Kerry Anthony, CEO, Inspire
Charity Inspire warns reluctance to talk is leading to isolation, social withdrawal, and worsening mental health
New survey reveals one in five in NI describe their mental health as “poor” or “very poor”
One in four in NI do not feel free to talk to friends and family about how they’re really feeling
Across the UK, it is people from NI who bottle up their mental health struggles the most to avoid being a burden to others
Northern Ireland mental health charity, Inspire, has announced the findings of a major new poll today (Thursday, 1 February), revealing that one in five people surveyed here have described their mental health as “poor” or “very poor”.
The findings come from a Censuswide poll of 1001 people in Northern Ireland, and more than 5000 people UK-wide, which is being revealed today as part of Time to Talk Day (1 February).
Aiming to spark the UK’s biggest conversation about mental health, Time to Talk Day was created by mental health charities across the UK, including Inspire in Northern Ireland, MIND, and Rethink Mental Illness, in partnership with Co-Op.
Worryingly, the survey also found that not only are people in Northern Ireland reluctant to talk about their mental health, but they are also experiencing increased isolation, loneliness, and worsening mental health as a result.
Key findings
Among the key findings for NI, were:
Almost a quarter (24%) of respondents do not feel free to talk to friends and family when they’re struggling.
NI is the region in the UK with the highest percentage of people who feel they should put on a brave face to avoid talking about their mental health. 72% of people surveyed here say they mask how they’re feeling to those closest to them, significantly higher than the 64% average in other parts of the UK.
More than one in five (22%) stated their mental health has worsened as a result of not speaking up.
Of those who did bottle things up, 41% said it led to them becoming withdrawn, 34% said they felt isolated, 31% said they withdrew from social activities, and 27% felt they experienced struggles at work.
When it comes to masking our feelings, the survey participants admitted that, when asked how they are, one of the most commonly used phrases to present a brave face to the world is “Good thanks, and you?” (31%) closely followed by “Not too bad” and “I’m all right” (each at 30%) and “Fine thanks” (27%).
A majority of Northern Ireland respondents (60%), agreed the pressures of the last few years (cost-of-living crisis, pandemic, negative news cycle) have made them less likely to open up about their mental health because they don't want to worry others during difficult times.
Why it’s good to talk
Speaking about the survey findings, Kerry Anthony MBE, CEO of Inspire said:
“So many people in Northern Ireland have been, and are going through a difficult time, and while some people may find it admirable that the empathetic people of Northern Ireland don’t want to worry others in difficult times, it is vital to remind anyone who feels this way that your mental health is important too.
“Talking about our mental health can help us feel less alone, more able to cope, and can help us feel able to seek support. Telling someone else how you are feeling is a great way to start turning things around for the better. It’s vital to have early, open, and honest conversations and I would urge everyone to find Time to Talk about how they are feeling.”
Mental health stigma lingering longer in Northern Ireland
In further findings of the Censuswide Time to Talk Day survey, respondents also indicated the ongoing impact of the perceived taboo around mental health as being a contributing factor as to why they don’t talk about it. Reasons given included an assumption that others don’t want to know (28%), a fear of being judged or treated differently (25%), and a fear of others’ reactions (26%).
Examining the wider issue of stigma around mental health, respondents to the survey were also asked if it’s become easier to talk about mental health over the last decade. While 68% agreed that the topic of mental health was taboo ten years ago, 54% think this is still the case. In Northern Ireland, this perception exceeds the UK average (45%) by a wide margin and it is the highest of any region in the UK.
Speaking about the stigma that can be associated with mental health, Kerry Anthony from Inspire added:
“Time to Talk Day is important because the more we talk openly, the more the narrative changes, and more people will feel safe in sharing how they feel.
“We can all help challenge the stigma around these conversations, so people who are struggling know that they can confidently speak up and seek support.
“We know that, for many, talking can feel difficult. Although sometimes it may feel easier to tell people we’re ‘fine’ than to say how we feel, bottling things up is just storing up trouble and, as this research shows, it can have a negative effect. This Time to Talk Day, we would urge everyone to open up and let someone else in - a small gesture or conversation can make a big difference when it comes to improving mental health.”
“With the restoration of an Assembly and Executive a step closer we now need to see our politicians talking to each other without any further delays. While our message today is it’s Time to Talk, it must also be ‘time for action’ as we urgently call for the new Executive to focus on the full implementation and funding of the mental health strategy.”
For information about Time to Talk Day, including tips on starting the conversation, visit: timetotalkday.co.uk. Follow the conversation on social media #TimeToTalk.
