One in nine people would tell no one if they had mental health difficulties.
A survey, commissioned by St Patrick's Mental Health Services, also found one in six would keep drug or alcohol problems secret.
It found while people were more accepting of theirs and others' mental health difficulties at the height of the pandemic, there are some indications positive attitudes are regressing.
The study says that:
- Just 8% of people would not tell anyone if they were experiencing a mental health difficulty during 2020 compared to 17% that would not tell anyone in 2018.
- The number of people less willing to disclose mental health difficulties since the pandemic has risen again slightly since 2020, now at 11%
-Only 13% of people surveyed in 2020 would tell no one if they felt they had an issue with alcohol, drugs or prescription medicines – this represents a 50% improvement in people’s willingness to disclose substance abuse issues when compared to 2018, when 26% would tell no one.
-While still improved on 2018 levels, the number of people who would tell no one if they had an issue with substance abuse increased again in 2022 to 17%
-2020 also saw the highest percentage of people (64%) who said they would be okay explaining to their boss that they needed time off work for a mental health difficulty. This figure was 61% in 2018 and now stands at 56% in 2022 findings
-In 2020, 81% of people surveyed said that they would tell someone if they were experiencing suicidal thoughts – this compared to 77% in 2022 but remains higher than 2018 levels (72%)."
