Is Modern Politics Affecting Our Mental Health?

When Politics Hurts: The Mental Health Cost of Polarisation.
In both the UK and US, politics has become deeply polarised, more "us vs. them" than ever.        

But beyond headlines and hashtags, this division is taking a real toll on mental health, especially among young to middle-aged adults.

📉 Chronic stress. Anxiety. Disillusionment.
The constant noise of crisis, injustice, and tribalism activates our nervous systems and leaves many feeling hopeless or numb.

👥 Social strain. Identity conflict.
When political beliefs become identity, relationships suffer. Families fracture, workplaces feel tense, and expressing yourself can feel risky.

🌀 Civic burnout. Emotional shutdown.
When institutions feel broken, many retreat into distraction, despair, or silence.

At Counselling Gloucestershire, we believe mental health and social health are intertwined.

People thrive when they feel seen, heard, and empowered, not when they’re stuck in fear or division.

Binary, hyper-polarised politics isn't just bad for democracy, it’s bad for mental health. It erodes trust, increases anxiety, divides communities, and undermines young people’s hope in collective progress.

📣 It's okay to take a break from the headlines.

🧭 It's okay to find your voice in your own time.

🤝 And it’s always okay to seek support.

Get in touch via this website's contact page, we're here to help.