National Study of Health and Wellbeing: What have we learnt from the study so far?

Since 1993, we’ve found out key information about the nation’s health and wellbeing. Here are some examples of what we’ve found out in previous years.

The impact of caring

We know that people of all ages deal with the responsibility of caring for others, providing unpaid help to family and friends who are ill or frail. Our research has shown that those who care for others often have unmet needs themselves and their own wellbeing can suffer. Changes to government policy now mean that carers have the right to apply for flexible working hours.

Change over time

Our research has shown some areas of health improved over the past twenty years, with  fewer people smoking or drinking heavily. However, other aspects of health got worse, with more people - especially young women – feeling anxious.

Who gets support?

We found that people from ethnic minority groups were less likely to receive support for their mental health than those from the white British group. We found that men were less likely to receive support for their mental health than women. Younger people with mental health difficulties and those over 70 were also less likely than other age groups to get treatment and support. This information is important for being able to target services and ensure they are accessible for those who need them most.