Common and severe mental illness

Mental health is a high public health priority area.

Common mental health disorders are conditions that cause marked emotional distress and interfere with daily function, but do not usually affect a person's cognition, insight and perception of reality. They comprise different types of depression and anxiety, and include obsessive compulsive disorders. Severe mental illness includes schizophrenia, bipolar affective disorder and other psychoses.

The legacy of the pandemic and the current cost-of-living crisis will mean that monitoring mental health is of vital importance.

Key findings

Figures from the Quality and Outcomes Framework (QOF) 2023/24 (unless stated otherwise) show that:

• In the Lancashire-12 area, there were 22,288 adults (aged 18 years and over) who were newly diagnosed with depression, accounting for 2.1% of the total GP registered population aged 18+ years. This is higher than the England prevalence of 1.5%.
• Recent trend shows an increase in the number of Lancashire-12 adults who are newly diagnosed with depression; the trend shows no significant change for England.
• In Blackburn with Darwen (4,268|3.0%) and Blackpool (3,859|2.7%) the percentage of adults with a new diagnosis of depression is also above the England average.
• In the Lancashire-12 area, there are 13,544 persons (all ages) with a diagnosed mental health condition (diagnosis of schizophrenia, bipolar affective disorder or other psychoses), accounting for 1.05% of the total GP registered population. This is higher than the England prevalence of 0.96%.
• Recent trend shows an increase in the number of Lancashire-12 adults with a diagnosed mental health condition; this is in line with the England trend.
• In Blackburn with Darwen (2,255|1.21%) and Blackpool (2,871|1.61%) the prevalence of recorded mental health conditions is above the England average.

For county and unitary data and further information please see below. If the area has defaulted to 'Counties & UAs in North East region', click on the down arrowhead next to 'Geography', select 'Region' and then 'North West'. This is an issue which is not within our control, apologies. 

 Page updated October 2024