Almost half of Britons feel “constantly” depressed or overwhelmed, new data shows

• New survey reveals 47% of people in the UK have felt “constantly” anxious, depressed or overwhelmed in the last year 
• 63% report experiencing feelings of anxiety or depression in the last 12 months
• Approximately 5 million people have been signed off work and 3 million have attended A&E due to poor mental health linked to distressing events in the news, according to the new data
• Cost-of-living crisis and global conflicts named among biggest drivers of poor mental health
• 59% say they see news and social media content that negatively impacts their mental health every week

Nearly half of UK adults (47%) say they have felt “constantly” anxious, depressed or overwhelmed during the last 12 months, according to a major new national survey commissioned by Priory.

In total two thirds of respondents (63%) said they had experienced feelings of anxiety, being overwhelmed, low-mood or depression at some point in the last year.

The findings suggest that economic uncertainty, global conflicts, and frequent exposure to distressing news or online content are contributing to rising levels of emotional overwhelm across the UK.

The survey also points to the growing psychological toll of repeated exposure to upsetting media reports and digital content:

This emotional strain is also affecting people’s daily lives and ability to function. One in five people (20%) say that they now stay home more often because of how negative or distressing news makes them feel. One in ten report they struggle to carry out normal daily activities such as school, work or household tasks as a result. One in seven (14%) say that they have avoided socialising or seeing friends and family.

The findings indicate the issue may be placing growing pressure on health services and workplaces. According to the survey:

Priory has launched a campaign called Support to find your way, exploring how people cope with the pressures of modern life. The campaign encourages people to recognise that their feelings are valid and seek support, even if they don’t immediately identify with conditions like anxiety or depression.

Hannah Stebbings is 41 from Birmingham. She says she has always been a naturally anxious person and often found herself worrying or imagining worst-case scenarios from a young age. But after experiencing a traumatic home invasion in her early twenties, those feelings became overwhelming and started to affect every part of her life.

Hannah now works at Priory as an integrative therapist, supporting people experiencing anxiety, depression and other mental health challenges using both her professional expertise and personal understanding of recovery.

“I’ve always been someone who worried,” said Hannah. “Even when I was younger, I could be anxious and would often think about worst-case scenarios, but after experiencing trauma as an adult those feelings became much bigger and much harder to manage.

“At first, I tried to carry on as normal. I went back to work and convinced myself I was coping, but looking back I was really in survival mode. Eventually it all caught up with me and I started experiencing panic attacks and overwhelming anxiety.

“I became incredibly hypervigilant and started to feel like the world wasn’t safe. I was constantly expecting something bad to happen and found everyday things difficult. I ended up leaving my job and moving away because I just couldn't cope anymore.

“When you already struggle with anxiety, it can sometimes feel like your mind is constantly looking for danger. We now live in a world where there is always another headline, another crisis or another upsetting story on your phone. For people who are already feeling anxious or overwhelmed, it can become really difficult to switch off.

“Now, as an integrative therapist at Priory, I see this in many of the people I work with too – in particular women in their 20s and 30s. Lots of people feel emotionally exhausted because they’re carrying stress from their own lives while also absorbing everything happening around them. They can start to feel overwhelmed, fearful or like they're constantly on edge.

Dr Donald Masi, a Priory consultant psychiatrist, said: “We’ve seen Priory enquiries for anxiety and depression treatment increase by 68% since 2019, including a 25% increase in the last 12 months alone. 

“Stress is a natural part of life. But the pressures of the modern world mean many people feel emotionally overwhelmed, even when it doesn’t show on the outside. Many people now feel psychologically exhausted because they are constantly exposed to crisis, conflict and uncertainty through smartphones, social media and rolling news coverage. While staying informed is important, repeated exposure to distressing content can gradually affect sleep, concentration, mood, relationships and overall wellbeing — particularly for people already managing anxiety, trauma or stress in their own lives. 

“Anxiety and depression can worsen over time if left unaddressed, and seeking support early can make a real difference to how you feel and recover.”

Priory says the findings reflect growing demand for mental health support as people increasingly struggle to cope with the pressures of modern life and feel unable to mentally switch off from distressing events and online content.

Through the Support to find your way campaign, Priory is urging people to not delay seeking the help and support they need to feel better in these overwhelming times. Visit www.priorygroup/findyourway for more information.

Priory is the largest provider of mental health, addiction and working-age adult social care services in the UK caring for 24,000 people a year across 270 sites. Priory offers a range of mental health services including therapy, outpatient support and inpatient treatment tailored to individual needs.

ENDS