THE LATEST Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey (APMS), commissioned by NHS England and delivered by the National Centre for Social Research, reveals a troubling rise in psychiatric conditions across the English adult population. The data, collected in 2023/24 and representing the fifth survey in the APMS series, shows increased prevalence of common mental health conditions (CMHCs), self-harm, suicidal thoughts, and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), particularly among young people, women, and those facing socioeconomic disadvantage.
Among adults aged 16–64 years, the prevalence of CMHCs has climbed steadily, reaching 22.6% in 2023/24, up from 18.9% in 2014 and 17.6% in 2007. For 16–24-year-olds, rates have risen even more sharply, from 18.9% in 2014 to 25.8% in 2024. The gender disparity remains stark, with 36.1% of women experiencing CMHCs compared to 16.3% of men. Generalised anxiety disorder (7.5%) and depression (3.8%) were the most common diagnoses.
Self-harm and suicidal ideation are increasingly reported. Lifetime self-harm has quadrupled since 2000, now affecting 10.3% of adults aged 16–74 years, up from 6.4% in 2014. Among 16–24 year olds, 24.6% reported self-harm, including 31.7% of young women. Suicidal thoughts during the past year were reported by 6.7% of respondents, and lifetime prevalence reached 25.2%. Suicide attempts have also doubled, from 0.5% in 2000 to 1.0% in 2023/24. Most individuals who self-harmed (83.1%) did so to alleviate intense emotional distress.
Screening data also show a rise in adults screening positive for ADHD, now affecting 13.9%, and PTSD, up from 4.4% in 2014 to 5.7% in 2023/24. PTSD prevalence is highest among women, younger adults, those with physical health limitations, and people experiencing economic hardship, including the unemployed and those with problem debt. People in the most deprived areas are nearly twice as likely to have a CMHC as those in the least deprived (26.2% versus 16.0%).
The burden of mental illness is not evenly distributed across regions. The North East and East Midlands reported the highest prevalence of CMHCs (24.6%), while the South East and South West showed the lowest rates (16.3% and 18.7%, respectively).
Importantly, while prevalence has increased, so has treatment access. Among adults with significant CMHC, 47.7% reported receiving treatment, up from 24.4% in 2007 and 39.4% in 2014. Medication use was more common than psychological therapies (38.4% versus 17.9%). However, disparities in treatment remain, with older adults and individuals from Asian and Black ethnic groups less likely to receive care.
The survey highlights the urgent need to address widening mental health inequalities, particularly among the young, socioeconomically disadvantaged, and those with chronic physical illness. As services contend with growing demand, these findings will be essential for informing workforce planning, resource allocation, and targeted interventions.
Reference
NHS England. Adult psychiatric morbidity survey: survey of mental health and wellbeing, England, 2023/4. 2025. Available at: https://digital.nhs.uk/data-and-information/publications/statistical/adult-psychiatric-morbidity-survey/survey-of-mental-health-and-wellbeing-england-2023-24. Last accessed: 01 July 2025.
