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Key statistics from the Global Issues Survey

The world is currently facing a number of different threats that leave some people feeling frustrated, powerless and anxious.

 

Even if a threat poses very little actual risk, the worry is still real and can impact on a person’s day-to-day life and mental wellbeing.

We have done some research looking into how global issues are affecting the mental health and behaviour of some people.

 

Some key statistics from the survey are presented below:

 

What are the most worrying global issues?

 

When people were asked which global issues worry them the most:

 

  • 70% said terrorism

  • 58% said immigration

  • 38% said climate change

  • 23% said natural disasters

  • 23% said spread of nuclear weapons

  • 20% said war

  • 18% said infectious diseases

 

 

Graph representing the most worrying global issues

 

How are people dealing with the worry?

 

When people were asked what helps them to deal with their worry about global issues:

 

  • 38% said finding out more about the issue

  • 33% said talking to family and friends

  • 30% said that nothing helps

  • 25% said voting

  • 21% said signing petitions

  • 12% said religious or spiritual belief

  • 7% said writing to their local MP

  • 6% said being a member of a campaigning charity

  • 5% said taking part in protest marches

 

Graph representing how people deal with worry about global issues
What emotions are people feeling as a result of global issues?

 

When asked what emotions people feel as a result of global issues:

 

  • 56% said powerless

  • 50% said angry

  • 47% said frustrated

  • 35% said anxious

  • 33% said vulnerable

  • 28% said cynical

  • 26% said depressed

  • 17% said scared

Graph representing how global issues leave people feeling
The results were collected on behalf of the Mental Health Foundation by YouGov, using a sample of 2,012 adults.

 

More information about the Global Issues survey

 

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