Depression incidence doubles in last decade amid ailing UK workforce
News
May 8th, 2024
The latest Health Trends data from the Department of Health & Social Care shines a spotlight on the health of the nation and finds that the percentage of patients aged 18+ with depression recorded on practice disease register rose from 5.8% in the financial year ending 2013 to 13.2% in the financial year ending 2023.
The percentage of people reporting high levels of anxiety in England also increased from 21.7% in the financial year ending 2012 to 23.3% in the financial year ending 2023.
The update follows yesterday’s ABI report on the importance of employers to the nation’s health with insurers arranged 1.2 million mental health counselling and therapy appointments in 2022, of which 94% were accessed through a workplace scheme, with 192,000 of the 200,000 people who used the services using workplace insurance.
Emily Jones, consulting director at leading independent consultant Broadstone, said: “The latest government statistics are further proof of the worsening mental health prevalence in England, with cases of depression more than doubling over the past decade. In that period, the population has experienced a global pandemic, a serious cost of living crisis and geopolitical upheaval which will have undoubtedly contributed to this growth.
“It is positive to see increased awareness of the importance of mental health but we must urgently tackle the surge in cases that are now coming through. Unfortunately, the NHS has also struggled to cope with rising demand, exacerbated by the stresses it experienced throughout and following the pandemic.
“With economic inactivity ripping through workforces, businesses are increasingly recognising the need to step in to protect the mental and physical health of their employees. The ABI data is proof of the growing role employers are playing by investing in workplace healthcare benefits and support services to identify issues early and speed up treatment.
“Many employers are now taking significant proactive steps which may involve carrying out mental health ‘audits’ to understand the prevalence and drivers of poor mental health, sourcing and promoting digital mental health solutions to reach home and hybrid workers or investing in onsite mental health services to support those employees who have returned to office working. Mental health awareness training for line managers and leaders can also play a vital role.”
