Eurofound has published a fascinating study reviewing the status of mental health in the EU. The report notes that in 2021, poor mental health cost the EU 11.1 million life years lost or lived with disability, two thirds of which were due to depression and anxiety. The proportion of people at risk of anxiety or depression rose during the Covid-19 pandemic, but appears to have stabilised subsequently.
However, some indicators are alarming: following a spectacular decline, suicide mortality rates are rising again, particularly among women aged under 20 and men aged over 85. Among 15 to 29-year-olds, suicide is the main cause of death (18.9% in 2021), followed by road accidents (16.5%).
People working in the healthcare and social services sectors are the most exposed categories: 24.5% of them feel emotionally exhausted by their work. Next come those working in accommodation and food service activities (22.7%) and in education (20.4%). Those least exposed to depression are paid workers (28.6%) or undertaking study or training (25.4%), compared to 70.1% for sick/disabled persons and 47.1% for the unemployed.
Overall, women are at higher risk of anxiety and depression than men are. A measure of eco-anxiety is also apparent: in 2024, 8.4% of the population said they were extremely worried about climate change (compared to 5.7% in 2016). This percentage rises to 39% if the ‘very worried’ category is included, compared to 30% in 2016.
