BACP Mindometer 2023
News from BACP

Our annual survey into the state of the nation's mental health

Our annual Mindometer survey¹, which reflects the mental health and wellbeing of the nation, found that almost all therapists saw a decline in the public’s mental health compared to last year. Many attributed this deterioration to financial concerns and the cost of living.

The survey, which captured the experiences of more than 3,000 members and provides an in-depth look at what therapists are currently experiencing in their practice, shows that a range of economic, social and global issues have had a negative impact on the population’s wellbeing. Almost half of therapists also reported being over capacity.

Findings from our survey have been reported in the Guardian, the Mirror, the Sun, LBC radio, and Yahoo news. The survey was also mentioned as part of the coverage of our men’s mental health R.A.I.S.E. campaign. It was also mentioned in Parliament when member Anthony Davis was invited to provide evidence to the Health and Social Care Select Committee.

Dr Lisa Morrison Coulthard, BACP Director of Professional Standards, Policy and Research

The state of the nation

Experts share their view on the UK's mental health

Two thirds (66%) of therapists reported that the public’s mental health has deteriorated compared to last year
Nearly all (94%) therapists that reported that the public’s mental health had deteriorated since last year attributed this to people’s financial concerns and the cost of living
Three in four (75%) therapists that reported that the public’s mental health had deteriorated since last year attributed this to negative news, while 62% attributed it to climate change
Nearly half (45%) of therapists described demand at their practice as overcapacity, resulting in a waiting list or referral of clients to other services
Almost three quarters (74%) of therapists work with clients between 18 and 24
More than a third (35%) of therapists are seeing more new clients that are young adults (18 to 30) in comparison to the past year

The top five issues therapists have seen an increase in, over the past year, include:

Generalised anxiety (57%)
Depression (57%)
Self-esteem issues (52%)
Relationship issues (50%)
Financial anxiety (46%)

Cost of living

The cost of living continues to negatively impact the nation's mental health

Over half (55%) of therapists reported that their clients are feeling anxious or nervous about whether they can afford to pay their bills because of cost of living
Almost half (46%) of therapists reported that their clients are losing sleep because of cost of living
Two in five (40%) therapists reported that their clients are concerned they'll never be able to afford a mortgage or get on the property ladder because of cost of living
Over a third (38%) of therapists reported that their clients are feeling anxious or nervous they might lose their jobs
More than half (52%) of therapists reported that their clients have had to cut back on activities which help their mental health (gym membership, arts class) because of the rise in the cost of living
Over half (56%) of therapists agreed that clients have been cutting back on therapy sessions due to money worries in the past year

Children and parenting

Children and young people's mental health is deteriorating as therapists see increase in those presenting with anxiety

Almost three in four (72%) therapists working with children under the age of 18 reported that their mental health has deteriorated compared to last year
Nearly two in five (39%) therapists working with children are seeing a rise in children seeking mental health support from social media through influencer therapists
The top five issues therapists working with children have seen an increase in over the past year include:

Generalised anxiety (73%)
ADHD (72%)
Self-esteem issues (69%)
Social anxiety (68%)
Depression (62%)

Men's mental health

Increase in men attending therapy, but still less likely than women to seek help

Three out of five (60%) therapists saw a rise in men attending therapy over the last three years
Despite this, more than half (56%) of therapists agreed that men are less likely to get mental health support than women
The top five issues therapists working with men have seen an increase in over the past year include:

Relationship issues (58%)
Depression (58%)
Family issues (50%)
Self-esteem (48%)
General anxiety (46%)

Half (50%) of our therapists reported men present with different depression symptoms than women
Out of the therapists who had male clients presenting with addiction, 85% saw an increase in alcohol abuse in the past year compared to 64% noting an increase in drug abuse

These statistics are not surprising. Over the past year I've seen an increase of clients coming to therapy with issues related to depression, anxiety and relationship difficulties. I also realised that many of my male clients were suffering in silence. There’s still a significant amount of stigma around men seeking help and the R.A.I.S.E. campaign has been instrumental in highlighting the common signs of depression among men.

We've seen a continued decline in public mental health in 2023. Concerns including the cost of living, finance, world events and the climate crisis have combined to push local and national services to their limits. Seeking a therapist to help you navigate through these times will be one of the best decisions you can make to support yourself and your loved ones.

The demand for mental health support for children and young people is steadily rising - leading to long waiting times across both the private and NHS sectors. There’s a need for qualified mental health professionals to be working with schools to support them in being responsive, and not reactive, to young people’s needs.

Student mental health

Depression and anxiety in students on the rise

Over a third of therapists (34%) reported an increase in the number of enquiries or referrals from students in further and higher education
Nearly two thirds (65%) of therapists working with students reported an increase in students presenting with ADHD
Over three in five (64%) of therapists working with students reported an increase in students presenting with depression
Two thirds (66%) of therapists working with students reported an increase in students presenting with generalised anxiety

Couples

Money is a major concern for couples in crisis

One in two therapists (51%) working with couples reported an increase in clients presenting with break up or divorce issues
Over half of therapists (55%) working with couples reported an increase in clients presenting with money issues or concerns

Neurodivergence in therapy

Therapists have seen a surge ADHD and autism self diagnosis

Over half (53%) of therapists reported an increase in the number of enquiries or referrals from neurodivergent clients
Over half (52%) of therapists working with neurodivergent clients agreed that clients are receiving formal diagnosis and want to discuss it in therapy
Over four in five (84%) therapists working with neurodivergent clients reported that people self-diagnose because of increased awareness and want to discuss this in therapy

The impact of influencer therapy

More people are turning to influencer therapists for advice

Nearly a third (29%) of therapists agreed that they have seen a rise in clients who have sought mental health support from social media through influencer therapists² in the past year
Almost a quarter (24%) of therapists agreed that influencer therapists are helping to keep counselling at the forefront of public conversations
Almost three in ten (29%) therapists agreed that influencer therapists are damaging the reputation of counselling
More than four in five (82%) therapists agreed that influencer therapists should be able to prove they're qualified to offer counselling to the public
Over a third (37%) of therapists agreed that they have noticed instances where influencer therapists have shared unhelpful or damaging support online
Almost a quarter (24%) of therapists agreed that they have noticed instances where influencer therapists have behaved unethically online

These statistics are not surprising at all. We're living in a world that is faced with more uncertainty than ever. We came out of COVID, a traumatic time for many, only to be faced with increased fuel prices; a cost of living crisis; and many other economic, environmental, and societal pressures that come with that. Social media and 24/7 news channels mean we're constantly bombarded with negative news, without any reprieve.

As individuals grapple with economic uncertainties, anxiety becomes a prevalent companion. Therapy can provide a supportive environment that acknowledges the impact of financial stability and mental health. Therapists can help individuals build resilience and coping strategies.

The suffering caused by war and other conflicts can adversely impact mental health whether someone is directly involved or not. Children and adults are reporting difficulties managing thoughts and feelings associated with current global crises. Speaking to a professional can help people process and make sense of emotions stemming from such issues.

1 All figures are from a survey of our members. Total sample size was 3,071 therapists. Fieldwork was undertaken between 21 August to 15 September 2023. The survey was carried out online.
2 Influencer therapy is a broad term which can refer to both genuine therapists who give tips and advice on social media (including BACP members), as well as people who give mental health advice with no background in this area or those who claim to be therapists when they are not.