Silent Mental Health Crisis Grips Millions in the UK
Millions of people across the UK suffer from a “silent mental health pandemic,” according to Dr. Lade Smith, president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists. She describes it as “atrocious” that many individuals lack support until they hit crisis point.
In England, 4.1 million patients engaged with mental health services in 2024/25, marking a 56% increase from 2.6 million eight years earlier. This figure includes 1.2 million children and young people, a 118% surge from 500,000 in 2016/17.
Overwhelmed Services and Rising Risks
Dr. Smith states: “People are unable to get the help they need when they need it, leaving them to suffer from depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, schizophrenia and other severe mental illnesses with insufficient support and treatment and this affects their life chances.”
Services face overload and resource shortages, forcing crisis-level access only. Dr. Smith labels this a “pandemic” impacting over one billion people worldwide, encompassing anxiety, depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and eating disorders.
Escalating anxiety and depression rates tie to factors like poverty, financial insecurity, and debt. Those in severe crisis, including suicidal individuals, often wait over 24 hours in A&E or travel far for beds due to shortages.
Funding Gap and Urgent Calls for Action
Mental healthcare claims less than 9% of NHS spending, despite representing 20% of the nation’s disease burden. The Royal College of Psychiatrists urges the government to boost mental health funding, emphasize community care, set patient outcome and waiting time standards, expand inpatient beds, and fund research.
Dr. Smith emphasizes: “There is no greater threat to the health of children and young adults than the silent mental health pandemic that has spiralled out of control. Mental illness is keeping people away from school, from work and leading to tragic cases of self-harm and suicide.”
She adds: “Mental health services cannot be expected to deliver outstanding care with only half the necessary funding. The Government must provide them with the resources they need to meet this unprecedented challenge. Doing so will keep people healthy, in work and out of hospital. This is good for individuals, good for productivity and good for the economy of the country.”
