A poll suggests the majority of Scots are turning to bad habits to try and cope with mental health issues like stress and anxiety, with self-isolation and oversleeping most common.
The poll for the Mental Health Foundation found 68% of adults have adopted at least one harmful coping mechanism within the last month.
The most common of these included spending more time alone, at 33%, and oversleeping or not getting out of bed – often called “bed rotting” – at 29%.
Some 28% said they coped by overeating or comfort eating, while 28% said they distracted themselves by scrolling social media.
On the other hand, 82% of adults said they had taken more helpful actions to address mental health issues in the last month.
The most common of these was spending time outdoors at 39%, and taking part in physical activity at 35%.
A total of 1,692 adults in Scotland were polled between March 20 and 24 by Opinium.
The Mental Health Foundation urged policymakers to focus on prevention in order to tackle mental health demands.
Dr Calum MacLeod, policy and public affairs manager for Scotland at the charity, said: “These findings show that people in Scotland are making efforts to care for their mental health, yet many are still turning to coping habits that can undermine wellbeing in the longer term.
“Behaviours such as withdrawing from others, overeating, sleeping excessively, or getting lost in constant online scrolling may offer short‑term comfort, but they often worsen feelings of anxiety and low mood rather than easing them.
“With almost seven in 10 people in Scotland using at least one harmful way of coping, this data reflects how challenging life feels for many right now, and underlines the urgent need to go beyond awareness and focus on actions that genuinely protect and improve mental health.
“Following the recent Scottish Parliament election, it’s vital that the new Scottish government shows bold and ambitious leadership to navigate the nation out of Scotland’s ongoing public mental health emergency.
“Investing in prevention, tackling poverty and other structural issues that damage wellbeing, and embedding mental health considerations across all policies are essential steps towards creating the conditions in which good mental health can flourish for everyone in Scotland.”
The research was carried out to mark Mental Health Awareness Week, which begins on Monday.
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