Pollsters Electoral Calculus and Find Out Now have run a poll for the Daily Telegraph to better understand the public's views on mental health.
Fieldwork was conducted from 7–10 July 2025, with a sample size of over 2,000. Respondents were asked a set of questions on attitudes to mental health.
The main findings are:
Below you can find a results breakdown for each question of the poll and what the data conveys.
Q1. "Do you think it is too easy or too hard to prove you have a mental illness in the UK?"
| Response | All voters | LAB voters | CON voters | Reform voters |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Much too easy | 22% | 13% | 41% | 34% |
| A little too easy | 22% | 19% | 33% | 21% |
| About right | 13% | 14% | 9% | 6% |
| A little too hard | 23% | 31% | 8% | 16% |
| Much too hard | 21% | 22% | 9% | 22% |
| Net easy | 44% | 33% | 74% | 55% |
| Net hard | 43% | 53% | 17% | 39% |
Table excludes those who didn't know
Voters are evenly divided on whether it's too easy or too hard to prove a mental illness in the UK, with 44pc saying it's easy and another 43pc saying it's hard. Just 13pc believe the current threshold is about right. But views shift sharply along political lines. Over seven in ten Conservative voters (74pc) and 55pc of Reform UK supporters think it's too easy, compared to just 33pc of Labour voters.
Q2. "Do you think too many or too few people in the UK say they have a mental illness?"
| Response | All voters | LAB voters | CON voters | Reform voters |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Too many | 69% | 53% | 90% | 79% |
| It's about right | 13% | 22% | 5% | 6% |
| Too few | 18% | 26% | 5% | 15% |
Table excludes those who didn't know
The majority of voters think that too many people in the UK say they have a mental illness, with 69pc agreeing overall. Just 13pc think the current level is about right and 18pc say too few people come forward.
Conservatives overwhelmingly believe too many people say they have a mental illness at 90pc, followed by 79pc of Reform UK supporters. More than half of Labour voters at 53pc also feel this way compared with 26pc who think too few people say they have a mental illness.
Q3. Do you agree or disagree that "People with serious mental illness are losing out because of the attention given to the growing numbers of people saying they have less serious mental illness."
| Response | All voters | LAB voters | CON voters | Reform voters |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strongly agree | 31% | 22% | 40% | 43% |
| Agree | 39% | 38% | 43% | 40% |
| Neither agree nor disagree | 19% | 22% | 13% | 14% |
| Disagree | 8% | 14% | 3% | 1% |
| Disagree strongly | 2% | 4% | 0% | 1% |
| Net agree | 71% | 60% | 83% | 84% |
| Net disagree | 10% | 18% | 3% | 2% |
Table excludes those who didn't know
The public widely agrees that people with serious mental illness are losing out due to the focus on the growing numbers reporting less serious mental illness. Overall, 71pc of voters share this view, with support strongest among Reform voters at 84pc and Conservatives at 83pc. Labour voters are not far behind with 60pc agreeing.
Q4. "Some people think they have a mental illness when they are actually just experiencing the ups and downs of life."
| Response | All voters | LAB voters | CON voters | Reform voters |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strongly agree | 32% | 25% | 46% | 45% |
| Agree | 44% | 44% | 46% | 40% |
| Neither agree nor disagree | 14% | 14% | 6% | 12% |
| Disagree | 8% | 14% | 2% | 2% |
| Disagree strongly | 2% | 4% | 1% | 1% |
| Net agree | 76% | 68% | 91% | 85% |
| Net disagree | 10% | 17% | 2% | 3% |
Table excludes those who didn't know
Three quarters (76pc) of voters think that some people mistake the normal ups and downs of life for mental illness. This belief is especially strong among Conservative and Reform supporters, with 91pc and 85pc agreeing respectively. Across all groups, only a small minority disagree, revealing widespread doubt about where the line is drawn between everyday struggles and a mental illness.
