PEOPLE living with anxiety conditions in the North West are missing out on treatment that could help them recover, regain confidence and return to work, as the NHS launches a major new campaign to introduce people to life-changing mental health treatment.

A new survey of 2,002 adults in England has found that nearly two in three people (64%) in the North West delay seeking treatment and support as they feel the conditions are “not serious enough” – with one in six (17%) not seeking help at all.

The survey, conducted by Censuswide on behalf of the NHS, also found nearly half of the public said they did not know anything about social anxiety disorder and panic disorder, while two thirds did not know what body dysmorphic disorder is.

It also found strong misconceptions around conditions persist – with over a third of the public thinking “most people are a bit OCD” and nearly three in 10 believe PTSD mainly affects military veterans and one in five think social anxiety is “the same as being shy”.

In response, the NHS has launched a major new mental health campaign urging people facing six common anxiety conditions that treatment is available for to come forward for support by self-referring online to NHS Talking Therapies at nhs.uk/talk.

The campaign puts a spotlight on conditions which are often mistaken or underplayed and can be treated by NHS talking therapies. This includes OCD, social anxiety disorder, PTSD, panic disorder, body dysmorphic disorder and phobias.

Dr Michael Gregory, Regional Medical Director for NHS England North West, said: “Many people do come forward to access NHS support for their mental health. However, we know there are many more who could benefit from NHS Talking Therapies and may not realise help is available.

“This campaign is an important step in making sure anyone experiencing common conditions such as anxiety, depression or PTSD understands that effective, evidence-based support is available free on the NHS.

“Talking therapies can make a real difference, helping people feel more like themselves again, rebuild their confidence and return to work or manage everyday situations that may currently feel overwhelming.

“If you’re struggling, you don’t have to face it alone. NHS Talking Therapies are here for you. You can self-refer directly or speak to your local GP practice to get started.”

The latest NHS talking therapies statistics show that the vast majority of patients referred to the service access treatment within six weeks, with 88.6% accessing services within six weeks of their referral last year.

Joana Teodoro, 38, is an artist from Greater Manchester. Originally from Portugal, Joana was confident and ambitious when she moved to England to be with her partner, with plans to pursue a master’s degree in art.

Shortly after relocating, Joana became pregnant. During this time, she experienced domestic violence and coercive control from her partner which went on for years. The trauma of this period eroded her confidence and self-worth. She didn’t have the confidence to apply for a master’s or even a new job.

After eventually escaping the relationship, Joana found she had the psychological and physical space to begin processing what she had been through. Joana experienced flashbacks, frequent nightmares, anxiety without an obvious cause, mood swings, as well as feelings of shame, guilt and self-doubt.

Physically, she even experienced body pain, which she later understood as a release of long-held tension in her body.

She was diagnosed with PTSD and went on to receive multiple forms of support through NHS Talking Therapies. She had to unlearn much of the “brainwashing” that she had endured previously, slowly building back her confidence.

Her healing journey is ongoing. Today, Joana attends online therapy in Portuguese, allowing her to process her experiences in her native language. She has also returned to painting, reconnecting with the creativity that she once feared she had lost.

She has reclaimed the dream she set aside nine years earlier: she has re-enrolled in a master’s programme in art, stepping back into the future she once imagined for herself.

“After surviving the worst chapter of my life, I was left with PTSD. I would experience flashbacks, nightmares and even body pain from having to walk on eggshells, which led to feelings of shame, guilt and insecurity. Healing didn’t happen all at once; it happened in small moments when I chose myself again. I am so incredibly proud of how far I’ve come and grown in confidence during the past five years,” she said.

“NHS Talking Therapies helped me to slowly unlearn many of the negative thought patterns I was experiencing and regain my self-worth. Today, I’m finally giving space to the dream I put on hold, pursuing my master’s in art and starting to paint again. I am getting myself back, thanks to therapy.”

Rachel Munn from Merseyside is a trained psychotherapist who is a Talking Therapies team manager. She has helped people cope with mental health issues but needed help herself when she had a heart attack when she was pregnant at 32 weeks with her second daughter, due to a rare genetic condition.

After a long physical recovery she worried about her health, admitting she was in a bad place. “I became obsessed with my health and was constantly watchful for signs something was wrong with my heart again. I don’t think I was present enough for my girls,” she said.

