With mixed anxiety and depression estimated to cause one fifth of days lost from work in the UK,
Accuracy took to the streets to get the views of Irish people about their Mental Health.

Here are some of our findings 

• Only 18% of Irish adults believe that Irish people will openly talk about their mental health
• While only 1 in 4 (25%) would be comfortable talking to work colleagues if they had a mental health issue 

So clearly Irish people feel we have some way to go to change the stigma of talking openly about our mental health.

Interestingly MEN ARE LESS COMFORTABLE than women regarding speaking with friends and family if they have a
problem with their mental health.

Also YOUNG ADULTS are less comfortable discussing a mental health problem with family and friends.

The survey findings raise some important issues as to how we as a society deal with and manage our mental health.

There is a strong view amongst Irish adults that we are not an open society when it comes to our mental health. Clearly a stigma still exists as only 1 in 4 (25%) of us would be comfortable speaking to our work colleagues about a mental health issue.

Even amongst those who are closest to us (ie family and friends), many of us are still uncomfortable discussing a mental health problem. In particular men (ie 48%) and young adults (51%) find it most difficult to discuss the issue with others.

The findings suggest that although we have come a long way in raising the awareness of mental health, a stigma still exists that we need to openly recognise and address. We need more honesty from brave individuals such as Brent Pope, Bressie, Ryan Reynolds and Carla Delevingne to talk about their battles with their mental health and to acknowledge that we do not need to suffer in silence with anxiety, depression etc.

Employers also need to pull their weight and acknowledge that the modern world, juggling family and work deadlines is stressful and we do not all cope well with such demands. Managers need to be alert and mindful to watch for changes in their employees mood and behaviour and to take time to check in with staff to make sure everything is OK in their world.

We cannot become complacent about mental health, its too important an issue for that, it needs to be on everyone’s agenda so that we address the misplaced view that having a mental health issue is in someway a character flaw or weakness! 

Methodology: Nationally representative online sample.