Q5. "The increase in people coming forward with mental health concerns helps them get the support they need."
| Response | All voters | LAB voters | CON voters | Reform voters |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strongly agree | 10% | 12% | 10% | 11% |
| Agree | 29% | 37% | 27% | 17% |
| Neither agree nor disagree | 32% | 24% | 36% | 38% |
| Disagree | 23% | 21% | 21% | 24% |
| Disagree strongly | 6% | 6% | 6% | 10% |
| Net agree | 39% | 49% | 37% | 28% |
| Net disagree | 29% | 27% | 27% | 34% |
Table excludes those who didn't know
Public opinion is mixed on whether speaking up about mental health helps people get the support they need. Just 39pc of voters agree, while 29pc disagree, and 32pc remain undecided. Nearly half of Labour voters (49pc) believe increased awareness makes a difference. Conservatives are more on the fence, with 37pc agreeing. Reform voters are the most unconvinced with just 28pc saying it helps.
Q6. "Modern society spends too much time talking about relatively minor mental illnesses."
| Response | All voters | LAB voters | CON voters | Reform voters |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strongly agree | 21% | 13% | 35% | 34% |
| Agree | 28% | 22% | 42% | 28% |
| Neither agree nor disagree | 22% | 17% | 14% | 26% |
| Disagree | 21% | 35% | 8% | 9% |
| Disagree strongly | 7% | 12% | 1% | 3% |
| Net agree | 49% | 35% | 77% | 62% |
| Net disagree | 29% | 48% | 9% | 12% |
Table excludes those who didn't know
Just about half (49pc) agree that society spends too much time talking about minor mental illnesses. There is a clear partisan split as 77pc of Conservatives and 62pc of Reform supporters agree with this view, while just 35pc of Labour voters agree.
Q7. "Social media often leads people to think they have a mental illness when they might not."
| Response | All voters | LAB voters | CON voters | Reform voters |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strongly agree | 33% | 27% | 51% | 42% |
| Agree | 41% | 37% | 37% | 41% |
| Neither agree nor disagree | 16% | 19% | 9% | 12% |
| Disagree | 7% | 13% | 2% | 4% |
| Disagree strongly | 2% | 4% | 0% | 1% |
| Net agree | 74% | 64% | 88% | 83% |
| Net disagree | 9% | 17% | 3% | 4% |
Table excludes those who didn't know
The view that social media often leads people to think they have a mental illness when they might not is shared across the political spectrum but is strongest among Conservative and Reform supporters, with 88pc and 83pc respectively agreeing. Labour voters also share this perspective, with 64pc acknowledging its influence. These figures highlight growing apprehension about the reliability of mental health discussions shaped by social media.
Q8. "Mental illness has been stigmatized for too long and it's healthy for people to talk about it more."
| Response | All voters | LAB voters | CON voters | Reform voters |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strongly agree | 31% | 42% | 16% | 26% |
| Agree | 49% | 47% | 50% | 41% |
| Neither agree nor disagree | 15% | 8% | 24% | 24% |
| Disagree | 4% | 2% | 7% | 7% |
| Disagree strongly | 1% | 0% | 2% | 1% |
| Net agree | 80% | 89% | 66% | 67% |
| Net disagree | 5% | 3% | 10% | 8% |
Table excludes those who didn't know
Although earlier questions revealed considerable doubts about how much mental illness is discussed, a significant majority (80pc) of all voters believe it is healthy to talk more openly about mental illness.
This view is strongest amongst Labour voters at 89pc, but surprisingly also resonates with 66pc of Conservatives and 67pc of Reform supporters.
Q9. "People often exaggerate their mental health problems."
| Response | All voters | LAB voters | CON voters | Reform voters |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strongly agree | 25% | 18% | 37% | 39% |
| Agree | 31% | 22% | 37% | 32% |
| Neither agree nor disagree | 26% | 31% | 22% | 22% |
| Disagree | 14% | 21% | 4% | 7% |
| Disagree strongly | 4% | 7% | 0% | 1% |
| Net agree | 56% | 40% | 74% | 70% |
| Net disagree | 18% | 29% | 4% | 8% |
Table excludes those who didn't know
While the public think it's healthy to talk openly, over half (56pc) believe people often exaggerate their mental health problems. Amongst political groups, Conservatives and Reform voters are most likely to agree with this view at 74pc and 70pc respectively. Labour voters are less likely to think people exaggerate with 40pc sharing this view..
