Ahead of World Mental Health Day, our new survey reveals that therapists are seeing a surge in stress, persistent worrying and overthinking over the past year.
Rising stress levels
A recent survey of over 2,600 members shows that almost two thirds (64%) of therapists have seen an increase in clients coming to therapy for support with stress, persistent worrying, and overthinking over the past 12 months.
The survey, which provides an in-depth look at what therapists are currently experiencing in their practice, also showed that therapists saw an increase in neurodivergence-related issues (61%), generalised anxiety (55%), low self-esteem (53%), and loneliness and isolation (49%) over the past year.
Top 10 issues
Top 10 list of issues therapists have seen an increase of in the past year include:
- Stress / persistent worrying / overthinking (64%)
- Neurodivergence-related issues (61%)
- Generalised anxiety (55%)
- Low self-esteem (53%)
- Loneliness and isolation (49%)
- Social anxiety (48%)
- Depression (45%)
- Work Stress (45%)
- Trauma (44%)
- Financial anxiety (42%)
UK's mental health deteriorates
The survey also revealed that three in five (60%) therapists say that the public鈥檚 mental health has deteriorated since last year - with almost all (94%) therapists perceiving that financial concerns and the cost of living impacted this.
Three quarters (76%) of therapists also said that war and conflict had impacted the nation鈥檚 mental health, closely followed by 75% of therapists perceiving that negative news had contributed towards public鈥檚 mental health deterioration too.
"Deeply concerning"
Commenting on the survey鈥檚 new findings Dr Phil James, our Chief Executive Officer, said:
鈥淚t鈥檚 deeply concerning to hear that the public鈥檚 mental health is continuing to deteriorate - with therapists seeing a significant increase in people coming to them for support with stress, persistent worrying and overthinking. It鈥檚 clear that people are struggling with the vast complexities that life in 2024 brings, and this is permeating their everyday existence with often no means of emotional escape. The continued cost of living crisis and consequences of the pandemic, as well as the constant conflicts across the globe are also taking its toll on the mental health and wellbeing of the nation.
鈥淭herapy offers a safe, confidential place to talk to a trained professional about your feelings and concerns. To find a registered therapist, please visit our .鈥�
Huge spikes in anxiety
Simon Coombs, registered 香港六合彩精准资料 therapist and founder of , said:
鈥淧eople are feeling the impact of existential uncertainty more now than I can ever recall. This is creating huge spikes in collective anxiety and a sense of helplessness and not being in control. The constant flow of negative national and global events has created a surge in the need for emotional support and a safe space to voice our fears and concerns. In doing so, we can begin to recognise the things we can influence and control and take positive action. Working with a therapist can provide a stable and positive environment to do this, and to learn better ways of reconciling what is out of our sphere of influence and coming to terms with that in a progressive way.鈥�
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