Almost 20 million adults never speak about mental health – and it's set to get worse due to the cost of living crisis, according to a new survey.

More than one in three UK adults surveyed (36 per cent) never make space in their day or the time to speak about their mental health – the equivalent of 19.6 million people aged 16 and over.

And the cost of living crisis, on top of the long lasting impact of the pandemic, is affecting people's ability to make space and manage their mental health. The mental health of nearly 8 in 10 Britons (78 per cent) surveyed has been affected by the cost of living crisis.

The poll of more than 5,000 people was conducted as part of Time to Talk Day, the nation's biggest conversation about mental health. It aims to spark millions of conversations about mental health in communities, schools, homes, workplaces and online across the UK.

Time to Talk Day 2023 is run by Mind and Rethink Mental Illness in England, See Me with SAMH (Scottish Association for Mental Health) in Scotland, Inspire and Change Your Mind in Northern Ireland and Time to Change Wales.

It is being delivered in partnership with Co-op as part of a shared ambition to reach those who wouldn't usually engage with mental health support.

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The Time to Talk pack

Worryingly, nearly a fifth (18 per cent) are also reporting the cost of living crisis is decreasing how often they are able to make space to have a conversation about mental health. Almost half (46%) of respondents said that their reason for fewer conversations is that everyone is struggling right now and they don't want to burden others.

Previous research by Mind, Rethink Mental Illness and Co-op for Time To Talk Day* 2022 found that 39 per cent said that their mental health had got worse since the pandemic.41 per cent of those who experienced their mental health worsening at any point during the pandemic blamed it on money worries. The cumulative effect of Covid-19 and the cost of living crisis is taking its toll on the nation's mental health.

Activities like Time To Talk Day are helping, by providing tips and resources for having those conversations. The latest research found that:

• Almost a third (32 per cent) say more knowledge and understanding around mental health would make it easier to talk about mental health (down from 40 per cent in 2022)
• 3 in 10 would welcome tips to help people start a conversation (30 per cent)
• A fifth (22 per cent) say it would help to have someone in their local community who can offer support with their mental health

Yet the cost of living crisis threatens to significantly hinder our ability to continue with the everyday ways we usually look after our mental health. Those for whom the cost-of-living crisis caused a decrease in how they make space to have a conversation about their mental health, the survey also reveals that:

• A quarter of respondents (25 per cent) can't afford social activities that help them stay mentally well
• A quarter (25 per cent) are having to work longer hours due to the rising cost of living so have less free time
• A shocking 16% simply can't afford to contact their support network to have these conversations (e.g. over phone, text, social media), showing the real impact of digital poverty
• 18% can't afford to travel to their usual support networks in communities

And it's feared the impact of the cost of living crisis on our mental health will become even worse – just over three fifths (61%)(2) of those who have seen a decrease in the number of conversations expect this.