Lawmakers on Sunday continued to reel from the shooting of two Democratic Minnesota state legislators in their homes that led to the death of one and her husband, contemplating a previously unthinkable world where democratically elected representatives need full-time security details to protect them from the public.
Sen. Tina Smith, D-Minn., speaks during a confirmation hearing Jan. 29 at the Capitol in Washington.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 want to think that I have to have a personal security detail everywhere I go, but I think we really have to look at the situation that we鈥檙e in,鈥 Democratic Minnesota Sen. Tina Smith said Sunday on NBC News. 鈥淭his is no way for our government to work when people, any number of us, feel this kind of threat."
Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., speaks with reporters on Capitol Hill on Dec. 3, 2024, in Washington.
The state's other U.S. senator, Amy Klobuchar, directly addressed the increasingly toxic atmosphere around politics as she remembered state Rep. Melissa Hortman, who was killed in the attack.
鈥淭hese are real people, and before you start ascribing motives or going after them online maybe you should think about Melissa Hortman鈥檚 life," Klobuchar, a Democrat, said on CNN. "This is a person that did everything for the right reasons. Regardless of political parties, look at her face before you send out your next post.鈥
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The attack that killed Hortman, her husband, Mark, and gravely wounded state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife was a nightmare scenario for the thousands of Americans who serve as legislators across the 50 states and in Washington. They routinely attend public events with little or no security screening and live with their families in communities torn by the nation's political divides.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar spoke out against online threats aimed at lawmakers following the shooting deaths of State Rep. Melissa Hortman, the leadin…
The FBI offered a $50,000 reward for information on the suspect, Vance Boelter, 57, who was the subject of a massive manhunt Sunday. The attacks amid a recent flurry of political violence that appears to be coming from all ideological corners.
U.S. Capitol Police increased security for Klobuchar and Smith following the attacks, which occurred early Saturday morning. Minnesota's entire congressional delegation, both Republicans and Democrats, released a joint statement condemning the killings.
鈥淭oday we speak with one voice to express our outrage, grief, and condemnation of this horrible attack on public servants,鈥 the statement said. 鈥淭here is no place in our democracy for politically motivated violence.鈥
鈥淣othing brings us together more than, you know, mourning for somebody else who鈥檚 in political life,鈥 GOP Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul said on NBC. 鈥淩epublican or Democrats. You know, we come together about this.鈥
Paul said that he himself had been the victim of political violence when he was attacked by a neighbor in 2017, as well as at the Republican practice for the Congressional baseball game where a gunman severely injured several people, including House Majority Whip Steve Scalise.
Yes, politics is worsening people's mental health鈥擧ere's what the data shows
Yes, politics is worsening people's mental health鈥擧ere's what the data shows
Amid growing political polarization and ongoing , politics has become a significant source of stress for many Americans. In fact, a on stressors conducted by the American Psychological Association, or APA, in 2024 found that the future of the nation was the leading cause of significant stress among adults, with nearly eight in 10 (77%) reporting it as a major source of anxiety. The same study found that the increasingly strained political climate in the United States has prompted around two in five adults to consider moving to a different country (41%) or a different state (39%).
While political stress is often linked to other stressors鈥攍ike and housing costs鈥攊t is a distinct form of anxiety. A found that political anxiety and generalized anxiety are different, showing how politics can cause worry and apprehension even for those without general anxiety.听
People have translated at least some of this increased emotional turmoil into action. Negative emotions in response to daily politics motivated participants in a to engage in political actions such as protesting or volunteering. Similarly, half of adults (51%) said they feel compelled to take political action as a result of their stress about the future of the nation鈥攁 significant increase from the 45% who said so in 2019, the APA found.听
As politics continue to take center stage in many Americans' lives, it's important to examine the data and understand its impact on mental well-being. To do so, looked at the numbers, including data on the growing emotional toll of political stress, and its impact on family relationships and physical well-being.
Everyday Political Events Can Harm Psychological and Physical Well-Being
In two diary studies from 2023, researchers tracked participants' daily emotional and behavioral responses to political events. They found that politics triggered at least some negative emotions in people on the vast majority (81%) of days surveyed. On those days, participants' psychological and physical well-being worsened, with people reporting higher levels of fatigue, sickness, dissatisfaction with life, and depression.
Most People With Serious Mental Health Concerns Report Negative Effects From Political Issues
A significant portion of people with severe mental health conditions report that the current political climate exacerbates their struggles, according to one study. In fact, 75% of Charlie Health clients surveyed in January 2025 agree that the current political climate negatively impacts their mental health. As a result, over half (57%) try to avoid political discussions, highlighting the emotional toll these conversations can take. One respondent shared, "Politics is extremely detrimental to my emotional well-being. Discussions of current political affairs fill me with overwhelming feelings of hopelessness, despair, anger, and depression, and worsen my suicidal urges."
Politics Can Harm Peoples' Well-Being as Much鈥攐r More Than鈥擜lcohol
That politics negatively affects well-being is not a new discovery. , conducted in 2017 and matched to nationally representative data, found that the public health impacts of politics are comparable to or worse than those associated with alcohol. Based on responses, researchers estimated that 94 million Americans felt politics caused significant stress, 44 million lost sleep, 30 million suffered physical health harm, and 11 million had suicidal thoughts鈥攅ffects comparable to or worse than those associated with .听
If you're experiencing suicidal thoughts or are in danger of harming yourself, this is a mental health emergency. Contact by calling or texting 988.
Politics-Related Well-Being Issues Worsened for Many in Recent Years
One of the researchers of the aforementioned study and compared the findings, concluding that health worsened for many between 2017 and 2020. The most significant changes were concentrated in physical health impacts, including worsened stress, fatigue, and sleep loss. However, these effects weren't felt among all people equally鈥攜ounger, politically engaged individuals reported the most significant changes in well-being.听
Also, the effects weren't just physical. Survey data also revealed statistically significant increases in thinking about politics more than desired, as well as family problems caused by politics. These findings are similar to those in the APA study, which concluded that about one in three people reported the political climate (32%) and limited family interactions due to differing values (30%).
Political Polarization Is Linked With Worse Anxiety and Depression for Some
It's not just political events that can impact mental health. Believing that polarization has increased since 2014 () is linked with increased anxiety and depression, according to one . The study found that people perceiving increased polarization in recent years had up to 57% higher odds of developing anxiety and depressive disorders. High perceptions of state-level polarization (both among voters and elected officials) were also associated with a higher likelihood of depressive and sleep disorders.听
How to Cope With Political Stress
Political stress may persist for many amid increasing polarization and global crises, but there are steps you can take to protect your well-being. Here are a few practical strategies for managing political stress:
Be mindful of exposure to political content
Research that exposure to constant news cycles and updates can heighten stress. Consider setting specific times to , limiting your social media use, or curating your feed. Reducing exposure can help prevent information overload and lower anxiety levels.
Engage in productive political action
Redirecting feelings of helplessness or frustration about political issues into action can give you a sense of control and purpose. Consider volunteering with a local organization, educating others on political issues, or taking action with a group that shares your values. Channeling energy into positive change can help mitigate feelings of powerlessness.
Seek support
If political stress starts to feel overwhelming, don't hesitate to reach out for support, including from a trusted friend or supportive community. In the event that political stress starts to interfere with daily well-being, though, it might be important to consider professional help. Talking to a licensed mental health professional can make it easier to cope with politics-related mental health concerns.
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