Mind responds to the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey finding more than 6 in 10 people with general personality disorder traits don’t receive treatment
Today the second part of the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey has been published – the most authoritative national snapshot of the prevalence of mental health problems among adults in England.
The research, last conducted in 2014, covers the prevalence of conditions including:
Key findings include:
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Just over 65% of those with general personality disorder traits were not receiving treatment for an emotional problem or disorder at the time of interview
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Those who screened positive for an anti-social personality disorder, were twice as likely to be given medication (31.7%) than psychological therapy (15.8%)
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The proportion of those screening positive for a possible eating disorder such as anorexia and bulimia has increased from 6.4% in 2007 to 9.1% in 2023/24
The data covers treated and untreated mental health conditions in England’s adult population (those aged 16+). The survey was carried out between March 2023 and July 2024 and does not include people currently in hospital or other formal care settings.
The first part of the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey, which focussed on common mental health problems including anxiety and depression, was released in June 2025 – Mind’s response to that is available on our website here.
Responding to the report, Tom Pollard, Head of Policy, Public Affairs and Campaigns at Mind, said:
“It is simply not good enough that the majority of people experiencing the traits of personality disorders are not receiving support. And the rise in eating disorders is deeply concerning. These diagnoses can have a major impact on people’s quality of life without the right support.
“We want a society in which people living with severe mental illnesses live well, through a rounded approach to support that doesn’t solely rely on medication. This data paints a picture of a culture that is leaving people behind and failing to offer that full enough range of support.
“Since the last comprehensive snapshot of mental health problems in England nine years ago, successive UK governments have failed to fully meet the scale of what's needed to tackle the mental health crisis. Yesterday’s Budget made some steps towards doing this – lifting the two-child benefit cap will lift hundreds of thousands of children out of poverty, improving their life chances and reducing the risk of them experiencing mental health problems. But it was another missed opportunity to commit adequate funding to improve mental health services. There needs to be a dedicated plan, with the appropriate financial backing, to tackle deep-rooted social issues driving these numbers and close the treatment gap.”
For further information on survey methods, data interpretation, caveats and considerations, please refer to the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey report which can be found here.
