ONE in three Brits have decided against seeking mental health support due to the stigma that still surrounds the issue.
A study, of 1,000 adults, revealed 21 per cent believe those who seek therapy are – a figure that rises to 25 per cent among Gen Z.
Thirty-five per cent worry about being judged if they were to get for their wellbeing, while 25 per cent fear doing so could harm their job prospects.
As a result, 55 per cent prefer to handle problems on their own, with 36 per cent saying there is societal pressure to do so.
And nearly three in 10 would be hesitant to tell their partner if they had seen a therapist.
In fact, 60 per cent of those polled believe this discourages people from seeking the help they need when they’re struggling.
Fernando Madeira, president and CEO of BetterHelp, which commissioned the research and released its global ‘State of Stigma’ report to mark Mental Health Awareness Month, said: “ stigma is deeply rooted in societal attitudes and misconceptions.
“Many people fear judgement from their peers and family, believing seeking therapy is a sign of weakness.
“As a result, people often feel uncomfortable sharing their struggles or seeking the support they need.
“We exist to champion the well-being of everyone in the UK – and envisage a future where everyone can get the help they need, when they need it.”;
Despite all of this, it also emerged 85 per cent value mental just as much as physical health, and 78 per cent believe support is vital to overall wellbeing.
More than half – 56 per cent – admit to often feeling anxious, nervous or on edge, while 45 per cent say mental health struggles make it difficult to navigate daily life.
Even among those who haven’t accessed therapy, 14 per cent say they’ve avoided it due to fear of what family or friends might think.
And over a third – 35 per cent – cite a lack of social support as a key barrier to seeking care.
Practical challenges are also getting in the way – with 49 per cent saying support is hard to find and 41 per cent finding it too expensive.
One in five – 21 per cent – reported poor access to providers, while 19 per cent are unsure how to even begin the process.
The study also revealed the stigma is especially stark for Gen Z – who, despite demonstrating the most signs of poor mental health, are still more likely than any other age group to view therapy as a sign of weakness.
They are also almost twice as likely as Baby Boomers to experience mild to moderate anxiety (47 per cent vs 25 per cent), and more than four times as likely to suffer from severe (24 per cent vs 7 per cent).
Only 39 per cent report feeling happy – compared to 54 per cent of Millennials and 61 per cent of Boomers – while nearly a third (31 per cent) show signs of moderate to severe .
BetterHelp therapist Richard Whitenstall added: “Gen Z face pressure from social media to project a perfect life, which can lead to unrealistic expectations, fear of judgement and many hiding their struggles, which fosters stigma.
“Growing up in environments where discussing mental health is taboo further reinforces this stigma, making it harder to seek help.”;
