A recent Ipsos survey has sparked considerable conversation about public perceptions of health issues worldwide. Denis Campbell, the Health Policy Editor, reported on September 20, 2024, that mental health has surpassed cancer and obesity as the primary health concern among Britons.
Experts believe this change is largely due to a rise in mental health challenges exacerbated by the Covid pandemic, the ongoing cost of living crisis, and increasing incidents of male violence against women. The Ipsos survey, which covered 31 countries, aimed to capture public opinion on health and the healthcare systems in place.
In 2018, half of British respondents identified cancer, obesity, and mental health as the top health challenges facing the nation. According to the latest findings, however, 54% of respondents in England, Scotland, and Wales now point to mental health as their primary concern. In comparison, only 36% express worries about obesity, and concerns about cancer dropped slightly, with 49% voicing their anxiety despite a rise in diagnoses.
The global perspective is even more striking. Concern for mental health as a critical issue has surged from 27% in 2018 to 45% in 2024, overtaking all other health issues. Meanwhile, global concern for cancer has declined from 52% to 38%, and worries over obesity have decreased from 33% to 26%. This drop in cancer anxiety occurs even as the disease’s incidence rises, attributed to an aging population and lifestyle choices like poor diet, smoking, and alcohol consumption.
Ipsos describes these trends as a “fundamental shift in attitudes toward mental health” since 2018, indicating that the pandemic’s long-term impact may be most pronounced in this area. The survey also revealed increased concerns about stress, with mentions rising from 12% to 17% in the UK and from 25% to 31% around the globe.
Simon Atkinson, Ipsos’s Chief Knowledge Officer, commented on the findings, stating, “In the UK, we’re observing a growing acknowledgment of mental health as a significant concern, with 54% of Britons now identifying it as a pressing health issue.” He noted that the pandemic “is still casting a long shadow” over public perceptions.
The Ipsos survey included 23,667 participants, including a representative group of 1,000 Britons, conducted in July and August. Andy Bell, CEO of the Centre for Mental Health think tank, expressed that he was not surprised by the rising anxiety surrounding well-being, citing a decade of worsening mental health and increased referrals to mental health services. Currently, over one million people in England are waiting for NHS mental health care.
The data also indicated that women are more likely than men to express concern about mental health issues, with 51% of women globally identifying it as a worry compared to just 40% of men. Younger individuals reported mental health as a significant concern more frequently than older generations, who tended to prioritize cancer.
Interestingly, the global decline in cancer as a public priority may signify growing confidence in treatment efficacy, which has improved significantly due to advancements in medical research, including immunotherapy and refined radiotherapy techniques. Naser Turabi, Director of Evidence and Implementation at Cancer Research UK, remarked, “Thanks to decades of research into diagnosis and treatment, cancer survival in the UK has doubled over the last 50 years. However, with nearly one in two people affected by cancer in their lifetime, it remains a defining health issue and a key concern for many across the UK.”
