Earlier this year, Elmo’s casual wellness check on social media unexpectedly triggered an outpouring of online distress, drawing attention to widespread mental health concerns.

In January, Elmo asked his followers on X, “How is everybody doing?” What started as an innocent query quickly garnered responses expressing existential dread, burnout, and overall disillusionment with daily life.

This overwhelming reaction led Sesame Workshop, the organization behind “Sesame Street,” to partner with The Harris Poll to conduct a survey on American well-being. Released in May, the “State of Well-Being Report” surveyed over 2,000 Americans aged 16 and older.

The findings revealed that mental health ranks almost as high as economic stability in importance for most Americans. Samantha Maltin, Chief Marketing Officer at Sesame Workshop, noted that Elmo’s post, which received millions of responses, highlighted how mental and emotional well-being are pressing issues for families today.

Parents and teens particularly noted that mental health significantly impacts their well-being, with concerns about education quality and lingering effects of the Covid-19 pandemic being major factors.

Other reported stressors included physical health, climate change, lack of supportive social networks, and experiences of racism or discrimination.

Following the viral spread of Elmo’s question, “Sesame Street’s” official X account shared a link to mental health resources, aligning with Sesame Workshop’s mission to promote emotional well-being.

Despite the bleak tone online, the survey revealed hope: 67% of respondents wished their parents had been more open about their mental health struggles, with 79% of parents agreeing. Moreover, a significant majority of Gen Z, millennials, and educators believe schools should prioritize social and emotional learning alongside academics.

There is, however, a noticeable gap between how kind people perceive themselves (93%) and how kind they think the average American is (55%), although most agree on the importance of fostering kindness in society.

In February, during an appearance on NBC’s “TODAY” show, Elmo urged everyone to check in on their friends, emphasizing the importance of acknowledging and discussing feelings with trusted loved ones.