Accessing mental health services
According to the Mental Health Foundation1, the proportion of people living with a common mental health problem using mental health treatment has significantly increased. Other reports show that more and more people are visiting their GPs with anxiety, stress and other mental health concerns. For example, a 2018 study by Mind2 revealed that two in three GPs saw an increase in patients seeking mental health support. The survey also found that around two in every five GP appointments are about mental health.
People Management reported that, in 2021, 92% of GPs saw an increase in patients with work-related stress and anxiety3. Rather worryingly, however, a 2025 survey from the Care Quality Commission reveals that four in 10 (40%) are waiting too long for care4.
There is also concern about the occupancy levels at mental health trusts. The Royal College of Psychiatrists recommends a maximum occupancy level of 85%. However, in England, since 2014 (though dipping at the peak of the pandemic), the rate has been 88% or more, demonstrating the increasing pressure on these services5.
With so many facilities running at full capacity, options become limited for those in need. This can lead to accident and emergency departments becoming a go-to for people at risk.
The cost of mental illness
With the increase in people experiencing mental health concerns, the financial strain on services is rising. Analysis by the Centre for Mental Health found the total cost of mental ill health in England in 2022 was £300 billion (comprising economic costs, human costs and health and care costs)6.
Sadly, investment in mental health prevention is limited. According to MQ Mental Health Research, on average, the UK spends £115 million per year on mental health research7. The Government did, however, announce a £50 million boost in funding in 20258.
Mental health researchIn 2018, only 6.1% of the UK's total health research budget was spent on mental health9.
Talking therapy statistics
New analysis of NHS data reveals that over 670,000 people were treated with NHS talking therapy care in 2025 (nearly 70,000 more than pre-pandemic)10. Whilst there is a growing range of talking therapies available to those in need, it appears that not everyone is being offered the full range.
According to the 'We still need to talk' report by Mind, 40% of those surveyed had to request access to psychological therapies rather than being offered access. Additionally, over half waited over three months for treatment, whilst 58% said they were not given a choice as to the type of therapy they received11.
In 2008, the Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) programme was launched. Its aim is to improve both the quality and accessibility of mental health treatment, looking primarily at talking therapies like cognitive behavioural therapy. This is now known as the NHS Talking Therapies Programme12.
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) aims to help people manage their problems by examining (and ultimately changing) how they think and behave. The therapy combines a cognitive approach and a behavioural approach to make the link between thoughts and actions.
CBT, together with guided self-help books, was revealed to be the most common form of therapy given (71.9%) during 2024-2513.
Another increasingly popular approach is mindfulness. In integrative mind-body therapy, mindfulness looks to help people manage their thoughts and change the way they relate to experiences. It works by encouraging you to focus on the present moment and draws on meditation techniques.
According to the Mental Health Foundation, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction can help people cope with stress14.
Medication statistics
In some cases, mental illness might benefit from medication. This should always be assessed by a doctor who can discuss symptoms and history. It is thought, however, that sometimes, medication is unduly prescribed.
The 2012 Aviva 'Health of the Nation' report found that 75% of the 200 GPs surveyed prescribed medication even though they felt psychological therapies would be more effective. 84% of GPs said there are long waiting lists for talking therapies, so medication may be given whilst patients await access15.
Self-management for mental health
Encouraging people to take care of their physical and mental health themselves is one way the health industry is trying to reduce the strain on mental health services. The term 'self-management' is used within the industry to describe the methods people use to manage themselves to achieve their objectives. For those living with mental health concerns, this can include gaining training and skills to help take greater control of their life.
Peer support is also commonly utilised. This is when people who have experienced a mental health condition are able to give support to one another. The support could be practical, emotional or even social. The premise is that it is mutually offered and reciprocated.
Online courses are also used within self-management. Computerised CBT (CCBT) has proven to be both cost-effective and accessible. A study in 2015 looked at the results of 112 young people aged 12-16 undertaking CCBT. They experienced improvements in anxiety and depression symptoms, and this improvement was sustained at a 6-month follow-up16.
Exercise and good nutrition have also been found important for self-management and improved mental health. A systematic review carried out by Stanton and Happell in 2014 found that aerobic exercise (like running and cycling) three times a week for 12 weeks improved mental health outcomes for those with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder17.
Helping and training people to self-manage their health is set to be a key factor in the future of mental health treatment. However, some people criticise the self-management approach as it’s often not personalised to each individual's needs and lacks professional therapeutic input.
