- Online therapy demonstrates comparable effectiveness to in-person sessions, with a 56% positive response rate for moderate depression and anxiety.1
- 13% of sessions were carried out online in 2024.2
- More than one in ten UK adults take sleeping tablets (13%) or drink alcohol (13%) to aid sleep.3
- Two thirds (67%) of UK adults suffer from disrupted sleep and nearly a quarter (23%) manage no more than five hours a night.4
- When these techniques are used together as multicomponent CBT-I, as many as 70% to 80% of patients with primary insomnia experience improvements.5
- Around 4% of the UK population lives with PTSD at any given time.6
- Without appropriate trauma counselling, trauma frequently co-occurs with depression, anxiety, and other difficulties that impact daily functioning.7
- Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (TF-CBT) and Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) have been shown to effectively reduce PTSD symptoms and improve quality of life.8
- Online trauma-focused therapies achieve equivalent outcomes to in-person delivery for PTSD symptom reduction.9
- 20% of individuals are afraid or very afraid of dying10
- Individuals who are pathological liars show a 22-26% increase in prefrontal white matter.11
- A lack of clear information and the complexity of available options are frequent reasons why help-seeking is delayed.12
- Clients who receive therapy that matches their personal goals report stronger therapeutic alliances and have better mental health outcomes.13
- 1 in 4 adults in the UK report feeling lonely frequently.14
- Quiet BPD shares core diagnostic criteria with classic BPD, which affects an estimated 1.6% of the general population.15
- Smokers die 10 years earlier than non-smokers16
- Smoking costs the average smoker over £2,000 per year17
- 88% of people prioritise honesty18
- With 75% of mental health needs currently unmet by public services.19
- NHS waiting lists exceed 7.46 million for consultant-led care.20
- The private therapy sector in the UK has grown significantly, projected to reach £19.3 billion by 2033.21
- UK private mental health market is valued at £15.6 billion annually.22
- The quality of the relationship between therapist and client is the strongest predictor of successful therapeutic outcomes.23
- Approximately 58% of private therapy users leverage insurance policies, up from 49% in previous years.24
- Eating disorders affecting 1.25 million people across the UK.25
- Prevalence of eating disorders among 17–19 year olds has increased from 0.8% in 2017 to 12.5% in 2023.26
- About 25% of those with eating disorders in the UK are male.27
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Eating Disorders (CBT-E) is effective in addressing the distorted thoughts and behaviours that maintain eating disorders.28
- Satisfaction rates for digital interventions match in-person therapy at approximately 73%.29
- With eating disorders showing alarming increases in the UK—hospital admissions nearly doubling since 2011/12 to 4,462 in 2022/23.30
- Online treatment delivers comparable benefits while addressing key barriers that prevent many from accessing help.31
- 14% of children aged 10-12 said they were often feeling lonely, while in the 16-24 category, the percentage went up to 40%.32
- Researchers first identified a spike in 2012, and then persistent child loneliness became a global mental health concern in 2018.33
- Social rejection triggers the same area of our brain as physical pain, so being bullied and left out can make your child feel intensely lonely.34
- 74% of UK adults have felt overwhelmed by stress in the last year.35
- More than 75% of people with mental health challenges receive no care at all.36
- Dyslexia affects around 10% of the UK population.37
- Studies suggest that Gestalt therapy was effective in reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression, with participants showing significant improvement in self-awareness and self-acceptance.38
- Psychodynamic therapy has a strong evidence base, with studies showing its long-term effectiveness in improving symptoms of depression, anxiety, and personality disorders.39
- Recent data shows:
- One in five young people have experienced cyberbullying.
- 52% of children who had experienced online bullying said their school deals with bullying "not very well" or "not well at all".
- 18% of children who had experienced bullying behaviour either in-person or online said they were emotionally affected by it ("a lot").
- Online therapy can be just as effective as face-to-face therapy for treating common mental health concerns like depression and anxiety.41
Mental Health Statistics UK
Understand the impact of mental health challenges in the UK through key statistics.
Online Therapy
Key data and insights into the growing trend of online therapy, highlighting its impact, effectiveness, and accessibility in the UK.
Couples Therapy Statistics
- The average person receiving couples therapy is better off at termination than 70–80% of individuals not receiving treatment.1
- 94% of couples consider therapy a worthwhile investment2
- Evidence suggests that relationship problems can leave you feeling isolated even when you're together. 3
- On average, about 60–75% of couples experience positive, measurable improvement in relationship quality after participating in therapy4
- Research consistently shows positive outcomes for couples therapy, with approximately 70-75% of participating couples reporting significant improvements in relationship satisfaction, communication skills, and problem-solving abilities5
- A meta-analysis of 20 studies involving 10,000 couples who participated in premarital counseling highlighted that they had a 31% lower chance of divorce compared to those who did not receive such counselling.6
Men's mental health statistics
These male mental health statistics shed light on the reality of mental health issues among men, highlighting the importance of open conversations, early intervention, and accessible resources.
- Men account for only 36% of NHS therapy referrals.1
- Only 17% of men would consider therapy for prolonged low mood compared to 22% of women.2
- Men are expected to suppress emotional distress, and avoid seeking help to maintain a façade of strength.3
- Evidenced-based approaches like CBT create stronger engagement and therapeutic outcomes for male clients.4
- Male clients identify flexibility as a key motivator for online therapy, as it enables them to fit therapy into their busy and unpredictable timetables. 5
- Men in the UK are three times more likely than women to die by suicide, and less likely to seek help for psychological problems, with suicide being the leading cause of death for men under 50 in the UK.6
Family Therapy Statistics
Family therapy statistics demonstrate the potential for significant change within families, illustrating how therapy can lead to reduced stress, enhanced communication, and a greater sense of control over family life.
- Families who engage in Family Therapy often experience significant improvements in their relationships, leading to reduced stress, more effective communication, and a greater sense of control over their family life.1
- Family therapy and systemic practice receive only 13% of NHS health expenditure, despite strong evidence for their effectiveness and cost efficiency2
- Research concludes that family therapy is effective for a broad range of child, adolescent, and adult issues.3
- About 44% of people in the UK under the age of 21 have not lived with both parents during childhood.4
- Early intervention is essential when striving to prevent lasting harm and improve fundamental family dynamics.5
- Children of parents who experienced trauma are at a higher risk of adverse outcomes themselves.6
- Alliance building between therapists and families differs by less than 8% across formats7
Adolescent Therapy Statistics
- In 2024, a third (28%) of children referred to mental health services (270,300) were still waiting for support, while almost 40% (372,800) had their referral closed before accessing support. 1
- 44% of teenage girls report constant online connection.2
- A recent report from the King's Trust found:
- More than half of unemployed young people feel worse the longer they are without a job.
- 30% of young people say they have experienced a mental health problem due to being unemployed.
- 11% of young people say they left unemployment within the last 12 months due to their mental health.
References
Online Therapy Statistics
9Knaevelsrud C, Maercker A. Internet-based treatment for PTSD reduces distress and facilitates the development of a strong therapeutic alliance: a randomized controlled clinical trial. BMC Psychiatry. 2007 Apr 19;7:13. doi: 10.1186/1471-244X-7-13. PMID: 17442125; PMCID: PMC1885249.