Top 50 Mental Health Statistics 2022
When you delve deep into UK mental health statistics, the significant impact the last few years have had on everyone’s well-being is clearly revealed. The current levels of good mental health are disturbingly low, and while the UK has made great strides in the health of our bodies, we now need to achieve the same for the health of our minds.
One powerful way that poor mental health presents itself is in our workplaces, with an increasing number of employees experiencing low well-being at work - affecting productivity, absenteeism, and staff turnover.
The first step to changing how an organisation supports mental health in the workplace is to understand the gravity of the situation. The following statistics will demonstrate the significance of mental health in the workplace. We will then give you a data-backed solution to support staff in a meaningful and effective way.
Mental Health Statistics UK
According to research carried out by Mind, here are some key mental health statistics in the UK:
1 in 6 people experience a mental health problem such as anxiety or depression in any given week in England.
1 in 4 people experience a mental health problem of some kind every year in England.
1 in 14 people self-harm.
1 in 5 people have suicidal thoughts.
1 n 15 people attempt suicide.
Women are more likely to have suicidal thoughts and make suicide attempts than men.
Men are three times more likely to take their own life than women.
Only 1 in 8 adults experiencing a mental health problem currently receive some type of treatment.
The data that is presented by Mind is in line with the UK Census 2021, which revealed that:
9. Across the UK, the rate of people who experience depression remains significantly higher than before the pandemic.
10. Around 17% of adults experienced some form of depression in summer 2021, compared to 10% before the pandemic.
11. Adults aged 16 to 29 were the most likely to report experiencing some form of depression (26%).
12. Adults over 70 were the least likely to report experiencing some form of depression (9%).
13. Unemployed adults were twice as likely to experience depression than those employed or self-employed.
14. Disabled and clinically extremely vulnerable adults were more likely to experience some form of depression.
15. The aspects of well-being most commonly impacting adults experiencing depression were:
- Stress and anxiety (83%)
- Worry about the future (69%)
- Loneliness (61%)
- Boredom (53%)
Are The Number of People Experiencing Mental Health Problems Increasing?
According to research carried out by Mind UK, the number of people experiencing low mental health is increasing. This may be partly because of a greater understanding of mental health and a willingness to acknowledge and share experiences. However, even with this factor being considered, it appears that people, in general, are struggling more than they did in the past.
16. The percentage of people who report severe mental health symptoms in any given week has risen from 7% in 1993 to more than 9% in 2014.
17. The number of people with common mental health problems has risen by 20% from 1993 to 2014 in both women and men.
18. Before 2018, the number of people committing suicide was falling. However, since 2018, the number has risen. This is partly because of changes in how we record deaths - some deaths are considered suicide that would not have been before.
19. Even with changes to how we record instances of suicide considered, there has still been a clear increase in people under the age of 25 and the number of men taking their own life.
20. Between 2000-2014, the number of people reporting self-harm more than doubled, increasing by 62%.
21. Between 2000-2014, the number of people having suicidal thoughts went up by 30%.
22. The number of people reporting self-harm and suicidal thoughts has risen faster than the number of people reporting mental health problems. This suggests that people are finding it more challenging to cope with low well-being than they did previously.
Mental Health Statistics in the Workplace in the UK
According to the Mental Health Foundation:
23. Almost 12.7% of absence days due to sickness in the UK can be attributed to poor mental health.
24. 1 in 6.8 people are experiencing problems with their mental health in the workplace.
25. Women in full-time employment are almost twice as likely to have a common mental health problem as men in full-time work.
According to HSE
26. The rate of work-related stress, anxiety and depression has been increasing in recent years, even before the pandemic.