The future of mental health services
Our greater understanding of mental health and its effect on the nation calls into question how we will treat conditions in the future.
The Mental Health Foundation18 has explored this, bringing up several key points that include (but are not limited to) the following:
- Personalisation - Creating a personalised service that involves the doctor, the patient and their family together as equal partners when making decisions about mental health treatment.
- Self-management - As well as improving patients' knowledge of how to self-manage their condition, primary care GPs need to become leaders in mental health care.
- Early life - Investing in mental well-being during early life is likely to repay its cost many times over by reducing the use of other services in the future.
- Later life - The prevalence of mental health concerns like depression in older people needs to be addressed with a comprehensive response.
- New technology - Apps and online courses are proving to be valuable, and while new technology is likely to improve the way mental health care is delivered, it should not be used in place of one-to-one human contact.
References
- 1 Mental Health Foundation, People seeking help for diagnosable mental health problems: statistics, Available at: https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/statistics/people-seeking-help-diagnosed-mental-health-problems-statistics
- 2 Mind (2018), 40 per cent of all GP appointments are about mental health, Available at: https://www.mind.org.uk/media/4414/gp-mh-2018-survey-summary.pdf
- 3 People Management (2021), GPs seeing increase in work-related stress, poll finds, Available at: https://www.peoplemanagement.co.uk/article/1745169/gps-seeing-increase-work-related-stress-poll-finds
- 4 Care Quality Commission survey (2025), Available at: https://www.cqc.org.uk/press-release/high-demand-long-waits-and-insufficient-support-mean-people-mental-health-issues
- 5 The Royal College of Psychiatrists (2022), Bed occupancy across mental health trusts, Available at: https://mentalhealthwatch.rcpsych.ac.uk/indicators/bed-occupancy-across-mental-health-trust
- 6 Centre for Mental Health (2024), The economic and social costs of mental ill health, Available at: https://www.centreformentalhealth.org.uk/publications/the-economic-and-social-costs-of-mental-ill-health/
- 7 MQ Mental Health Research (2015), Mental health research: how much does the UK spend?, Available at: https://www.mqmentalhealth.org/mental-health-research-how-much-does-the-uk-spend
- 8 Government, Health and Social Care (2025), £50 million boost for groundbreaking mental health research, Available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/50-million-boost-for-groundbreaking-mental-health-research
- 9 Mental Health Foundation, Investment into mental health research: statistics, Available at: https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/mental-health-statistics/investment-mental-health-research-statistics
- 10 NHS England (2026), NHS launches major campaign to support millions more people with anxiety, Available at: https://www.england.nhs.uk/2026/02/nhs-talking-therapies-completely-changed-my-life-nhs-launches-major-campaign-to-support-millions-more-people-with-anxiety/
- 11 Mind, ‘We still need to talk: A report on access to talking therapies’, Available at: https://www.mind.org.uk/media/4426/we-still-need-to-talk_report.pdf
- 12 Nuffield Trust (2023), NHS Talking Therapies (IAPT) programme, Available at: https://www.nuffieldtrust.org.uk/resource/improving-access-to-psychological-therapies-iapt-programme
- 13 NHS Digital (2025), NHS Talking Therapies, for anxiety and depression, Annual reports, 2024-25, Available at: https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/nhs-talking-therapies-for-anxiety-and-depression-annual-reports/2024-25/therapy-based-outcomes
- 14 Mental Health Foundation, Mindfulness, Available at: https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/explore-mental-health/a-z-topics/mindfulness
- 15 Aviva (2013), UK: Patients call for better mental health provision while GPs are sceptical that access will improve, Available at: https://www.aviva.com/newsroom/news-releases/2013/01/uk-patients-call-for-better-mental-health-provision-while-gps-are-sceptical-that-access-will-improve-17089/
- 16 Smith P, Scott R, Eshkevari E, Jatta F, Leigh E, Harris V, & Yule W. (2015). Computerised CBT for Depressed Adolescents: Randomised Controlled Trial, Behaviour Research and Therapy, 73, pp. 104-110.
- 17 Stanton and Happell (2014), A Systematic Review of the Aerobic Exercise Program Variables for People with Schizophrenia, Current Sports Medicine Reports,13(4), pp. 260-266
- 18 Mental Health Foundation, The economic case for investing in the prevention of mental health conditions in the UK (Summary), Available at: https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/sites/default/files/2022-06/MHF-Investing-in-Prevention-Report-Summary.pdf
