The proportion of people in England with poor mental health has risen sharply over the past 30 years, finds the latest Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey (APMS) from NHS England.
While in 1993 15% of 16- to 64-year-olds surveyed were found to have an anxiety disorder or depression, this reached 23% in 2024. A quarter of 16- to 24-year-olds in this latest survey had a common mental health condition – the highest level observed since the APMS series began. An upward trajectory was also evident for rates of self-harm.
Generalised anxiety disorder is now one of the most prevalent types of mental health condition in England – present in one in 12 adults. The condition is characterised by feelings of stress or worry that affects daily life, are difficult to control and which have persisted longer than six months.
The proportion of 16- to 64-year-olds meeting generalised anxiety disorder criteria also doubled since the series began – from 4.4% in 1993 to 8.5% in 2023-2024. The steepest increase was seen in 16- to 24-year-olds – with prevalence rising from just over 2% in 1993 to nearly 8% in 2024.
The survey also confirmed that people struggling financially and those with a limiting physical health condition (such as asthma, cancer or diabetes), were particularly at risk of experiencing poor mental health. About 40% of people who were unemployed had depression or an anxiety disorder.
The survey also revealed area-level disparities, with common mental health conditions being more prevalent among those living in the most deprived fifth of neighbourhoods. In these areas, 26% of people had a common mental health condition – compared with 16% of those living in the least deprived areas.
Likelihood of receiving mental health treatment varied between groups. People aged 75 and over were the least likely to receive treatment compared to people from other age groups. This could partly stem from lack of help-seeking.
Ethnic inequalities were also observed, with people from Asian or black backgrounds less likely to receive treatment compared to people from white backgrounds. Ethnic disparities in treatment access have also been noted in linked primary care data – disparities which may also have worsened during the pandemic.
Sally McManus, Professor of Social Epidemiology at City St George's and Senior Research Fellow at the National Centre for Social Research, said:
“The Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey is a barometer of the nation’s mental health, and the longest running series of its kind in the world. The results show one in five adults have depression or an anxiety disorder, compared with one in six a decade ago.
"It also shows that one in nine (10.8%) adults have self-harmed: this is a four-fold increase from 2000. We need to support effective and healthier ways of coping with distress. Ethnic inequalities persist, and in this survey, those identifying with mixed, multiple and other ethnicities emerged as having some of the worst mental health outcomes. This group had especially high rates of PTSD and self-harm. The study also shows that ethnic inequalities in treatment receipt persist among those with symptoms, with people identifying as Black or Asian less likely to get treatment.”
The proportion of people with depression or an anxiety disorder receiving mental health treatment – either in the form of prescription medication or psychological therapy – has increased substantially since the survey began.
Between 2000 and 2007, one in four people with a common mental health condition received treatment. This increased to 39% in 2014 – and nearly half in the latest survey. The increase was evident for both psychological therapies (rising from 10% in 2007 to 18% in 2024) and prescription medication (rising from 20% in 2007 to 38% in 2024).
The survey series was commissioned by NHS England and conducted by the National Centre for Social Research, alongside the University of Leicester and City St George’s, University of London.
City St George’s have published further information about the findings: One in four young adults now living with mental health condition, new NHSE survey reveals and
Mental health in England really is getting worse – our survey found one in five adults are struggling
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