Cases of mental health issues in the form of anxiety, depression, stress, schizophrenia, bipolar disorders and more are all increasing in the United Kingdom.
This can be attributed to many different factors, such as:
According to statistics from various sources such as the House of Commons, the UK Government, the NHS, the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) and others, some of the most common forms of mental health issues in the UK include:
Mental health issues are attributed to many different factors, such as psychological and genetic predisposition, social and economic problems, physical injuries, and more.
Here are some of the leading causes of mental health issues in the United Kingdom:
With a considerable rise in inflation, the cost of living has led to a housing crisis and unsustainable living for many across the United Kingdom.
Unfortunately, wages have not increased to keep up with the increase in the cost of living, which has in turn amplified financial and housing insecurity in the United Kingdom.
This has increased symptoms of stress and anxiety, particularly for people who are on the lower end of the salary spectrum.
According to studies from the ESRC Centre for Society and Mental Health and the Policy Institute at King’s College London, 60% of adults [6] in the UK say that the cost-of-living crisis affects them enough to deteriorate their mental health and that almost 1 in 4 adults are experiencing sleep problems due to financial insecurity.
Frequent and excessive consumption of addictive substances such as drugs and alcohol will profoundly diminish a person’s mental health.
There is a “binge drinking” culture that is highly prevalent in the United Kingdom, and when combined with work stress and social issues, drugs and alcohol are outlets for relaxation and unwinding for many people.
In fact, a UK government report discovered that from 2022 to 2023, the number of adults entering rehab was 137,749, and 71% of this number (97,801) required additional mental health treatment. [7]
However, despite the short-lived high or euphoria that these substances bring, many are considered to be neurotoxins which means that they negatively alter the structure or function of the nervous system.
Frequently consuming alcohol and drugs, whether they are stimulants or depressants, can drastically alter neural pathways and brain chemistry imperative to maintaining basic cognitive functions.
For example, long-term alcohol consumption shrinks brain size and decreases grey matter, which has the vital role of controlling movement, fostering memorisation, and regulating emotions.
With an impairment in emotional regulation, our anxiety and stress levels are likely to be far higher.
Furthermore, addictive substances manipulate the neural pathways in a way which makes the brain dependent on these substances in order to experience pleasure.
Frequent and excessive exposure to addictive substances will lead to dependence and addiction, where the most common symptoms are anxiety and depression, according to the brain disease model of addiction. [8]
With constant exposure to negativity in the news, whether it be the war in Ukraine, the Israel-Gaza conflict, natural disasters, or attention towards domestic problems in the United Kingdom, this constant negativity can have a profound impact on someone’s mental health.
“Doomscrolling” is a term used to describe a negative spiral in our mental health due to our constant phone and internet usage paired with our obsession with negative and bad news.
Scientists believe that we are accustomed to seeking negative news in order to feel more prepared, only for it to impact our mental health more than we realise.
This elevated stress, anger and dissatisfaction can lead to hypersensitivity and over-monitoring of bad news in the world.
Studies show that generally, optimists enjoy a higher quality of life [9] and better mental and physical health than those who consider themselves pessimists.
The same study discusses a 2017 trial where heart disease patients who underwent optimism training experienced improvements in optimism, hope, life satisfaction and anxiety two and four months later.
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected people in very different ways, and many of its effects are still present in society today.
The pandemic led to the redundancy of many people, and the deterioration of people’s mental health because of social isolation, financial insecurity and fear.
Furthermore, social isolation and financial insecurity can profoundly affect mental health in both the short term the long-term.
Even with short-term heightened levels of stress, anxiety, and depression, this can be a catalyst for developing long-term mental health problems beyond life after the pandemic.
A 2022 study [10] found a strong correlation between daily exposure to news related to the COVID-19 pandemic and greater levels of anxiety in the same and the following days.
People are feeling more and more pressure in society, especially with the cost of living crisis, intense political discourse, crime, and more.
Areas which suffer from economic deprivation are more likely to suffer from higher crime rates, involving drug trafficking, thieving and burglary, murder, rape, and more.
Studies show that living in neighbourhoods and areas which have higher rates of crime is heavily linked to an increase in mental health problems such as PTSD, depression, stress and other serious conditions.
According to statistics, around 76% of women in prison reported that they had mental health issues, whereas around 51% of men in prison suffered from some form of mental health issues. [11]
This suggests that there is a strong link between mental disorders and criminality, however, it is also possible that the mental disorders may have developed while in prison.
Increased usage in social media is also linked with mental health issues, as people become more concerned with their appearance.
Many social media platforms are designed in a way where they must sell or promote a product, many of which leave the person feeling that they need something, whether it’s new clothes, cosmetics, a vacation or something else.
Spending more time in a sedentary state and experiencing fewer face-to-face interactions – a consequence of intense social media usage – is also thought to be a significant drive in mental health issues. [12]
Many people – particularly younger people – also experience cyberbullying.
Some people are born with genetic predispositions which make them more likely to suffer from mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and so on.
While a family member suffering from a mental health issue does not mean the same to their relatives, there are factors which can indicate that someone is at higher risk.
According to the NHS, mental health issues among children, teenagers, and young adults have been continually rising for years.
