- New poll of Scottish adults reveals actions people are taking for their mental health and the barriers they face
- Mental Health Foundation says the new Scottish Government has vital opportunity to reset and strengthen the national approach to prevention and public mental health
New data released today for Mental Health Awareness Week by the Mental Health Foundation reveals widespread use of unhealthy coping mechanisms by people in Scotland when they are “stressed, anxious, or low.”
More than two‑thirds of adults in Scotland (68%) report taking at least one harmful action to cope with poor mental health in the past month. The most common negative coping behaviours include spending more time alone or avoiding seeing people (33%) and oversleeping or not getting out of bed (29%) – often referred to as “bed-rotting”.
Other common actions include overeating or comfort eating (28%) and spending more time scrolling social media or being online to distract themselves (28%).
The poll of 1,692 adults in Scotland, carried out by Opinium on behalf of the Mental Health Foundation, has been released to mark Mental Health Awareness Week (11–17 May). The research explores public attitudes and behaviours around taking action for good mental health, including both positive actions and harmful coping mechanisms people are using in response to stress, anxiety and low mood.
While the findings show concerning levels of harmful coping behaviours, they also reveal that most people in Scotland are also taking positive steps to protect and support their mental health. More than four in five adults (82%) had taken at least one helpful action in the past month. The most common positive actions were spending time outdoors or in nature (39%), doing something enjoyable or relaxing such as hobbies, reading or listening to music (37%), and taking part in physical activity (35%).
However, many people are combining positive actions with harmful ones. Nearly two‑thirds of adults in Scotland (62%) reported taking at least one harmful action alongside at least one helpful action. By contrast, fewer than one in five people (18%) said they had only taken helpful actions - around a third of the number who are mixing positive and negative coping behaviours.
The Mental Health Foundation emphasises that individual action alone is not enough to ensure good mental health for everyone in Scotland. While many people are taking positive steps to support their emotional wellbeing, most continue to face barriers that make it harder to prioritise their mental health. Only one in five adults in Scotland (22%) say there are no barriers preventing them from taking action, with pressures such as work demands, lack of time, financial stress and difficulties accessing support continuing to hold people back.
These findings point to the wider social, economic and environmental conditions that shape mental health, and the critical role of government in reducing barriers and creating the right conditions for good mental health to thrive. With a new Scottish Government now in place, the charity says there is a vital opportunity to reset and strengthen the national approach to prevention in support of good public mental health.
Dr Calum MacLeod, Policy and Public Affairs Manager for Scotland at the Mental Health Foundation, said:
“These findings show that people in Scotland are making efforts to care for their mental health, yet many are still turning to coping habits that can undermine wellbeing in the longer term. Behaviours such as withdrawing from others, overeating, sleeping excessively, or getting lost in constant online scrolling may offer short‑term comfort, but they often worsen feelings of anxiety and low mood rather than easing them.
“With almost seven in ten people in Scotland using at least one harmful way of coping, this data reflects how challenging life feels for many right now, and underlines the urgent need to go beyond awareness and focus on actions that genuinely protect and improve mental health.
“It’s positive to see so many people in Scotland trying to take care of their mental health, but the reality is that personal effort can only go so far. Our mental wellbeing is strongly influenced by the world around us – including secure and adequate incomes, safe and affordable housing, access to green space, fair work, and timely mental health support. These are not things individuals can fix on their own.
“Following the recent Scottish Parliament Election, it’s vital that the new Scottish Government show’s bold and ambitious leadership to navigate the nation out of Scotland’s ongoing public mental health emergency. Investing in prevention, tackling poverty and other structural issues that damage wellbeing, and embedding mental health considerations across all policies are essential steps towards creating the conditions in which good mental health can flourish for everyone in Scotland.”