Rachel soon realised she needed to follow her own advice. She would keep a “thought diary” of fears and wrote down reasons not to worry next to them. “Therapy and mindfulness helped too – I’d identify negative thoughts but then try to refocus my attention elsewhere, reducing the battle I had with these thoughts,” she said.

“I benefited most by focusing on solutions, thinking about what I could do, rather than what I couldn’t. I started off with tiny steps to challenge myself, sitting up in a chair for a short time, walking upstairs and then eventually walking to the lamp post outside my house.”

Short walks gradually became longer rambles, often with a supportive group of friends and daughters Evelyn, now nine, and Ettie, five. After checking with her doctors that they felt it was safe, Rachel was determined she was no longer going to live in fear and re-discovered her love of hillwalking.

“I had built myself up steadily but even now I have the fleeting thought of ‘What if something happens?’, especially when I’m out on my own. From day one I focused on reframing that fear into gratitude,” she said.

“I am just so grateful to be able to be so active again because there was a time when I thought it would never be possible. Hiking has been a huge part of my recovery – as my confidence has grown, so have the hills I’ve climbed. I know now how much is within my power to change how I feel,” she added.

When Heather from Cheshire lost her father-in-law, Les, her life changed in an instant. “The day itself exists only in fragments. Moments of painful clarity surrounded by long stretches of fog. I remember performing CPR, acting on instinct and following instructions because there was no time to think,” she said.

Feeling she had to stay strong for others, Heather pushed everything down and carried on. She began to experience intrusive thoughts and visions.

“Trauma has a way of showing itself when the mind can no longer contain the weight. Scenes in my head and vivid images I couldn’t stop. Moments that made my whole body feel like it was back in danger, even when I was safe,” she said.

“They felt so real, and they left me shaken and exhausted. My mind felt stuck on the worst seconds of my life, looping them over and over.”

Eventually, Heather realised she couldn’t continue like this. And that’s when she referred herself to Talking Therapies. She admits she was nervous before the first session, unsure whether she could open up to a stranger.

Over the following weeks, through guided sessions and structured homework, Heather learned to sit with difficult thoughts without panicking, allow intrusive images to pass instead of fighting them, and challenge the traumatic thoughts with the perspective she has now.

Gradually, she began to sleep better, feel calmer, and noticed the fear and guilt loosening their grip. Heather still has sad days but explains how they no longer hold control.

“I understand that grief is part of love, and it doesn’t disappear – and that processing the frightening memories allows the grief to have more room. However, I no longer feel trapped or frightened of my own mind. Reaching out for help was the hardest step, but it changed everything,”  she said.

Heather knows that not everyone who experiences loss will require trauma‑focused therapy. “If you’re struggling after trauma, you are not alone and you are not broken. Healing is possible, gently and gradually, with the right support,” she said.

Michael, a learning and development specialist from Trafford, faced an unexpected heart attack at just 28 in December 2023. As he recovered, Michael began struggling mentally.

“I found myself struggling to cope mentally with what had happened. I could mask my feelings around others, but at home, I would often break down and cry. I had ups and downs with my mental health before, when I was a teenager, but I had always managed to get by. This time, it felt different,” he said.

Michael started attending cardiac rehab classes at Trafford General Hospital, which included exercise and education sessions about life after a heart attack. One day, during one of the group rehab sessions, a retired firefighter who had also had a heart attack shared his mental health struggles with the group.

“What he said resonated with me, and I realised I needed to speak to someone. After the session, I spoke to the cardiac nurse, Richard, who referred me to Trafford Talking Therapies,” said Michael.

“I waited only about two or three weeks for my initial assessment with the Talking Therapies team, and soon after that, I started weekly sessions with my therapist, Bjorn.

“One of my biggest triggers was ambulances. The sight of blue flashing lights would take me back to a dark place. Over time, with therapy, I learned to manage these triggers better. I can now watch TV shows with medical procedures and talk about my heart attack without breaking down,” he added.

“These sessions were incredibly helpful. I never felt rushed and could go at my own pace. Even when the anniversary of my heart attack came up, and I had to undergo more medical tests, the therapy sessions were adjusted to my needs, and I got through it,” he said.

The NHS Talking Therapies campaign will run for six weeks ​with adverts showing across TV-on-demand services, online video, radio, digital audio and podcasts, social media and search engines.