SHIFT Newsroom · England
Anxiety and NHS talking therapies: when to ask for support
UK archive · Original report: 18 February 2026. A February 2026 NHS campaign highlighted anxiety conditions that people may overlook, including OCD, panic and post-traumatic stress.
UK archive review · 13 September 2026. Original source: 18 February 2026. This article revisits a UK development; it is not a new announcement today.
Anxiety covers more than everyday worry
NHS England’s campaign highlighted obsessive-compulsive disorder, panic, post-traumatic stress, social anxiety, body dysmorphic disorder and phobias. It aimed to reach people who might not recognise that talking therapies could address their difficulties.
The accompanying survey found that some adults delayed seeking support because their problems did not feel serious enough. That is a finding about respondents’ perceptions, not a clinical assessment of everyone who answered.
You do not need to arrive with a diagnosis
NHS information explains that adults in England can self-refer for an assessment for anxiety or depression without first obtaining a formal diagnosis. Most services accept people aged 18 or over; some accept people from 16. A referral leads to assessment, rather than a guarantee of a particular therapy.
Make the first conversation concrete
Our suggestion is to describe what daily life has become harder: travelling, leaving home, sleeping, concentrating or managing repeated fears. You do not need to choose the correct diagnostic label before making contact.
Ask what assessment involves, which formats are offered and how the service will tell you about the next step. If phone calls are difficult, check the available online referral route and explain any communication needs.
The campaign is about England’s talking-therapies service. Other UK nations have their own arrangements. If support is urgent, use the NHS urgent mental-health route rather than waiting for a routine referral. The value of the campaign is opening a door to assessment, not promising an identical outcome for everyone who enters.
Related UK reporting
Adult ADHD: what England’s taskforce report changes—and leaves open
Known facts
- A February 2026 NHS campaign highlighted anxiety conditions that people may overlook, including OCD, panic and post-traumatic stress.