NHS England has launched a major mental health campaign to encourage people living with anxiety-related conditions to seek treatment, warning that millions who could benefit are not accessing support. NHS data show more than 670,000 adults received NHS talking therapy last year — a 12% rise on 2019 — and a record 83,000 people accessed employment support through the service in 2025 (a 20% increase on 2024). Yet around one in five adults in England — an estimated 9.4 million people — are affected by a common mental health condition, and NHS leaders say many are still missing out on care.
The campaign asks people with six common anxiety-related conditions to 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 conditions highlighted are obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), social anxiety disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), panic disorder, body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) and phobias.
Why people don’t seek help
A survey of more than 2,000 adults commissioned by the NHS found nearly three in five (58%) delay seeking treatment because they think their condition is “not serious enough,” and one in five (21%) never seek help at all. The campaign features public figures sharing their experiences — EastEnders actress Shona McGarty, TOWIE’s Charlie King, and former professional footballer Clarke Carlisle — to reduce stigma and encourage people to come forward.
What NHS talking therapies offer
– Practical, evidence-based treatments such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), counselling, guided self-help, and for PTSD, approaches like eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR).
– Help focuses on building skills and techniques to manage and overcome symptoms of OCD, social anxiety, PTSD, panic disorder, BDD and phobias.
– People can self-refer online; a GP referral or formal diagnosis is not required.
– Most people access treatment quickly: 88.6% of patients referred to the service received care within six weeks last year.
NHS England’s National Medical Director for Mental Health and Neurodiversity, Dr Adrian James, said the campaign aims to make sure everyone struggling with common but treatable conditions knows help is available. With free NHS treatment and support, he said, many people can recover, return to work, regain confidence and feel more comfortable in social situations.
Personal experiences
– Jo, 40, from Solihull, lived with undiagnosed PTSD after a life-threatening illness and later caring for her son. Referred after a health visitor noticed her stress, Jo had EMDR therapy, which she says helped her process traumatic memories, improve sleep, reduce worry and be more present with her family. She describes therapy as life-changing and urges others to self-refer sooner.
– Anthony, 37, from Carlisle, developed panic disorder in his teens and, after bereavement and work stress, was having up to six panic attacks a day. Ten to twelve talking therapy sessions taught him how to manage sensations, keep a diary and set goals; attacks fell to one or two a month, and he regained focus and social activity.
– Phillip, 41, from Cheshire, sought talking therapies during a crisis after divorce and a suicide attempt. He credits sessions, including CBT, and employment support with helping him cope, rebuild confidence and make major life changes.
Public awareness and misconceptions
The NHS survey revealed low awareness of some conditions: nearly half of respondents said they knew nothing about social anxiety disorder and panic disorder, and two thirds did not know what BDD is. Misconceptions are common: over a third think “most people are a bit OCD,” almost 3 in 10 believe PTSD mainly affects military veterans, and one in five equate social anxiety with being merely shy. The campaign aims both to prompt people to seek help and to improve recognition of symptoms.
Symptoms the campaign highlights
– OCD: frequent intrusive thoughts and repetitive compulsive behaviours.
– Social anxiety disorder: long-term, overwhelming fear of social situations.
– PTSD: involuntary, vivid reliving of traumatic events through flashbacks or nightmares.
– Panic disorder: sudden, recurrent panic attacks, sometimes without an obvious trigger.
– Phobias: intense fear of a specific object, place, situation, feeling or animal.
– BDD: persistent preoccupation and distress about perceived flaws in appearance.
Voices supporting the campaign
Shona McGarty speaks about living with intense social anxiety and how talking and coping strategies helped her feel less isolated. Clarke Carlisle describes how treatment for PTSD allowed him to reconnect with family life. Charlie King has shared his experience of BDD and how therapy helped him understand and manage unhelpful thought patterns.
Clinical view and call to action
GP and media medic Dr Nighat Arif said the poll shows a worrying “blind spot” in public awareness that may stop people recognising symptoms or feeling comfortable seeking help. She reminded people that support is free on the NHS, GPs can refer, and anyone can self-refer online to talk to a trained therapist and learn practical techniques to manage their condition.
Campaign rollout
The six-week campaign will run across TV-on-demand, online video, radio, digital audio and podcasts, social media and search platforms, aiming to raise awareness that NHS talking therapies are accessible, effective and free, and to encourage self-referral.
More information and self-referral
To find out more and 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).
