Millions of adults with debilitating anxiety conditions are missing out on treatment that could help them recover, NHS England says, as it launches a major new mental health campaign.
NHS data analysis shows over 670,000 people received NHS talking therapy care last year — nearly 70,000 more than before the pandemic (a 12% increase on 2019). A record 83,000 people accessed employment support through the service in 2025 to help return to work (a 20% increase on 2024). Yet around one in five adults in England (an estimated 9.4 million) are affected by a common mental health condition, and NHS leaders warn millions are still missing out on available support.
The new campaign urges people facing six common anxiety-related conditions to come forward and self-refer online at https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/mental-health-services/find-nhs-talking-therapies-for-anxiety-and-depression/ (nhs.uk/talk). The six conditions highlighted are obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), social anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), panic disorder, body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) and phobias.
A survey of more than 2,000 adults carried out for the NHS found nearly 3 in 5 (58%) delay seeking treatment because they feel their condition is “not serious enough,” and 1 in 5 (21%) do not seek help at all. The campaign is backed by public figures including EastEnders actress Shona McGarty, TOWIE’s Charlie King, and former professional footballer and PFA chair Clarke Carlisle, who share personal experiences to encourage others to seek help.
What NHS talking therapies offer
– Practical skills and techniques to overcome conditions such as OCD, social anxiety disorder, PTSD, panic disorder, BDD and phobias.
– Treatments can include cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), counselling, guided self‑help or other evidence-based approaches like eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) for PTSD.
– Anyone can self-refer online; a GP referral or formal diagnosis is not required.
– The majority of patients referred to the service access treatment quickly: 88.6% received services within six weeks of referral last year.
NHS England’s National Medical Director for Mental Health and Neurodiversity, Dr Adrian James, said the campaign aims to ensure everyone struggling with common but treatable conditions knows help is available. He emphasized that, with free NHS treatment and support, conditions can be overcome so people can return to work, regain confidence or feel more comfortable in social situations. He urged people to self-refer or speak to their GP practice.
Personal stories
– Jo, 40, a data engineer from Solihull, lived undiagnosed with PTSD for years following life-threatening illness and later the ongoing health needs of her son. Referred after a health visitor spotted her stress, Jo had EMDR therapy which helped her process traumatic memories, develop coping mechanisms and regain calm during her son’s medical procedures. Since finishing therapy, she reports better sleep, less worry and increased presence in family life, alongside achievements in cycling at the World Transplant Games. Jo said therapy “completely changed my life” and urged others to self-refer sooner.
– Anthony, 37, an HSEQ manager from Carlisle, had panic disorder from age 16 and experienced up to six panic attacks a day after family bereavement and work stress. Over 10–12 talking therapy sessions he learned to manage sensations, keep a diary and set goals. He reduced attacks to one or two a month, regained focus, restarted reading and joined a book club. He encourages others not to wait.
– Phillip, 41, from Cheshire, reached out to talking therapies during a difficult period after his divorce and a suicide attempt. He says sessions helped him find ways to cope, sometimes through CBT and sometimes through different outlooks, and that employment support helped rebuild confidence and make major life changes.
Public understanding and misconceptions
The survey found low public awareness of several conditions: nearly half said they knew nothing about social anxiety disorder and panic disorder, and two thirds did not know what BDD is. Misconceptions persist: over a third believe “most people are a bit OCD,” nearly 3 in 10 think PTSD mainly affects military veterans, and 1 in 5 equate social anxiety with being merely shy. The campaign aims both to encourage people to seek help and to improve public recognition of symptoms.
Common symptoms highlighted by the campaign:
– OCD: frequent obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviours.
– Social anxiety disorder: long-term and overwhelming fear of social situations.
– PTSD: involuntary, vivid reliving of traumatic events through flashbacks or nightmares.
– Panic disorder: sudden, regular panic attacks, sometimes with no apparent trigger.
– Phobias: overwhelming fear of an object, place, situation, feeling or animal.
– BDD: obsessive thoughts and worry about appearance.
Voices from campaign supporters
– Shona McGarty (actor) described becoming painfully self-aware as a teenager and living with intense social anxiety. She credits talking about it and learning coping strategies with helping her feel more in control and less isolated.
– Clarke Carlisle (former professional footballer) spoke of how PTSD led him to withdraw from family life for years; treatment allowed him to reconnect and enjoy family moments again, including his daughter’s 18th birthday.
– Charlie King (TOWIE) shared his experience of crippling BDD and how therapy helped him understand thought patterns and manage them, enabling achievements like completing the London Landmarks Half Marathon.
Clinical perspective
Media medic Dr Nighat Arif, GP, warned the poll shows a worrying “blind spot” in public awareness that could prevent people getting treatment because they may not recognise symptoms or may feel embarrassed. She reminded people that support is free on the NHS, GPs can refer, or people can self-refer online to talk to a trained therapist and learn practical techniques to overcome their condition.
Campaign details
The NHS campaign will run for six weeks, with adverts across TV-on-demand services, online video, radio, digital audio and podcasts, social media and search engines. The aim is to make people aware that NHS talking therapies are accessible, effective and free, and to encourage self-referral.
For more information and to self-refer for NHS Talking Therapies, visit: https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/mental-health-services/find-nhs-talking-therapies-for-anxiety-and-depression/ (nhs.uk/talk).
