Over a quarter of the Isle of Wight’s working-age population has diagnosed anxiety, a new report shows.
Mental illness is the most common long-term health diagnosis affecting the demographic and a ‘major contributor’ to extended sickness, County Hall’s public health director Kate Harvey has said in an annual 2025/26 report.
The paper shows that out of the Island’s working-age adults, 29.3% or around 22,400 people have diagnosed anxiety, 24.2% have been diagnosed with depression or roughly 19,300, and 16.3% (approximately 13,000) have both.
Councillor James Whelan, Reform UK chair of the adult social care, public health and housing needs committee, said:
“In light of the public health report and the evidence provided, it is extremely important that we bring the mental health team before the committee to discuss the findings of their Care Quality Commission (CQC) report and hear their action plan on improvements for mental health services on the Island.”
Mental health crisis services provided by the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust have been rated ‘requires improvement’ by the CQC.
Local employment, often lower paid, seasonal or physically demanding, combined with financial pressure and housing insecurity, contributes to greater levels of stress, anxiety and depression, according to Ms Harvey’s report.
The document says diagnosis rates of anxiety, depression or both increase with age – a local pattern which differs from national trends and may reflect differences in help-seeking behaviour and diagnostic recording rather than true underlying need.
Women have a higher recorded prevalence of mental illness than men.
Across the Isle of Wight, rates vary in line with deprivation. Out of the 20% most deprived areas, 42% of working age people have anxiety, depression or both diagnosed on their GP record. This is compared to 31% in the least deprived areas.
Councillor Michael Lilley, the Isle of Wight Council’s mental health champion, said there has to be a ‘radical’ review and investment in the Isle of Wight’s mental well-being as an ‘urgent priority’.
He said:
“The report confirms and evidences that poor mental health is a deep rooted reality and issue on the Island and for me is a health priority.
“The key message I get from residents is the lack of early help to prevent falling into acute services and when coming out of overstretched acute NHS services, lack of recovery support in the community.
“If you simply feel bad about yourself, anxious and depressed you are not going to function well in your life and without support your life can unravel.
“Everyone needs access to support early.”
Ms Harvey said her annual report highlights examples of how partners continue to work across the Island to reduce anxiety and improve mental wellbeing, including focusing on prevention, early support and building resilience.
She said:
“The Isle of Wight faces some unique challenges such as its significant reliance on tourism and seasonal employment.
“While seasonal work plays a vital role in supporting the Island’s economy, periods of uncertainty around income and future employment, as well as fluctuating workloads and irregular routines, can contribute to anxiety and poorer mental wellbeing for some workers.
“To help address these challenges, partners across the Island are supporting people to develop skills, improve confidence and access employment opportunities throughout the year.
“Initiatives including Connect to Work, Adult Community Learning, Jobcentre Plus programmes such as Working Towards Wellbeing, and support from the Youth Trust help people gain skills, find work, access training and improve their long-term prospects.
“Our approach in public health recognises that good mental health is about helping people to thrive, feel connected to their communities, maintain positive relationships, find purpose in their lives and access support when they need it.”
I get anxious everytime I drive along the lawless
Military Road
Speeding is rife.
WHERE ARE THE SPEED CAMERA’S
I don’t know why you bother to keep changing your user name – your semi-literate ramblings make you instantly identifiable as the tedious troll who has to hijack every article and shoehorn your pathetic hobbyhorses into it. Here’s a suggestion for a new name – try Stuck Record.
I need to get my point out there because no one does
fcuk all about the wrong doing on the island.
Drive by Whale Chine and see all the marks on the
road.
The Military Road is a speeders paradise
ONLY 1 MAN COULD SLOW DOWN MOTORISTS ON THE ISLAND
LORD SIR SADIQ KHAN
While I’m pleased that there is recognition that poverty and stress is the driving factor in a lot of mental health issues and that there are avenues of support, helping people to ‘cope’ with said stressors is somewhat backward.
If they have the funds for a bigger plaster it would be spent wiser in healing the bloody wounds in the first place.
Hopefully the budget allocation system (extra to NHS to fix mental health crisis but not housing or jobs) will improve with devolution and Burnham government.
Jesus wake up and smell the coffee they are anxious because they may have to get a job and contribute to society and loose benefits for doing nothing … how can it be right that two people get carers allowance for looking after each other ?? If they can’t care for someone else they can care for themselves … snowflake Britain
wake up and smell the coffee they are anxious because they may have to get a job and contribute to society and loose benefits for doing nothing … how can it be right that two people get carers allowance for looking after each other ?? If they can’t care for someone else they can care for themselves … snowflake Britain
wake up and smell the coffee they are anxious because they may have to get a job and contribute to society and loose benefits for doing nothing … how can it be right that two people get carers allowance for looking after each other ?? If they can’t care for someone else they can care for themselves …
Anxious about losing benefits and having to get a job and pay their way …. How easy is it to take a test and test positive for adhd etc or fake mental health issues or illness … who challenges these people ?? No one for fear of being called biased … see how many people whinge about this point of view
I fyou spend ten minutes on you tbe there arehundreds of videos and self teach articles on how to gain the welfare syste, even from ex DHSS telling you what questions will be asked and how to circumvent the sytem, anxious is a daily life occurence for most people but most manage it and get on with life.