People seeking help for diagnosed mental health problems

Drawing of line graphic

One adult in six in England (15.7%) receives mental health treatment, with 12.5% receiving medication and 5.1%% receiving psychological therapy. (The overlap within the statistics is due to 1.9% of those receiving treatment reporting receiving both medication and psychological therapy.)1

For those with common mental health problems, 44.6% reported receiving treatment. The proportion of people with a common mental health problem using mental health treatment has significantly increased over recent years. In 2014, 37.3% of people with a common mental health condition received treatment and in 2000, the figure was 23.1%.2

Treatment uptake by type of common mental health problem3

  • Depression: 59.4%
  • Obsessive-compulsive disorder: 52.1%
  • Phobias: 51.6%
  • Generalised anxiety disorder: 48.2%
  • Common mental disorder, not otherwise specified: 24.7%
  • Panic disorder: 20.9%

Treatment inequalities

Ethnic inequalities persist in mental health treatment receipt. Consistent with analyses of previous surveys in the APMS series (Ahmad et al. 2022), people in Black, Asian and Mixed ethnic groups were found to be less likely to get mental health treatment than those who identified as White British. 4

Patterns of treatment use by gender and age have changed. The previous survey in the APMS series found that among people with common mental health conditions, women were more likely than men to receive treatment. But in 2024, this difference was no longer evident .Among people with common mental health conditions, men and women had a similar likelihood of receiving mental health treatment. 5

Age-related patterns in treatment use may have also changed in recent years. Treatment use among 16 to 24 year olds, especially among women, is now more similar to those in midlife. People aged 75 or more, however, continue to be the least likely age group to receive treatment.6

Browse all mental health statistics

Our 2016 study 'The Fundamental Facts about Mental Health' follows a comprehensive summary of mental health research, providing a unique handbook of key facts and figures, covering all key areas of mental health.

Find out more

References

  1. Clery, E., Morris, S., Wilson, C., Cooper, C., Das-Munshi, J., McManus, S., & Weich, S. (2025). Mental health treatment and service use. In Morris, S., Hill, S., Brugha, T., McManus, S. (Eds.), Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey: Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing, England, 2023/4. NHS England: Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey: Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing, England - NHS England Digital
  2. ibid
  3. Department of Health. (2014). Annual Report of the Chief Medical Officer 2013, Public Mental Health Priorities: Investing in the Evidence. Retrieved from gov.uk/government/publications/chief-medical-officer-cmoannual-report-public-mental-health [Accessed 05/08/16].
  4. Clery, E., Morris, S., Wilson, C., Cooper, C., Das-Munshi, J., McManus, S., & Weich, S. (2025). Mental health treatment and service use. In Morris, S., Hill, S., Brugha, T., McManus, S. (Eds.), Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey: Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing, England, 2023/4. NHS England: Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey: Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing, England - NHS England Digital
  5. ibid
  6. ibid
  7. ibid