The Big Mental Health Report published
The mental health charity Mind has published its Big Mental Health Report, which is for anyone looking for trusted information on how mental health problems affect people in England and Wales.
The report brings together data about mental health problems, stigma and discrimination, alongside real people's experiences into one annual report, to give a full picture of the state of mental health right now.
The current mental health crisis cuts across all areas of life, from housing, to benefits, employment and more. The report paints a picture of worsening mental health across England and Wales and services struggling to keep up with demand.
The aim of the report is to give people a clear view on what is happening now so that collectively we know where we need to focus our efforts, to help us end the mental health crisis and make sure no mind is left behind.
Mental health in England and Wales at a glance
Key findings in the report found that:
- in England, it is estimated about one in four of us will experience a mental health problem at some point each year;
- research shows that adults and young people feel their wellbeing is getting worse, with adults also reportedly feeling lonelier;
- 7.8% of adults in the UK felt lonely "always or often" in 2024;
- the cost of poor mental health is calculated at £300 billion a year in England;
- in 2023, 6,069 registered deaths were caused by suicide and 75% were men;
- the life expectancy of people with a severe mental illness is about 15-20 years shorter than those without.
Mental health, money and employment
Money, employment and mental health have a clear link:
- if you have a mental health problem, you will earn on average £8,400 less per year than someone without one;
- one in four claims for personal independence payment (PIP) were because of depression and anxiety in 2023, up from one in six in 2015;
- 82% of people experiencing homelessness have a mental health problem, a significant rise from 45% in 2014;
- 60% of people said the cost of living crisis was affecting their mental wellbeing;
- in 2023 in Wales the Bevan Foundation found that worries about finances affected 48% of people's mental health and impacted their ability to work.
There is evidence that being employed can be a protective factor for mental health, but there is also evidence that some working conditions and workplace factors can be damaging to our mental health.
According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), mental ill health was cited as the fifth common reason for sickness absence among working adults in the UK in 2022.
In early 2024 Mental Health UK published the first annual Burnout Report, which found that in 2023:
- nine in 10 adults in the UK had experienced high to extreme levels of stress at various times;
- 34% reportedly feeling this level of stress occasionally, 29% frequently, 22% on rare occasions, and 5% constantly;
- 24% of UK adults felt unable to manage their daily stress levels and this was true for 20% of workers who had to take mental health leave from work.
The Burnout Report found the following were cited as the leading causes of stress that may have led to burnout:
- having an increased amount of unpaid workload (54%);
- working unpaid overtime more regularly (45%);
- feeling isolated at work (42%);
- concerns over job security (40%);
- taking on additional paid work to cover rising costs (38%);
- workplace bullying or intimidation by co-workers (31%).
Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) England found that while 74% of managers in England showed a degree of concern over their team's mental health, 33% felt "out of their depth" supporting those with mental health challenges.
Around 29% of managers called for additional support and training from their organisation to help better safeguard the mental health of their team members.
The Burnout Report found:
- having reasonable work adjustments (38%) and professional mental health support (29%) were given as preventive measures of burnout;
- meanwhile 49% said their workplace didn't have a formal policy on burnout;
- having a supportive line manager (43%) was found to be the most helpful factor to ease work pressures.
Report recommendations
The report states that the UK and Welsh governments must act now to end the mental health crisis, by:
- ensuring people with a mental health problem receive quality care, on time;
- support young people with their mental health to stop them reaching crisis;
- tackle mental health stigma and discrimination with targeted interventions;
- address the social factors which contribute to poor mental health.
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