Fear of People with Mental Health Issues Nearly Doubles in England
The number of people in England who express fear of living near individuals with mental health problems has nearly doubled to one in seven, raising concerns about a significant increase in societal stigma.
New research from the mental health charity Mind, conducted by the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King’s College London, reveals that 14% of respondents reported feeling frightened of those with poor mental health in their neighborhoods, a rise from 8% in 2017. The survey also found that only 63% of people are comfortable with mental health services operating in their communities, down from 70% in 2015. Furthermore, 16% believe such services “downgrade” a neighborhood, up from 10% in 2019. This growing stigma can deter individuals from seeking help and hinder recovery.
Dr. Sarah Hughes, chief executive of Mind, stated, “The rise in stigma is alarming. We have seen a change in language, people telling us their family’s attitudes are changing, as well as increasing narratives around benefit claimants and some very difficult and terrible instances of violence linked to mental illness – it feels like a lot of things have come home to roost.” The charity is also reporting increased challenges from neighbors regarding mental health facilities, including frequent complaints and objections to planning applications. A related finding showed a decline in the belief that people with severe mental illness, like schizophrenia, can fully recover – falling from 67% in 2019 to 53% today.
Professor Claire Henderson from the IoPPN noted that while attitudes toward specific individuals may have improved, overall perceptions of mental illness have regressed. She suggested that recent high-profile criminal cases, such as the Valdo Calocane case in Nottingham in 2023, may have contributed to increased fear. Access to mental healthcare remains a critical issue, with 1.66 million people currently waiting for community mental health care in England and Wales as of the third quarter of 2024-25, according to Mind’s annual Big Mental Health report. You can find more information about mental health support at the NHS website.
Officials say Mind will continue to advocate for increased resources and public education to combat stigma and improve access to mental health services.
