Mental Health Global Statistics and UK [2024]

Global Mental Health Statistics

1. 1 in 8 people globally live with a mental health disorder (WHO, 2022).
2. Depression is the leading cause of disability worldwide, affecting 280 million people (WHO, 2023).
3. 1 in 5 adolescents globally experience a mental health disorder (UNICEF, 2021).
4. Suicide is the fourth leading cause of death among 15-29-year-olds worldwide (WHO, 2021).
5. 700,000 people die by suicide each year globally (WHO, 2021).
6. Mental health conditions cost the global economy $1 trillion annually in lost productivity (WHO, 2022).
7. 76-85% of people with mental health conditions in low- and middle-income countries receive no treatment (WHO, 2023).
8. Anxiety disorders affect 264 million people worldwide (WHO, 2022).
9. The global prevalence of anxiety and depression increased by 25% during the COVID-19 pandemic (WHO, 2022).
10. 1 in 4 people globally will be affected by mental or neurological disorders at some point in their lives (WHO, 2023).

UK Mental Health Statistics

11. 1 in 6 adults in the UK experienced a common mental health disorder in the past week (NHS, 2022).
12. 1 in 5 adults in the UK experienced suicidal thoughts in 2020 (Mental Health Foundation, 2021).
13. Around 8.2 million people in the UK suffer from anxiety disorders (Mental Health UK, 2023).
14. The rate of antidepressant prescriptions in the UK increased by 4.7% between 2021 and 2022 (NHS, 2022).
15. 75% of mental health problems in the UK start by age 24 (Mental Health Foundation, 2022).
16. In 2021, 4,912 suicides were registered in England and Wales (ONS, 2022).
17. 1 in 8 children in the UK has a mental health disorder (NHS Digital, 2021).
18. 3 in 4 people in the UK with a mental illness receive no treatment (Mental Health Foundation, 2021).
19. Mental health-related absenteeism costs UK employers £2.4 billion per year (Mental Health Foundation, 2021).
20. Mixed anxiety and depression is the most common mental health disorder in Britain, affecting 7.8% of the population (Mental Health UK, 2023).

Mental Health in the Workplace

21. 1 in 6 workers in the UK is affected by a mental health problem at any one time (Mind, 2023).
22. 12.7% of all sickness days in the UK are related to mental health conditions (HSE, 2022).
23. Stress, depression, or anxiety account for 51% of all work-related ill health cases in the UK (HSE, 2022).
24. Mental health problems cost UK employers £34.9 billion annually due to absenteeism, presenteeism, and staff turnover (Deloitte, 2022).
25. 3 in 5 employees in the UK reported that mental health support increased their productivity (Deloitte, 2022).
26. 1 in 4 employees has had to take time off due to stress, anxiety, or depression (Mind, 2023).
27. 58% of employees feel that their mental health is being neglected at work (Mind, 2023).
28. 78% of employers have increased mental health support for employees since the COVID-19 pandemic (Mental Health at Work, 2022).
29. 46% of workers feel more anxious since the pandemic, with many citing job insecurity as a contributing factor (Mental Health Foundation, 2021).
30. 83% of UK employees believe that their company should offer mental health training and resources (Mental Health at Work, 2022).

Youth and Mental Health

31. 1 in 6 children aged 5-16 in the UK has a probable mental health condition (NHS Digital, 2021).
32. 75% of mental health disorders in children go undiagnosed and untreated (NHS, 2021).
33. 80% of young people with mental health problems say the COVID-19 pandemic made their mental health worse (YoungMinds, 2022).
34. In the UK, there was a 35% increase in mental health referrals for children and young people in 2021 compared to 2020 (NHS, 2022).
35. 20% of adolescents globally experience mental health conditions, with depression being the most common (UNICEF, 2022).

Mental Health and Social Media

36. 90% of young people aged 14-24 use social media, which has been linked to increased anxiety, depression, and poor sleep (Royal Society for Public Health, 2021).
37. Excessive use of social media has been linked to a 27% increase in depressive symptoms in teenagers (University of Glasgow, 2022).
38. 70% of young people report that social media negatively affects their mental health (Mental Health Foundation, 2022).
39. 42% of social media users feel anxious if they cannot access their accounts (Mental Health Foundation, 2022).
40. Social media detoxes have been shown to improve mental health for 60% of people who try them (YoungMinds, 2022).

Suicide and Self-Harm

41. Self-harm rates have increased by 70% over the past decade in the UK, particularly among young girls (Mental Health Foundation, 2021).
42. 10% of UK adults have had thoughts of self-harm (Mental Health Foundation, 2021).
43. 90% of people who die by suicide have experienced mental health problems (Samaritans, 2021).
44. Men aged 40-49 have the highest suicide rate in the UK (ONS, 2022).
45. Suicide rates in UK males have increased to their highest level in two decades (ONS, 2022).

COVID-19 and Mental Health

46. 78% of people said the pandemic had a negative impact on their mental health (Mental Health Foundation, 2022).
47. During the COVID-19 pandemic, 1 in 4 adults in the UK experienced loneliness (Mental Health Foundation, 2021).
48. Over 60% of people reported feeling anxious or stressed about catching COVID-19 (Mind, 2021).
49. 54% of UK adults reported feeling more anxious in 2021 than they did in 2020 (Mental Health Foundation, 2022).
50. 1 in 5 people who contracted COVID-19 are diagnosed with a mental illness within 90 days (Lancet, 2021).

These statistics highlight the widespread nature of mental health challenges and their impact across various demographics and settings.

Importance of this statistics

These statistics are important because they show how common and impactful mental health conditions are, both globally and in the UK. They can be used to:

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• Raise awareness: Highlighting the widespread nature of mental health issues can help reduce stigma and encourage people to seek help.
• Inform policies: Governments can use these statistics to create better mental health policies and services.
• Prioritise interventions: Understanding common mental health conditions helps allocate resources where they’re needed most.
• Advocate for funding: These statistics support calls for more funding for mental health research and services.
• Promote prevention: Identifying risk factors can guide early intervention and prevention strategies.

In short, these statistics are vital for understanding the burden of mental health conditions and driving actions to improve outcomes.

Why are mental health awareness and mental health first aid training important?

Mental health awareness and first aid mental health training are essential for promoting well-being and supporting those in need.

Mental health awareness helps to:

• Reduce stigma: Challenges negative stereotypes and encourages people to seek help.
• Increase understanding: Helps people recognize signs of mental health issues for earlier intervention.
• Create support: Leads to a more supportive and accepting community.

First aid mental health training equips people to:

• Provide initial support: Prevents crises from getting worse and ensures proper help.
• Reduce stigma: Shows that people care and are willing to help.
• Build a supportive community: Makes the community a safer and more welcoming place.

In short, both are crucial for creating a society where people feel safe seeking help and can thrive.