The relationship between vaping and mental health is one of the most consequential questions in public health today — and the evidence is now clear enough to act on. Multiple large-scale studies published in 2025-2026 find that e-cigarette users are significantly more likely to experience depression and anxiety than non-users, with dual users (vaping + smoking) facing the highest risk. At the same time, nicotine creates a self-perpetuating cycle where withdrawal symptoms mimic the very anxiety and depression users are trying to escape. The encouraging finding: quitting nicotine produces mental health improvements comparable to antidepressant medication.