Mind’s Big Mental Health Report 2025 is one of the most urgent calls to action yet. Drawing on responses from more than 25,000 people across the UK, it reveals a stark truth: our mental health system is stretched beyond its limits.

One in four adults now experiences poor mental health. Services are overwhelmed, inequalities are deepening, and too many people are left waiting or giving up entirely on the help they need.

But amid the crisis, Mind also offers a way forward: a shift from crisis care to prevention, from firefighting to long-term reform, and from patchwork support to true mental health equity.

Key Findings from the Report

1. Demand Is Exploding—But Services Can’t Cope

• NHS mental health referrals have now surpassed 5 million per year, the highest on record.
• Half of those seeking help waited over three months, and one in five stopped trying altogether.
  The message is clear: people are asking for help, but the system can’t keep up.

2. The Inequality Gap Is Widening

• People on low incomes are twice as likely to experience poor mental health.
• Black and minority ethnic communities face higher barriers to care, lower trust, and worse outcomes.
  Mental health inequality isn’t just a symptom, it’s a structural issue that demands urgent policy attention.

3. Work Is Now a Major Source of Distress

• Over 60% of respondents said their work negatively impacts their mental health.
• Burnout, unrealistic workloads, and a lack of support from managers were described as “constant triggers.”
  Healthy workplaces aren’t just a nice idea, they’re essential to national wellbeing!

4. Prevention Beats Cure—But Funding Is Going Backwards

• Only 2% of local mental health budgets go toward prevention.
• Mind calls for a major shift to early intervention and community based support, backed by sustained government funding.

5. A National Plan for Mental Health Equity

Mind is urging policymakers to create a Mental Health Equity Strategy,  a comprehensive plan to close access and outcome gaps across demographics, workplaces, and regions.

A Call to Rebuild

This isn’t just a mental health challenge, it’s a national emergency.

Mind’s Big Mental Health Report 2025 is a rallying cry for government, employers, and society as a whole to act with urgency and compassion. Good mental health shouldn’t depend on your postcode, your income, or your background.

It’s time to rebuild a system that helps people before they reach crisis point and to make mental health a shared national priority.