Between 2018 and 2019, 4.8% of Bristol’s residents reported what is known as a low life satisfaction score. This score was reported by the Office of National Statistics (ONS) and sees an increase on previous years with the expectation that it will grow even further in new data collected following the pandemic.

Emergency hospital admissions for self-harm also rose in the same period, increasing 7% over the previous year, with those living in deprived areas two and a half times more likely to need such emergency health services when compared with those living in the least deprived areas. 

Between 2019 and 2020, cases of depression rose by 10%, with over 50,000 residents aged over 18 years reported to be experiencing the mental disorder. A year later, there were over 8,000 new patients aged 16 years and over diagnosed with depression, a 3.4% increase from the previous year.

It is natural to begin deconstructing these rising levels of mental ill health, with much of the social context being obvious to many. The pandemic played a significant role in our culture, not only dramatically affecting physical health but also overwhelming health services and prompting isolation. Social anxiety has increased dramatically worldwide, with anxiety-related disorders rising by 25.6%, with little sign of decreasing in the near future.

There are also the ongoing challenges associated with the cost of living crisis. Financial issues are strongly associated with increasing cases of mental health disorders and those living in circumstances of poverty are far more likely to experience mental health issues. This context is also further complicated by a growing population, especially in Bristol where the city has seen its population grow 10% in the last decade, just under 3% more than the national average of 7.2%. Within the next decade, it is predicted that Bristol’s population will reach around half a million, if previous levels continue.

Poverty and social factors play an even more significant role during developmental years, affecting the mental health and wellbeing of children. 18% of all children under the age of 16 years in Bristol live in households of relatively low income. And, while the city’s rate of first-time entrants into the Youth Justice System saw a marginal decrease prior to the pandemic, it still remains higher than the national average.

While the impact of these statistics is yet to be unravelled and the ongoing landscape of mental health in the city is still being dramatically affected and analysed, the most pertinent question is: is there support? 

This question is important because the significance of the data is dependent on the ability of health services in the city to support the mental health needs of its residents. Data describing the national spending on mental health services in the UK shows that, while in recent years more money has been made available to mental health trusts, following inflation, this amount is actually a relative decrease in funding. 

Underfunding also leads to understaffing and a report issued by the Trades Union Congress (TUC) suggests that the NHS is experiencing a mental health staffing crisis, with over 23,000 mental health workers leaving the NHS between 2017 and 2018. Since then, and prompted by the outbreak of COVID and its subsequent impact on society, the NHS mental health workforce has actually increased by 22%. However, so has the demand for support, with mental health patient referrals having increased by around 40% in the same period.

This means that Bristol’s mental health environment is worsening. A greater number of households are seeking, or more likely to seek, healthcare services for mental health disorders during a time when such mainstream services are unable to meet demand, being unsuitably funded. 

Support for mental wellbeing must then be found elsewhere, which is why our Bristol Counselling and Psychotherapy counsellor team has grown. We seek to meet the growing needs of Bristol’s changing mental health environment, offering the opportunity for individuals to obtain the support they require to improve their mental health.

If you would like to discuss options for mental health support in Bristol or arrange an initial consultation with one of our counsellors, please reach out to our team by emailing hello@bristolcounsellingandpsychotherapy.co.uk or, by calling us directly, on 07751 271709.