The Attitudes to Mental Illness report is a comprehensive analysis of the state of stigma around mental health in England and tracks changes in mental health knowledge and behaviour since 2009 and attitudes to mental health since 2008.
The latest report, based on data collected during 2023 and analysed by the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King’s College London, shows a mixed picture of mental health stigma. Worryingly, it reveals the first downturn in topline measures of stigma – in terms of knowledge, behaviour and attitudes – following a decade of continuous improvement.
Public knowledge about aspects of mental health have fallen back to 2009 levels.
- When asked if people with severe mental health problems could fully recover, 59 per cent of people agreed, down from 67 per cent in 2019.
- When asked if they knew what advice to give a friend experiencing a mental health problem to find professional help, 60 per cent knew how to advise their friend, down from 66 per cent in 2019.
The report suggested that “this may be the result of public concerns about the issues faced when trying to access mental health services.”
Similarly intended behaviours towards people with mental health problems were also down to 2009 levels.
- When asked if they would be willing to live with someone with mental health difficulties, only 55 per cent of people said they would, down from 66 per cent in 2009.
- When asked if they would be willing to live near someone with mental health problems, 75 per cent said they would, down from 81 per cent in 2019.
Finally, some measures of attitudes towards mental health have dropped to 2014 levels. The report reveals that while decreases in prejudice around mental health over the past 15 years have been maintained, there is less faith in the perceived effectiveness and suitability of community care for those experiencing mental health problems.
- When asked whether the best therapy for people with mental illness is to be part of their normal community, 72 per cent agreed, down from 79 per cent in 2019. In addition, English adults were less likely to feel that mental health services should be provided through the community.
- Only 11 per cent of respondents agreed that there were enough services for people with mental health illness, down from 16 per cent in 2019.
Some reasons for optimism
Despite the decline in some of these measures, there were some reasons for optimism in other data revealed in the report. For example, for the first time, the 2023 survey measured the level of stigma around schizophrenia and depression by comparing how much respondents wanted to avoid someone with symptoms associated with each condition (the condition itself was not named).
Since 2007, people are more likely to say they’d be willing to make friends with someone with depression or schizophrenia, have them as a colleague, accept them into their family or have them provide childcare. For example:
- 80 per cent of people said they would accept someone with depression marrying into the family (up from 53 per cent in 2007).
- 72 per cent said they would accept someone with schizophrenia marrying into their family, compared to 37 per cent in 2007.
“What lies behind these shifts is not certain, but the pandemic and the cost of living crisis could be significant contributors,” said Professor Claire Henderson from Kings IoPPN. “These events likely made it harder to access care and to recover from mental illness. We predict that some of the aspects of stigma that worsened since 2019 will improve if and when economic conditions and access to treatment for common mental illnesses improve.”
West Sussex Mind deputy CEO Kate Scales said: “We are saddened by the findings of this report showing a decline in knowledge, behaviours and some attitudes towards mental health and illustrating the continuing prevalence of stigma. We know that, for many people, the stigma around mental health problems can be as bad as, or even worse than, the symptoms they experience – and that has to change.
“Through our training offer and awareness raising in the community, we will continue to educate about mental health and fight for respect and support for those experiencing mental health issues. Unfortunately we know that public stigma and internalised self-shame really do prevent people from reaching out for the support they need.”