A study conducted in 2023 discovered that around 1 in 5 children suffered from a probable mental health disorder, [13] which is a 12% increase from 2017.
The older these children or teenagers were, the higher the rates of mental health issues.
For example, 23% of 17 to 19 year olds likely suffer from mental health issues.
This is potentially because they are exposed to more external factors associated with early adulthood such as higher academic pressures, employment issues, more accessibility to drugs and alcohol, and so on.
The rates of mental health disorders among young children (7 to 16 years old) rose significantly among those who lived in households where income was lower.
28.6% of children in this demographic of social and economic insecurity suffered from potential mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, stress, and so on.
15% of 17 to 22-year-olds who suffer from probable mental health disorders also reported living in a household where they suffer from food insecurity, not being able to afford enough food.
According to the UK Adult Substance Misuse Treatment Statistics 2022 / 2023, out of the 137,749 adults who were admitted into a drug and alcohol rehab in order to overcome substance addiction, 71% of this number – which equates to 97,801 – require mental health treatment in addition to their substance addiction.
This means that almost three-quarters of these patients suffering from addiction also suffer from mental health disorders such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and so on.
Since 2017, this is a significant increase.
Alcohol is a depressant, and although it makes us feel relaxed, happy and even sleepy, the withdrawal stages are associated with symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Studies show that 80% of people dependent on alcohol experience intense sadness, and 1 in 3 people [14] have suffered from intense episodes of depression and anxiety attacks.
Areas of the brain affected by alcohol include the prefrontal cortex.
When under the influence of a depressant, alcohol severely impacts or depresses our prefrontal cortex in the brain, affecting our rational thinking, emotional regulation, memorisation,and more.
This contributes to poor mental health.
Furthermore, when someone frequently exposes themselves to addictive substances, the mesolimbic pathways are altered.
These pathways are dopaminergic, which means that they’re responsible for making us feel pleasure and happiness.
When altered in a way which becomes reliant on addictive substances for pleasure, such as drugs and alcohol, withdrawal stages consist of physical and psychological symptoms, such as anxiety and depression.
Mental health services are available through the NHS. The NHS offers a programme called Talking Therapies for Anxiety and Depression (TTAD).
Over 1.22 million people in England (not the whole of the UK) entered treatment under this programme, and over half completed the full course of the treatment.
However, waiting lists can be lengthy depending on the demand for mental health services in your local area.
Some patients opt for private care in order to treat immediate mental health issues, if they are able to afford it.
Local NHS bodies vary when it comes to how much budget they are allocated and how it is spent.
However, NHS England plans to spend an additional £2.4 billion on specialised commissioning for mental health services, which would increase the budget up to nearly £17 billion per year. [15]
In addition to seeking professional help and licensed counselling, many people opt for talking therapies to minimise the effects of mental health issues.
This can help patients externalise their anxieties, emotions, and thoughts, and can act as an effective outlet in order to destress and gain insight into their own mental health conditions.
Furthermore, licensed therapists are likely to offer additional techniques and activities which can minimise symptoms of mental health problems.
Some of these techniques and activities will include but aren’t limited to:
If suffering from a mental health condition such as anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, or else, in addition to drug or alcohol addiction, this is called co-occurring disorders.
Fortunately, you don’t need to prioritise one condition over the other when it comes to recovery.
You can undergo co-occurring treatment at a drug and alcohol rehab.
A co-occurring treatment programme will address your substance addiction and mental health needs simultaneously.
At a drug and alcohol rehab, a patient will undergo a medicated detox, therapy and an extensive aftercare programme, all whilst receiving extensive mental health treatment.
Many of the therapies used to treat addiction are also employed to treat mental health conditions.
Common therapies at rehab include:
If you require addiction and mental health treatment, reach out today by dialling the number 0800 140 4690 for treatment enquiries.
Our friendly admissions officers will answer the call and will be at your disposal to answer any questions you have about the process of mental health treatment and addiction recovery.
Every rehab in the UK that we recommend is vetted by the Care Quality Commission (CQC) in England and Wales or the Care Inspectorate (CI) in Scotland.
For free advice on how to get the best treatment for your addiction or mental health issue, reach out to our experts today.
[1] https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/statistics/anxiety-statistics
[3] https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/about-us/news/survey-stressed-nation-UK-overwhelmed-unable-to-cope
[4] https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/statistics/bipolar-disorder-statistics
[5] Missing
[6] https://www.kcl.ac.uk/news/cost-of-living-crisis-is-worsening-the-mental-health-of-most-vulnerable
[8] https://www.hazeldenbettyford.org/research-studies/addiction-research/brain-disease-model
[9] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8096381/
[10] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9135112/
[11] https://prisonreformtrust.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/prison_the_facts_2023.pdf
[12] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7364393/
[14] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6876499/
[15] https://commonslibrary.parliament.uk/research-briefings/sn06988/
Boris is our editor-in-chief at Rehab 4 Addiction. Boris is an addiction expert with more than 20 years in the field. His expertise covers a broad of topics relating to addiction, rehab and recovery. Boris is an addiction therapist and assists in the alcohol detox and rehab process. Boris has been featured on a variety of websites, including the BBC, Verywell Mind and Healthline. You can connect with Boris online at LinkedIn or X.com.
