Mental ill health costs England £300 billion a year – about double the size of the NHS annual budget. 1 in 5 children and young people currently have a mental health problem, but only a third were able to access treatment in England last year. Life expectancy of people with a severe mental illness is about 15–20 years shorter than those without.
We’re in the middle of a mental health crisis, but the declining mental health of the nation should not be inevitable.
We worked with Mind to produce The Big Mental Health Report, which brings together the latest evidence on the current state of the nation’s mental health and its mental health services, alongside insights from people with lived experience of mental health difficulties. It also takes a close look at how financial difficulties are impacting people’s mental health, the impact of stigma and discrimination, and the experiences of people living with severe mental illness.
The report includes startling facts and figures, such as:
- People with a mental health problem earn on average £8,400 less per year than people without one
- 27% of 8–16 year olds who couldn’t afford to take part in activities outside school in England had a mental health difficulty compared with just 10% of those who could
- 1 in 4 claims for personal independence payment (PIP) were because of depression and anxiety in 2023 – up from 1 in 6 in 2015
- 82% of people experiencing homelessness have a mental health problem, a significant rise from 45% in 2014.
The report paints a picture of rising levels of mental distress and mental health services that are struggling to meet people’s needs. It calls for urgent action to address the root causes of poor mental health. This requires a cross-government mental health plan and the appointment of a Mental Health Commissioner.
The Centre supported this report by reviewing published evidence about mental health in England and Wales over the last year and the state of mental health services. The report provides a unique picture of the nation’s mental health by bringing together data and intelligence that has never previously been presented in a single volume.
This cannot wait. The Government must act now to turn the tide of worsening mental health and build a mentally healthier future for all.
