If you feel like the vibes in the UK have been consistently off for the last decade, science finally has some receipts. Researchers at University College London just dropped a study in BMJ Mental Health confirming that five major 'systemic shocks' have caused a serious, lasting decline in the nation’s mental wellbeing. Between 2009 and 2024, the study tracked 87,857 people and found that political and global turmoil didn't just cause temporary stress—it triggered a permanent shift in how we're coping. The culprits? The 2016 Brexit referendum, both Covid lockdowns, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the 2022 Liz Truss mini-budget.
The breakdown
It’s giving a total cumulative toll. The 2016 Brexit vote and the first pandemic lockdown were the heavy hitters. The study estimates the first lockdown alone resulted in roughly 900,000 more people seeking help for depression. Meanwhile, the Ukraine conflict and the 2022 mini-budget saw thousands more monthly GP visits as the economic aftershocks hit home.
Why it matters
Real talk: this isn't just about bad news cycles. The mental health crisis is now a massive structural issue. With nearly 2.8 million Britons too sick to work and a 47% spike in NHS mental health referrals since 2022, the healthcare system is lowkey drowning. Experts point out that years of austerity left the public with fewer 'buffers' to handle these crises, and now we’re looking at a £300bn annual cost to the country. As we wait for a government-commissioned inquiry on rising ADHD and autism diagnoses, one thing is clear: we’re still feeling the fallout from events that happened years ago.
