How Raising the Minimum Wage Can Be a Win for Mental Health Written by Joni Sweet on February 18, 2021 — Fact checked by Michael Crescione Even a small increase in wages can decrease rates of anxiety and depression. Mint Images/Getty Images Members of Congress are considering a proposal to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2025. Research shows that increasing the minimum wage by just $1 could lead to fewer people ending their own lives. There’s also evidence that increasing household incomes could reduce people’s risk of mental illness and improve children’s mental health. More than 200 members of Congress have cosponsored a bill that would gradually raise the federal minimum wage to $15 per hour by 2025.