New data released by the Mental Health Foundation has revealed widespread use of unhealthy coping mechanisms by people in the West Midlands when they are 'stressed, anxious, or low'. More than half of people (54%) had taken harmful actions to cope with poor mental health in the past month.
Key Findings
A significant proportion of the West Midlands population reports spending more time alone or avoiding seeing people (25%) or spending more time on social media or online (19%) as a way to cope with anxiety, stress and low mood, despite a strong body of evidence which suggests these actions can be harmful to individuals.
The poll of more than 4,000 adults across the UK, carried out by Opinium on behalf of the Mental Health Foundation, has been released to mark Mental Health Awareness Week (May 11 to 17). The research explores public attitudes and behaviours around taking action for good mental health, including both the positive and negative actions people are using to address or cope with mental health problems.
Other Harmful Actions
Other harmful actions that a significant number said they had done to cope with their mental health included overeating or comfort eating (18%), and oversleeping or not getting out of bed (17%) - increasingly referred to by some as 'bed rotting'.
Mark Rowland, chief executive at the Mental Health Foundation, said: "This polling tells us that, despite the progress in increasing awareness around mental health, too many people in the West Midlands have yet to translate awareness into effective action. Instead, our data shows a concerning number of people, especially young people, are taking actions to cope with poor mental health that could be making their situation worse.
"Over 25 years of Mental Health Awareness Week, we have heard calls that we have reached peak awareness on mental health, but with the UK's record levels of poor mental health, and with our data showing that many people are coping through harmful actions, it is clear there is still so much more to be done.
"To address the West Midlands' mental health crisis, people must be equipped with the skills and understanding of which actions improve our mental health, and to know which actions may feel good in the short term but worsen our mental health over time. Behaviours like self-isolation, doomscrolling, and bed-rotting are not only potentially harmful in themselves, but they can also cut us off from the positive influences on our mental health, like community and connection to nature."
Positive Actions Also Common
While harmful actions were widespread, the polling also shows that nearly three-quarters of people in the West Midlands are taking helpful actions that can reduce the risk of poor mental health. 73% of people had taken at least one helpful action to support their mental health, with the most popular being doing physical activity (29%), spending time outdoors or in nature (28%), and prioritising sleep and rest (25%). However, half of people in the West Midlands (49%) are doing at least one harmful 'coping' mechanism alongside their positive 'supporting' actions. This is more than twice the proportion only taking helpful actions which we know support mental health (23%).
Mark added: "While harmful coping mechanisms are far too widespread, the good news is that many people in the West Midlands are also taking actions that can improve their mental health. Connecting with nature, spending time with others, doing things we love, and getting moving are all great ways to keep our mood positive and address anxieties and stress.
"Encouraging people to drop the negative coping mechanisms, and instead only focus on those actions which improve mental health, is vital to tackling poor mental health in the UK. More action is needed across the country, from an individual to a political level, to create the conditions to support mental health.
"We are calling on the government to take bold action to respond to the mental health crisis and prevent poor mental health at a time when many people are feeling the strain from increasing uncertainty, financial pressures and increasing isolation. It is good news that, especially during difficult times, people are finding ways to prioritise and protect their mental health and support those around them."
