Scots reporting mental health issues more than doubled in decade, census finds

The rate of reported mental health conditions among Scotland’s population has more than doubled, data from the census shows.

Figures released on Thursday show 617,100 people reported having a mental health issue in the 2022 survey – 11.3% of the population.

This is an increase from 4.4% in 2011.

The jump was driven by a stark rise in mental health issues among young people.

Mental wellbeing minister Maree Todd suggested the increase could be due to Scots being more likely to come forward and seek support.

In 2011, just 2.5% of those aged between 16 and 24 reported such an issue, compared to 15.4% in 2022.

The figure was 5% for those aged 25 to 34 in 2011, rising to 17.5% in the most recent survey.

In all other age groups – except for the 85 and over category which saw a fall in mental health problems – the figure more than doubled.

In each age group, women reported more issues than men, with the biggest gap seen among 16 to 24-year-olds.

Jon Wroth-Smith, the director of census statistics at National Records of Scotland, said: “In 2022 15.4% of people aged 16 to 24 reported having a mental health condition, up from 2.5% in 2011.

“Females in this age group were twice as likely to report having a mental health condition, at 20.4% compared to males at 10.5%.

“There were also increases in older age groups, but the biggest increases were seen in younger groups and it is now more common for younger people to report a mental health condition. This is the reverse of what we saw in 2011.”

Elsewhere, figures were also released on the number of unpaid carers in Scotland, showing a more than 25% increase.

In 2022, 627,700 people in Scotland reported being an unpaid carer, up by 135,500 – 27.5% – in 2011.

The largest number of unpaid carers was seen in the 50-64 age group.

Of those unpaid carers, almost a quarter – 24.3% – spent more than 50 hours a week looking after someone, while 55.9% spent up to 20 hours doing so.

Ms Todd said: “These findings show that people feel more able to come forward and talk about their mental health than they were in 2011, which I hope is a welcome sign that stigma is decreasing.

“They also demonstrate why it is important that the right help and support is available for all those in need. We have ensured access to counselling services in all secondary schools as well as trusted online advice.”

Alex Cumming, the executive director of operations at the Scottish Association of Mental Health, said the data “aligns with what we’ve been seeing”.

He added: “The mental health system is under significant pressure – waiting times are still high, and that’s in large part about the increase in demand demonstrated by these figures.

“More positively, we also know that many people are more comfortable talking about their mental health now than they were in 2011.

“We need to make sure that these people can ask once and get help fast, which means improving access to community and preventative support before smaller problems become bigger problems.

“The Scottish Government has the opportunity and the obligation to make the investment in the system that this data shows we need, and that has to start with the Budget in December.”

Scottish Tory health spokesman Dr Sandesh Gulhane said the figures exposed a “growing mental health crisis on the SNP’s watch” and urged ministers to spend 10% of the health budget on mental health.

Scottish Labour mental health spokesman Paul Sweeney urged the Government to “step in to support young people or risk betraying a generation”.

Scottish Liberal Democrat deputy leader and MP Wendy Chamberlain described unpaid carers as “the backbone of our society”, but added they are “all too often forgotten and ignored”.