At the start of Mental Health Awareness Week (15-21 May), Martin Whitfield MSP is sharing the findings of new Mental Health Foundation research on anxiety and promoting the support available to help people cope with it.

The research found that 58 per cent of adults experienced anxiety affecting their daily lives in the past fortnight. Young people, single parents, LGBTQ+ people, carers, and people with long term health conditions were more likely to report feeling anxious.

The cost-of-living crisis is a key concern, with the most commonly reported cause of anxiety being struggling to pay bills. 33 per cent of adults in Scotland said they had been anxious about this in the past two weeks.

While anxiety is a common experience, shame and stigma can make it hard to talk about and ask for help. Nearly half (44 per cent) of adults in Scotland with feelings of anxiety said they kept it a secret.

Mental Health Foundation is calling for action to reduce anxiety’s toll on people’s lives, especially those facing financial uncertainty.

Martin Whitfield MSP said: 

“This is a really valuable piece of research highlighting the links between the rising cost-of-living and people’s mental wellbeing.

“It demonstrates that people struggling with their finances are more likely to suffer anxiety and other mental health issues. 

“Mental Health Awareness Week is an important opportunity to shine a light on these issues. We need to help remove the stigma that still exists and promote inclusive policy change to help those in need.

“I congratulate Mental Health Foundation on this important research and its wider work campaigning for and promoting positive mental health.”

Find out more about Mental Health Awareness Week at www.mentalhealth.org.uk/scotland.