Location: Wales
- Change for a generation - the Mental Health Foundation calls on the new Welsh Government to prioritise the prevention of poor mental health
New data released today for Mental Health Awareness Week by the Mental Health Foundation has revealed widespread use of unhealthy coping mechanisms by people across Wales when they are “stressed, anxious, or low.”
More than two-thirds of adults in Wales (69%) had taken harmful actions to cope with poor mental health in the past month. Over a third (36%) report spending time in isolation from others and one third (34%) spend more time scrolling social media and online as a way to cope with anxiety, stress and low mood, despite a strong body of evidence which suggests these actions can be harmful to individuals.
Other harmful actions that a significant number said they had done to cope with their mental health included comfort eating or overeating (27%), and oversleeping/not getting out of bed (31%) – increasingly referred to by some as “bed rotting.”
While harmful actions were widespread, and higher than the UK average, the polling also shows a significant number of people are taking helpful actions that can reduce the risk of poor mental health (this was also higher than the UK average). More than four in five adults (84%) in Wales had taken at least one helpful action to support their mental health, with the most popular being accessing nature (41%), doing something enjoyable like a hobby (37%), and taking part in physical activity or prioritising sleep and rest (35%).
The poll of 1015 people in Wales, carried out by Opinium on behalf of the Mental Health Foundation, has been released to mark the first day of Mental Health Awareness Week (11–17 May). The research explores public attitudes and behaviours around taking action for good mental health, including both the positive and negative actions people are using to maintain or manage their mental health.
Catherine Razzell, Policy and Public Affairs Manager at the Mental Health Foundation said:
“This polling tells us that, here in Wales, there is a concerning degree of harmful actions taken by people as a way of dealing with their feelings of poor mental health, such as doomscrolling or over-eating.
“We are hopeful to see positive actions being taken by individuals to help maintain and improve good mental health. Tried and trusted activities such as connecting with nature – which many of us are fortunate to have access to in Wales, and taking part in physical exercise and rest, in equal measure – are all known to support our mental health.”
The polling reveals nearly two-thirds of people in Wales (64%) are doing at least one harmful ‘coping’ mechanism alongside their positive ‘supporting’ actions, with only one-fifth (20%) of those taking only helpful actions to support their mental health. The polling comes just days after the Senedd election when a new government for Wales has been elected, bringing with it renewed vigour and opportunity to drive forward public mental health for the next generation.
Catherine continued: “Whilst it is good news people are finding ways to prioritise and protect their mental health and support those around them, more action is needed from our governments to create the conditions to support good mental health.
“We are seeing a once in a generation change politically in Wales. We are one year into the new ten-year mental health strategy for Wales and are keen to see how the new government will implement and resource this.
“In addition to a resourced focus on prevention, which we know has long-term economic benefits, we know that inequalities exist here that are huge barriers to good mental health - keeping people locked in poverty for generations. We want to see these issues tackled head-on by the new government for Wales. Now is the time for action and not talk.”