ST. LOUIS – For the third straight year, St. Louis adults have ranked gun violence as the most important health issue in the region, according to a recent survey conducted by WashU (iHeard).
The survey polls adults from St. Louis City and County each July and this year revealed that while gun violence remains the top concern, the percentage of respondents who selected it has decreased from 70% in 2023 to 44% in 2025. At the same time, concerns about mental health have gone up, with 35% of adults saying it is the top issue, up from 27% in the past two years.
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The poll lets respondents choose from a list of 21 health issues or write in a response. This year, drug abuse/overdose concerns entered the top three for the first time, with 21% of respondents highlighting it as a major issue. Healthcare access and cost, previously ranked third, dropped to fourth place.
This year, 8% of respondents identified food insecurity as a significant health concern (a new addition to the poll in 2025). Other issues such as traffic safety saw a decrease in concern, dropping from 15% to 7% in a year…