A new report from the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS), funded by the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and the Health Foundation, paints a troubling picture of worsening mental health in England and Wales, particularly since the COVID-19 pandemic. The report underscores significant increases in mental health issues, a sharp rise in Disability Benefit claims linked to mental health conditions, and the escalating pressure on NHS mental health services.
Rising Mental Health Concerns
According to the report, the proportion of working-age individuals reporting long-term mental health or behavioral conditions has surged from 8-10% in the mid-2010s to 13-15% today. This increase is reflected in a significant rise in Disability Benefit claims. IFS Research Economist Eduin Latimer noted, “The rise in the number of people on disability benefits is a key motivation for the government’s upcoming Green Paper…more than half of the rise in disability benefit claims comes from mental health and behavioral conditions.”
Since the pandemic, the number of 16- to 64-year-olds on disability benefits has climbed by 0.9 million, reaching 2.9 million. More than half of these new claims are linked to mental health problems.
Deaths of Despair Surge
A particularly alarming trend is the rise in ‘deaths of despair’—deaths from alcohol, drugs, and suicide. These have increased by 24% since the pandemic, equating to an additional 3,700 deaths in 2023 compared to pre-pandemic levels. This troubling rise is strongly associated with the worsening mental health crisis.
NHS Services Struggling to Keep Up
NHS mental health services are under unprecedented strain. By December 2024, 2 million people were in contact with NHS mental health services, marking a 36% increase since 2019. The number of people prescribed antidepressants has also risen by 12% during the same period.
Rebecca Gray, Mental Health Director at the NHS Confederation, stated, “Our members are working incredibly hard to meet the increasing demand for mental health care, but it is clear that capacity is being outstripped by demand, often leaving people facing very long waits for care.” She highlighted the particular challenges faced by children and young adults and the need for better early intervention, including more resources for Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS).
Economic Impact and the Need for Action
The report emphasizes the broader economic impact of mental ill health. The Joseph Rowntree Foundation and the Health Foundation stress the need for comprehensive strategies to address the root causes of mental health deterioration, particularly access to care. Gray also noted that helping people return to work could significantly boost the UK economy, citing analysis that reintegrating people who have dropped out of the workforce due to illness could add up to £177 billion to the UK’s GDP by 2029.
The ongoing mental health crisis calls for a cross-government approach to policy, addressing not only healthcare but also social determinants of health such as poverty, unemployment, and housing insecurity. Without this, the UK faces a growing mental health challenge with far-reaching consequences for individuals, healthcare services, and the economy.
This report is a stark reminder that mental health remains a pressing national issue, with urgent action needed to prevent further deterioration.
Mental-health Pic by N Youngson CC BY-SA 3.0 Alpha Stock Images
