The UK’s Mental Health Problem - An Increasing Role for Funders?

The conversation around mental health has certainly become louder in recent years, with more priority given to initiatives addressing the issue. However, despite growing efforts, research shows a concerning reality – the UK still very much has a mental health problem.  

Latest data from NHS Digital shows that 1.93 million people were in contact with mental health services in March 2024, compared to 1.36 million in the same month, five years prior. This represents an increase of 570,000 people in this period. It’s unclear if this increase is due to a higher incidence of mental health problems, or if more people are simply accessing services as the stigma around seeking help diminishes. Regardless, service providers (state and charity alike) will no doubt be feeling the impact of this rise. 

Research from the Mental Health Foundation from March 2023 revealed that 86% of the 18- to 24-year-olds surveyed had reported feeling anxious in the past two weeks, with 58% of those reporting that feeling anxious had interfered with daily activities. Another survey by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) found that 1 in 6 adults in the UK experience symptoms of depression. Meanwhile, OCD UK estimates that obsessive-compulsive disorder affects approximately 12 in every 1,000 people or about 1.2% of the population. These figures give insight into the prevalence of some of the most common mental health conditions in the UK, highlighting the need for effective support.

Life circumstances can also significantly affect mental health. According to Mind, increased financial stress can elevate the risk of mental health problems. So, the cost-of-living crisis has likely impacted the mental health challenges of people in the UK. 

Whilst NHS spending on mental health has increased, for many individuals, wait times and access to effective treatment is still a concern. In a 2024 survey of service users by the charity Rethink Mental Illness, 58% of respondents did not believe that they had received treatment quickly enough. In addition, 66% of respondents indicated that they did not receive support for a sufficient and appropriate time. 

Though progress has been made in tackling mental health problems, this data highlights a continuing challenge to keep up with an increasing demand for services.

Mental health charities

Mental health charities play a vital role in addressing the mental health needs of individuals in the UK. Whether that be raising awareness, conducting vital research or advocating for better services. These charities also deliver a range of services such as crisis helplines and access to counselling, which are essential to those facing long waiting lists or limited access to treatment. For example, mental health charity Mind operates an early intervention service called Active Monitoring, aimed at those with less server needs who do not meet the threshold for NHS talking therapies.

Like the NHS, mental health charities are also seeing an increase in demand for their services. For example, Campaign Against Living Miserably (CALM) saw a 14% increase in the number of people reaching out for support in 2022/23. However, as we know it has been a challenging time for the sector and many charities have encountered challenges due to reduced income and demand for services, intensified by the cost-of-living crisis.  

The importance of funding from grant-makers for mental health charities

Funding from grant-makers is vital to keep mental health charities delivering essential support. The Directory of Social Change’s extensive data on the UK’s Major Trusts (defined as a grant-maker that has the potential to give over £300,000) shows an increase in grant-makers who reported supporting mental health specifically. In our 2016 edition of the Guide to Major Trusts, around 7.5% of the funders specifically mentioned supporting mental health compared to around 14% in the latest edition. Could this gradual rise be reflective of the growing priority on mental health? 

Grant-makers featured in the latest edition of The Guide to Major Trusts provided funding for a range of mental health initiatives from counselling and bereavement support to research into effective treatments. The funders also supported other preventative projects, such as wellbeing initiatives in schools and programmes combining art and sports.  

Of course, it is important to remember that our mental health can be impacted by multiple factors. As well as supporting mental health specifically, the UK’s Major Trusts also fund a considerable variety of areas such as social welfare, health and homelessness. Over three hundred funders supported general charitable purposes, meaning they can support a range of charitable causes. 

The Major Trusts also offer funding for distinct types of beneficiaries, such as carers or people with long term health conditions, both of whom, according to the Mental Health Foundation, are more likely to experience anxiety. Collectively the Major Trusts featured in our latest edition gave over £7.19 billion in funding for charitable causes across the UK. 

What’s next? 

Evidently, awareness and prevalence of mental health issues will continue to grow. Despite the new Labour government promising to reduce wait times and train an additional 8,500 mental health staff, the NHS and mental health charities are likely to face increasing demand for their services in coming years. Mental health charities play a fundamental role in supporting individuals across the UK in many ways, such as providing direct resources, researching effective treatments, or running campaigns to reduce stigma. Therefore, it is crucial for funders to amplify their support, not only to mental health charities but to all organisations providing essential services to individuals in need. By empowering these charities to meet the rising demand, we can pave the way for a happier future.