Q10. "There are enough mental health services available to meet people's needs."
| Response | All voters | LAB voters | CON voters | Reform voters |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Strongly agree | 6% | 4% | 6% | 11% |
| Agree | 8% | 4% | 15% | 11% |
| Neither agree nor disagree | 18% | 12% | 24% | 26% |
| Disagree | 33% | 33% | 36% | 29% |
| Disagree strongly | 35% | 46% | 19% | 23% |
| Net agree | 14% | 8% | 21% | 22% |
| Net disagree | 68% | 79% | 55% | 52% |
Table excludes those who didn't know
When asked whether there are enough mental health services available to meet people's needs, the public's message is clear: we don't have enough. Only 14pc of voters feel services are sufficient, while a significant 68pc disagree.
This concern is strongest among Labour voters, with just 8pc saying services are adequate and 79pc feeling they fall short. Conservative and Reform supporters are slightly less pessimistic, but still only 21pc and 22pc respectively think current services meet people's needs.
Q11. "Do you think it's too easy or too hard to claim benefits for a mental health illness?"
| Response | All voters | LAB voters | CON voters | Reform voters |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Too easy | 52% | 35% | 80% | 68% |
| About right | 13% | 16% | 7% | 10% |
| Too hard | 35% | 49% | 13% | 21% |
Table excludes those who didn't know
More than half of all voters (52pc) think it is too easy to claim benefits for mental health, but opinions vary sharply across parties. Nearly half of Labour voters (49pc) feel the process is too hard, while 80pc of Conservatives and 68pc of Reform supporters say it is too easy. These stark differences reveal a deep split in trust over the benefits system.
Q12. "How often do you believe people when they say they have a mental illness?"
| Response | All voters | LAB voters | CON voters | Reform voters |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Almost always | 14% | 23% | 2% | 3% |
| Usually | 30% | 39% | 14% | 18% |
| Sometimes | 41% | 29% | 58% | 50% |
| Rarely | 15% | 8% | 25% | 29% |
| Net always/usually | 44% | 63% | 17% | 21% |
| Net sometimes/rarely | 56% | 37% | 83% | 79% |
Table excludes those who didn't know
Belief in people's mental health experiences is varied, with less than half (44pc) saying they almost always or usually accept them as true. Trust is highest amongst Labour voters, with 63pc usually or almost always believing people when they speak about a mental illness. Conservatives and Reform voters show much more scepticism, with only 17pc and 21pc trusting mental health claims most of the time.
Martin Baxter, CEO of Electoral Calculus, said: "The public shows strong support for tackling stigma and being open about mental health, yet many worry that everyday challenges are being labelled as mental illness, risking the needs of those with serious conditions being overlooked. Mental health policy looks set to become a key political battleground, and these findings suggest that politicians will need to tread carefully as they respond to growing public scepticism and a system that most feel isn't working."
Find Out Now polled 2,170 GB adults online between 7-10 July 2025. The sample was weighted to be representative by gender, age, social grade, other demographics and past voting patterns.
Find Out Now and Electoral Calculus are both members of the British Polling Council and abide by its rules.
Data tables for this poll are available here.
Electoral Calculus is a pollster and political consultancy specialising in quantitative analysis and modelling for electoral and other market research projects. It has successfully predicted UK general elections since 2010. It was founded by Martin Baxter, its CEO.
Electoral Calculus is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules, and is a company partner of the Market Research Society.
Find Out Now is a polling and market research panel with 2.8 million members. Highly profiled respondents can be targeted instantly, with over 100,000 daily responses allowing the delivery of same-day nationally representative sampling.
Find Out Now are a member of the British Polling Council and abide by its rules, and are a company partner of the Market Research Society.