Millions of adults are missing out on treatment that could help them recover and get back on with their lives, the NHS says as it launches a major new mental health campaign.
New analysis of NHS data shows that over 670,000 people were treated with NHS talking therapy care last year – nearly 70,000 more than pre-pandemic (12% increase on 2019) – with a record 83,000 accessing employment support through the service in 2025 to help them return to work (20% increase on 2024).
Yet around one in five adults in England (an estimated 9.4 million) are now affected by a common mental health condition – anxiety – and Dr Adrian James, NHS England’s National Medical Director for Mental Health and Neurodiversity has warned that millions are still missing out on available support.
“While it’s encouraging that thousands more people facing mental health conditions are accessing NHS support than before the pandemic, we know that millions more could benefit from vital NHS talking therapies,” he says.
New campaign
The landmark campaign is aimed at people facing six common anxiety conditions for which treatment is available and urges them to come forward for support by self-referring online at nhs.uk/talk.
While conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), social anxiety and obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) have a huge impact on people’s daily lives, a new NHS survey of over 2,000 adults found that nearly three in five (58%) delay seeking treatment and support as they feel the conditions are “not serious enough” – with one in five (21%) not seeking help at all.
NHS talking therapies provide people with practical skills and techniques to overcome a range of mental health conditions.
“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,” says Dr Adrian James.
“This landmark new campaign is a critical step to ensuring that everyone struggling with challenging but very common conditions like anxiety and PTSD knows that there is support available to help them get on with their lives again.
“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.”
