In 2020, around 53 percent of respondents worldwide aged 15 years and older reported that taking prescribed medication was very helpful in alleviating feelings of anxiety or depression that they had, compared to 11 percent of respondents who stated that taking prescribed medication was not helpful. This statistic illustrates the reported helpfulness of select actions in alleviating anxiety or depression according to respondents worldwide as of 2020.
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Percentage of respondents worldwide who found select approaches helpful in alleviating anxiety or depression as of 2020
Characteristic
Very helpful
Somewhat helpful
Not helpful
Spending time in nature/the outdoors
67%
27%
5%
Improving healthy lifestyle behaviors
66%
28%
6%
Talking to friends or family
63%
31%
5%
Engaging in religious/spiritual activities
60%
30%
9%
Talking to mental health professional
59%
30%
9%
Making a change to personal relationships
58%
32%
9%
Making a change to work situation
56%
33%
10%
Taking prescribed medication
53%
35%
11%
0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%100%110%
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Wellcome Trust. (October 20, 2021). Percentage of respondents worldwide who found select approaches helpful in alleviating anxiety or depression as of 2020 [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved June 28, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1288396/reported-helpfulness-of-actions-to-alleviate-anxiety-depression-worldwide/
Wellcome Trust. "Percentage of respondents worldwide who found select approaches helpful in alleviating anxiety or depression as of 2020." Chart. October 20, 2021. Statista. Accessed June 28, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1288396/reported-helpfulness-of-actions-to-alleviate-anxiety-depression-worldwide/
Wellcome Trust. (2021). Percentage of respondents worldwide who found select approaches helpful in alleviating anxiety or depression as of 2020. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: June 28, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1288396/reported-helpfulness-of-actions-to-alleviate-anxiety-depression-worldwide/
Wellcome Trust. "Percentage of Respondents Worldwide Who Found Select Approaches Helpful in Alleviating Anxiety or Depression as of 2020." Statista, Statista Inc., 20 Oct 2021, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1288396/reported-helpfulness-of-actions-to-alleviate-anxiety-depression-worldwide/
Wellcome Trust, Percentage of respondents worldwide who found select approaches helpful in alleviating anxiety or depression as of 2020 Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1288396/reported-helpfulness-of-actions-to-alleviate-anxiety-depression-worldwide/ (last visited June 28, 2025)
Percentage of respondents worldwide who found select approaches helpful in alleviating anxiety or depression as of 2020 [Graph], Wellcome Trust, October 20, 2021. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1288396/reported-helpfulness-of-actions-to-alleviate-anxiety-depression-worldwide/
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