Mental health referrals peak in October as awareness increases

More people are referred for mental health support in October than in any other month of the year, according to five years of data from nurse-led support provider RedArc.

Analysis of referrals between 2020 and 2025 found October consistently recorded the highest level of people seeking help.

Anxiety and stress, including panic disorders, accounted for the largest proportion of people seeking mental health support from RedArc during the five-year period, at 44 per cent.

Depression and mood disorders accounted for 15 per cent of referrals, followed by post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and trauma at eight per cent.

The launch of the findings coincides with World Mental Health Day on 10 October and the wider focus on mental health during the month. RedArc said the pattern suggests increased awareness and more open conversations around mental health may encourage people to seek support.

For employers, the findings highlight the importance of connecting awareness campaigns with clear and accessible routes into appropriate mental health services.

Workplace campaigns around events such as World Mental Health Day can help encourage conversations, but employees who recognise that they are struggling also need to understand what support is available to them and how to access it.

Christine Husbands, commercial director at RedArc, said: “We know that the more mental health is talked about, the more likely people are to feel able to ask for help. That’s why it’s so important to keep mental health firmly on the agenda – not just on World Mental Health Day and during October – but throughout the year. Promoting the support that’s available, talking openly about mental health, and helping to normalise those conversations can all make it easier for someone to take that first step and ask for help.”

RedArc said the figures also demonstrate the importance of ensuring awareness is backed by access to clinically led support.

While some people approach the service with an existing diagnosis, others know they are struggling but are unsure about the cause or the type of help they need.

RedArc’s specialist mental health clinicians can use structured assessments, including the PHQ-9 for depression and GAD-7 for anxiety, to assess an individual’s needs and determine appropriate support.

For employers and benefits providers, this distinction is important. Encouraging employees to recognise and discuss mental health difficulties is one part of early intervention, but appropriate assessment and onward support may be needed once someone asks for help.

Husbands said: “Raising awareness, particularly through campaigns such as World Mental Health Day, is incredibly important, but awareness alone isn’t enough. It has to be matched by access to the right support. Whether an individual has a diagnosed condition or simply knows they are struggling with their mental health, having access to experienced, clinically trained, mental health specialists who can assess their needs, understand what’s driving those symptoms and guide them to the most appropriate support can make all the difference. The sooner someone gets the right support, the sooner they can begin to recover.”

The findings also underline the need for employers to communicate mental health support throughout the year rather than concentrating activity around individual awareness days.

Making services visible and explaining how employees can access them could help turn increased awareness into earlier use of support when people need it.