A newly released national survey has revealed that almost 1 in 5 people living in Ireland don’t do anything to look after their mental health every week. Mental Health Ireland released the survey as part of its 2025 Mental Health Month Campaign that celebrates the theme of Community and provides resources and activities around the country throughout October to improve mental health and wellbeing.
Learn more about the Campaign: www.mentalhealthireland.ie/campaign/mental-health-month/
The survey shows that while over 80% of people do something to intentionally support their mental health every week, one in five people (19%) do nothing at all each week for their mental health whilst 42% manage one of two days per week.
The survey shows that men engage most consistently with mental health activities 3-4 times a week (28%) compared to 18% of women. Women prefer social mental health activities: 62.2% spend time with friends/family for mental health compared to 49.7% of men. Young adults (18-24) are least likely to do nothing to support their mental health. Only 14.2% do no activities to intentionally support their mental health each week. Older adults (55+) struggle most with engagement: 25.5% do nothing for their mental health weekly. Income creates a mental health divide: 23.4% of lower income groups do nothing compared to 15.3% of higher income groups.
When it comes to barriers people face to looking after their mental health, only 20% of respondents report having no obstacles to supporting their mental health. The survey showed that the biggest barriers to people supporting their mental health daily are a lack of time (36%) and spending too much time on screens (36%). A further 26% of people say money is the most significant barrier to better mental health, while 20% of people say they don’t know how to improve their mental health. For 15% of respondents it’s not seen as something people in their social circle do.
A significant number of individuals aged 18-24 are concerned about screen time as a barrier and rely heavily on social media for mental health information, pointing towards digital wellness challenges for younger individuals. Older respondents, aged 55 and over, are less likely to report time-related barriers to managing their mental health and emphasize nature and family/friends as key support activities, highlighting a more traditional approach to mental health management in this age group.
Across the population, exercising (58%) and spending time with friends and family (57%) are the most popular ways people support their mental health. Other ways people look after their mental health include spending time in nature (44%), having hobbies (41%), practicing mindfulness/meditation (20%) and going to counselling or therapy (12%).
When asked who they consider to be their community, almost 80% of people said ‘friends and family’ while 40% said people who live in their neighbourhood. 28% of respondents said others with similar interests to themselves, 26% said work colleagues or people they study with, and 11% said their online community. Over 90% of people say spending time with their community is beneficial for their mental health. For age groups 25-34 and 55+, community perceptions differ significantly; the younger group values online-based communities, while the older focus on local connections, indicating diverse community dynamics across ages.
When asked who they turn to for help with their mental health, over 70% said someone they know while 25% said they would seek professional help. Females are more inclined than males to turn to friends or family for mental health support, highlighting a gender difference in preference for personal networks. Older adults aged 55 and above significantly prefer consulting a GP over a mental health professional for mental health support.
Dr Lisa Cuthbert, CEO, Mental Health Ireland said, “The national survey shows us 1in 5 of us aren’t sure how to improve our mental health while many face other barriers such as a lack of time or money to spend on ourselves and too many distractions such as screens. During Mental Health Month, Mental Health Ireland is creating space for open conversations and raising awareness, for sharing tools, information and resources and celebrating the power of community, movement and learning for our wellbeing. Mental health thrives on community, connection, and awareness. By making small changes and supporting each other, we can create a society where mental wellbeing is a shared priority.”
See more Survey results here MHI 2025 Research_ Key Findings
