The most common diagnosed mental health problems: statistics

This content mentions anxiety and depression, which some people may find triggering.

  • Mixed anxiety and depression is Britain's most common mental disorder, with 7.8% of people meeting the criteria for diagnosis.1
  • 4 to 10% of people in England will experience depression in their lifetime.2
  • Common mental health problems such as depression and anxiety are distributed according to a gradient of economic disadvantage across society. The poorer and more disadvantaged are disproportionately affected by common mental health problems and their adverse consequences.3
  • Mixed anxiety and depression have been estimated to cause one-fifth of days lost from work in Britain.4
  • One adult in six had a common mental disorder.5

Browse all of the mental health statistics

Our 2016 study 'The Fundamental Facts about Mental Health' follows a comprehensive summary of mental health research, providing a unique handbook of key facts and figures, covering all key areas of mental health.

Find out more

Depression and Anxiety: A-Z Topics

Find out more about what affects our mental health with our A-Z Topics.

Find out more
Photo of Ben sitting with his friends

References

  1. NICE (2011). Common mental health disorders | Guidance and guidelines | NICE. [online] Available at: http://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg123 [Accessed 25 Aug 2015].
  2. McManus S, Meltzer H, Brugha T, Bebbington P, Jenkins R (eds), 2009. Adult Psychiatric Morbidity in England 2007: results of a household survey. NHS Information Centre for Health and Social Care. [online] Available at: http://www.hscic.gov.uk/pubs/psychiatricmorbidity07 [Accessed 25 Aug 2015].
  3. Patel V, Lund C, Hatherill S, Plagerson S, Corrigall J, Funk M, & Flisher AJ. (2010). Mental disorders: equity and social determinants. Equity, social determinants and public health programmes, 115.
  4. Das-Munshi et al. (2008) cited in McManus S, Bebbington P, Jenkins R, Brugha T. (eds.) (2016) Mental health and wellbeing in England: Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey 2014. Leeds: NHS Digital [Accessed 5 Oct 2016] Available at: http://content.digital.nhs.uk/catalogue/PUB21748/apms-2014-full-rpt.pdf 
  5. McManus S, Bebbington P, Jenkins R, Brugha T. (eds.) (2016) Mental health and wellbeing in England: Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey 2014. Leeds: NHS Digital. Available at: http://content.digital.nhs.uk/catalogue/PUB21748/apms-2014-exec-summary.... 5 October 2016]

If you feel affected by the content you have read, please see our get help page for support.