There is a growing demand for mental health support within the UK. While many institutions focus on the persisting and residual effects of the COVID health crisis on well-being, there are a number of factors that are understood to contribute to rising mental ill-health, notably environmental concerns and the cost of living crisis. 

These factors are having a significant impact on individuals. It is estimated that over 40% of adults in the UK are anxious about the future of the environment. Additionally, over 60% of UK therapists recognise their clients are anxious about being able to pay their bills. Coupled with the 25% global rise in anxiety and depression attributed to COVID, mental health services are experiencing significant and growing pressure as communities seek greater support.

Rising demand for mental health support, however, is serving to highlight a number of issues within national services, particularly when it comes to the pitfall of one size fits all mental health support. Systems have been designed to compartmentalise those looking for mental health support into boxes, whether they are regarding identity or symptoms. This form of organisation has a number of drawbacks, especially when they actively discourage healthcare workers from considering individual circumstances of basic information. And, as the demand for mental health support grows, especially beyond the limits of its funding, there is pressure to further expedite services.

The significant growth of mental health services has been overall substantial. Rethink, for example, saw a 175% increase in demand for support through their website following the initial COVID outbreak. While many studies into the total effect of the international health crisis upon mental are still ongoing, one aspect is immediately clear: the pandemic has not affected everyone equally. 

This is important to recognise because, as with the rising cost of living, certain individuals are more at risk of experiencing mental health issues related to their finances than others. While under half of White British adults note experiencing difficulties paying their bills, nearly 70% of Black and Black British adults experience the same challenge. 

It is, as such, for healthcare workers to recognise these potentially significant differences, recognising the individual behind the categories that their profile and symptoms might initially fall into. 

To further complicate matters, it has become clear that mental health services are not themselves equal across the country and the rollout of IAPT saw a significant discrepancy between waiting times delivered in London, which were 30 days between initial referral and second treatment, and in Bristol, which were 182 days. The initiative also saw a great number of women seek support when compared with men, with female referrals outnumbering men in every local area across England.

There already exist a number of calls for nuance within mental health support, as well as a greater degree of tailoring within services. To talk to a counsellor about your mental health, as well as options for support that consider your individual circumstances and background, please contact the Bristol Counselling and Psychotherapy team here.