27. In 2020/2021, the rate of work-related stress, anxiety and depression was higher than before the pandemic.
28. In 2020/2021, stress, anxiety or depression accounted for 50% of all work-related ill health cases.
29. Cases of stress, anxiety or depression are highest in professional occupations.
Thriving at Work was a report commissioned by the UK government which uncovered the crisis that the UK is facing when it comes to mental health in the workplace. They found that:
30. Almost 90% of workers with mental health problems report an impact on their life at work.
31. Up to 300,000 employees with mental health problems lose their jobs every year.
32. Only 13% of employees feel comfortable discussing mental illness at work.
33. Since 2014, 91,000 NHS staff have taken a minimum of one month off work due to stress.
34. In 2016, poor employee mental health cost UK employers 42bn, that’s around £1,300 for every employee.
35. 95% of employees who call in sick because of stress provide a different reason to their employer.
36. When an employee’s mental health is not supported at work, it can have a knock-on effect on other members of teams and organisations.
37. Only 11% of employees discussed a recent mental health problem with their line manager.
38. 80% of employers report no cases of employees disclosing a mental health condition.
39. Only 11% of the top 100 companies in Great Britain have shared information about their mental health initiatives in their annual report.
40. Just 24% of managers have received some form of mental health training.
41. Only around 39% of organisations in the UK have systems in place to support employees with common mental health struggles.
Preventing Low Mental Health at Work
These statistics show us that mental health is worsening and that this has a significant impact on workplaces. Fortunately, well-being initiatives in the workplace are incredibly effective.
According to the Mental Health Foundation:
42. Improved mental health support in the workplace can save UK businesses up to £8 billion every year.
43. Workplace intervention in the form of employee screening and care management for those at risk of or living with depression costs around £30 per employee for an assessment and a further £240 for CBT to help manage the problem. In a company of 500 employees where 66% are offered and accept treatment, an investment of £20,676 will result in a net profit of around £83,278 over two years.
44. Workplace intervention in the form of personalised information and advice, risk assessments, and online materials could cost around £80 per employee per year. For a company with 500 employees where everyone receives intervention, an initial investment of £40,000 will result in a net profit of £347,722.
45. Workplace interventions prioritising personalised support and online materials that can be shared across an organisation yield the best results.
46. Effective wellbeing initiatives result in an increase in productivity, fewer sick days and better staff retention.
In January 2020, Deloitte published a report on mental health and employers, which looked at the impact of well-being initiatives on businesses. They found that:
47. Mental health initiatives are incredibly effective, with the average return on investment being £5 for every £1 spent.
48. Returns vary from 0.4:1 to nearly 11:1.
49. The well-being initiatives with the highest returns use technology to address the needs of each individual while providing large-scale preventative support. As well as access to digital programmes with mental health platforms, screening, feedback, and referrals.
50. HeadClear is the only online mental health platform that prioritises preventing stress rather than tackling its effects.
What is HeadClear?
HeadClear is an app that has been designed using scientific data to improve mental health in the workplace.
HeadClear provides employees with technology that allows them to better understand and control their well-being. Happy people make the best employees, which is why our app delivers large-scale, personalised solutions that can benefit each and every staff member.
When companies embrace technology to deliver preventative mental health support, they can boost well-being in a powerful and measurable way. Ultimately saving companies money, helping them attract and keep the best staff, increasing productivity and helping them to get ahead of their competition.
While traditional one-to-one support is reactionary and is often only used when a problem arises, HeadClear takes a preventative approach. Benefits of HeadClear include:
Support is adaptable to the needs of each individual.
Low cost when compared with one-to-one support.
Every member of an organisation can access support.
Results are measurable.
Support is preventative, helping to keep people feeling good and engaged in their work.
How Does it Work?
Every employee is provided with an app on their camera phone which asks for daily check-ins that take just 30 seconds. The app asks ten simple questions while monitoring vital signs, including breaching rate and mood. This enables employees to track their stress and well-being over time. The app also offers access to a community platform with tools and support to keep people engaged.
Managers are provided with past and present stress and well-being scores and a clear view of their employees’ mental health. Everything they need to support people individually is at their fingertips. HeadClear even predicts future trends so that preventative measures can be taken to protect employees’ mental health.
Understanding and managing employee wellbeing has never been easier.
HeadClear keeps it simple.