NHS England has launched a new ‘landmark’ campaign urging those facing six common anxiety conditions to come forward for support.
It comes as around one in five adults in England – an estimated 9.4 million – are said to be affected by a common mental health condition, with millions missing out on support.
An NHS survey of more than 2,000 adults found that 58% delay seeking treatment and support as they feel the conditions are ‘not serious enough’ – with one in five not seeking help at all.
The survey, conducted by Censuswide on behalf of the NHS, revealed almost half of people said they knew nothing about social anxiety disorder and panic disorder, while two-thirds did not know what body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is.
It also found misconceptions around certain conditions, such as more than a third of the public thinking ‘most people are a bit OCD’. In addition, a fifth of people were found to think social anxiety is ‘the same as being shy’ and nearly three in 10 believe PTSD mainly affects military veterans.
GP Dr Nighat Arif said the new poll ‘reveals a worrying ‘blind spot’ in public awareness around many common mental health conditions linked to anxiety’.
She said: ‘This could mean that people are missing out on treatment because they don’t recognise symptoms, are embarrassed by them, or think they are not serious enough to get help for.’
The campaign is focusing on six common conditions for which treatment is available – obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), social anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), panic disorder, body dysmorphic disorder and phobias – and encourages adults to self-refer to access NHS talking therapies.
It is backed by public figures – former Eastenders actress Shona McGarty, TOWIE’s Charlie King, and former professional footballer and Professional Footballers’ Association chair, Clarke Carlisle – and will run for six weeks across multiple channels, including TV-on-demand, radio, podcasts, and social media.
Latest statistics from NHS England show that people of working age are more likely to have a common mental health condition than those aged 75 and over.
Prevalence among those aged 16 to 64 was nearly one in four (22.6%), compared to around one in 10 of those aged 75 and over (10.2%).
Dr Adrian James, NHS England’s national medical director for mental health and neurodiversity, said the ‘landmark new campaign is a critical step’ to ensure people who are struggling know that there is support on offer.
‘Through proven treatment and support available for free on the NHS, these conditions can be overcome to help people return to work, regain confidence or feel back to their old selves in social situations,’ he said.
‘Our message is clear, if you’re struggling with your mental health, NHS talking therapies are here for you, and you can either self-refer or speak with your local GP practice’.
Last year, more than 670,000 people were treated with NHS talking therapy – a 12% increase on 2019.
NHS England said people can self-refer online without needing to see their GP or have an existing mental health diagnosis.
This story first appeared on our sister title Pulse PCN.
