the percentage of respondents who consider themselves to practice kindness (93%) and the percentage who think the average American is kind (55%), the majority of those surveyed say it is important to promote kindness in society.

Elmo appeared on NBC’s “TODAY” show in February to share a message of empathy and encourage people to look out for their friends.

“It’s important to remember that we all have a lot of emotions, and that’s OK,” said the furry red muppet. “It’s good to know what emotions you’re feeling. If you’re feeling sad, anxious, confused, you should talk to someone you love and trust. It’s OK to talk about it.”