The mental health of the working-age population appears to be getting worse, with the number of NHS prescribed anti-depressants rising 32% in nine years.

A report by the Health Foundation looked at a range of data sources, including self-reported surveys, screening tools and clinical diagnoses, and found across multiple data sources the percentage of people with mental ill health has doubled since 2010.

The report also found more than 10% of working-age people are reporting signs of poor mental health, with the greatest increase among people aged 16 to 34.

Women in this age group are more likely to report a mental health condition (17%) compared with 11% of men.

The number of NHS prescribed anti-depressants reached almost nine million in 2023/24 - up from 6.8 million in 2015/16 - while the number of people claiming disability benefits for mental health conditions has doubled since the pandemic.

This rise in poor mental health has driven a demand for services. In 2023, mental health services in England received a record five million referrals - a 33% increase since 2019.

Behind these trends, the data showed there was varying severity in mental health conditions. While 60% limited the person's ability work, the greatest rise in the past two decades has been in non-work limiting mental health conditions. These have risen 12-fold.

The report also found people with mental health conditions tend to earn less, with average hourly pay at just 79% of that of workers with no health conditions.

Meanwhile, working-age people with lower-level qualifications consistently report the highest rates of mental health conditions across all age groups.

The Health Foundation says these trends likely reflect a combination of higher prevalence of conditions, as well as higher reporting and evolving definitions.

David Finch, assistant director at the Health Foundation, said the report was "cause for serious concern" both for individuals and because of the pressure it will place on the UK's workforce.

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"It is crucial that we take action, to ensure a healthy and productive workforce, while also preventing people leaving work due to a lack of early support," he said.

"The findings indicate people are experiencing a range of severity of issues, suggesting the need for different support, for different groups but this can only be realised with a better understanding of why this is happening. It is only then, that government policy can be shaped appropriately."

(c) Sky News 2025: Mental health of working-age population appears to be getting worse