The demographics of mental health in Great Britain

The tenth of October marks World Mental Health Day. As described by the World Federation for Mental Health, the day "celebrates awareness for the global community in an empathetic way, with a unifying voice, helping those feel hopeful by empowering them to take action and to create lasting change." The main theme in 2019 is the prevention of suicide, which according to the World Health Organization, is the cause of around 800 thousand deaths per year, and the second leading cause of death for those aged 15 to 29.

Looking at the self-reporting of recent YouGov survey respondents, we can also see how the younger among us may be disproportionately affected by mental health issues. When asked to broadly describe their current mental health state, one quarter of people aged 18 to 24 described it as fairly or very bad - compared to just 3 percent of over-65s. As our infographic shows, there are differences to be found in other demographic breakdowns. The most severe after age appears to be location. In London, 11 percent of adults said their mental health is to some degree bad, while in Scotland this figure jumps to 22 percent.

If you or somebody you know are in need of help, you can call the Samaritans on 116 123 (UK and Ireland), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of the nearest branch.