The nation’s mental health has been deteriorating over the last decade. While we’ve seen evidence of this worrying trend for some time, data published this year has set out starkly the extent of that decline. The big question that raises is, why? And what can be done to turn it around?
In this year’s Big Mental Health Report, published today by Mind in partnership with Centre for Mental Health, we have explored that and looked at the available evidence about what is driving the worsening of the public’s mental health in England and Wales.
There are, of course, no simple singular explanations. It’s not just one thing. But the picture we’re presented with provides some answers that might help direct us to some possible solutions.
Our mental health is a product of our experiences and environments throughout our lives. Some things, like a stable home and good relationships, can protect our mental health. Others, such as going without life’s essentials or experiencing violence and abuse, put it at risk. The balance between them is crucial: too many risks outweighing protections, and we’re at greater risk of mental ill health. In recent years, for many people, the balance has gone the wrong way: more risks and less protections. And the results are all too clear.
Over the last decade, more of us are being exposed to more risks to our mental health. Rising levels of wealth inequality, combined with a cost-of-living crisis that has seen millions of people facing serious financial problems, are major risks. The housing crisis means too many people live in inadequate accommodation or are at risk of losing their homes. It’s not surprising, then, that rates of mental ill health are far higher, and rising more quickly, among those with the least wealth.
Most of the increase in the prevalence of common mental health problems has been among younger age groups in the last decade. Research on this topic has noted the importance of reduced quality and duration of sleep as a growing risk. This may be at least partially explained by the growing use of digital devices, but housing conditions, money worries and academic pressures may also be significant factors affecting sleep.
While more people are being exposed to more risks, we’ve also seen a rapid erosion of important social protections for people’s mental health. There is clear evidence, from multiple studies, that changes to the benefits system (where they reduce the value of benefits or make them harder to access) lead to increases in rates of depression, anxiety and in some cases suicide risk. A system designed as a social safety net that is no longer acting as such – and for some people, its punitive policies may in fact do the opposite – is removing a vital safeguard for our health.
Following more than a decade of austerity policies since the 2008 financial crisis, we’ve seen the loss of many public services that can sustain people’s mental health: including early years services like Sure Start; school nursing; youth services; libraries and advice centres. All provide vital protection for people’s mental health; all have been reduced dramatically. And all of this comes at a cost: growing levels of ill health that requires high-cost responses.
This is a worrying time for the public’s mental health. But there is hope. There is evidence that policies which address the risk factors or boost protective factors can bring about better mental health. Government legislation backing renters’ and workers’ rights is likely to provide extra protection, as would its pledge to update race equality legislation. If the Government finally ends the two-child limit and the benefit cap, it can support more families to have better mental health. Investment in Family Hubs and mental health support for young people in schools and communities will also offer protection.
Longer term, a cross-government mental health plan, backed up by a ‘mental health policy test’ would embed action to protect and promote mental health nationally, as well as support local councils and strategic authorities to mirror this approach countrywide.
By understanding why our mental health has got so much worse over the last decade, we can see the ways forward to turn it around. Action is urgently needed to turn the tide.
