Covid, Brexit and Liz Truss mini-budget led to lasting decline in mental health, study finds

The Guardian UK Thursday 08 October 2026, 09:00 UTC By Denis Campbell Health policy editor 1 min read

Key Points

Researchers found five events, including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, caused serious damage to mental wellbeing across UKBrexit, Liz Truss’s mini-budget and other “shocks” over the last 10 years have led to a serious and lasting deterioration in the UK population’s mental health, research has found. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the first and second Covid lockdowns also triggered big rises in psychological distress, as measured by the number of people with depression and anxiety.

Researchers found five events, including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, caused serious damage to mental wellbeing across UK

Brexit, Liz Truss’s mini-budget and other “shocks” over the last 10 years have led to a serious and lasting deterioration in the UK population’s mental health, research has found.

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the first and second Covid lockdowns also triggered big rises in psychological distress, as measured by the number of people with depression and anxiety.

Covid (PERSON) Brexit (PERSON) Liz Truss (PERSON) Russia (LOCATION) Ukraine (LOCATION) UKBrexit (LOCATION) Liz Truss’s (PERSON) UK (LOCATION)

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