One in five claims to be disabled as mental health cases included

ONE in five people in England and Wales classes themselves as disabled, after mental health conditions were included in the census questionnaire for the first time.

The Office for National Statistics published data showing that in England in 2021, a smaller proportion but larger number of people were disabled (17.7 per cent, 9.8 million) compared with in 2011 (19.3 per cent, 9.4 million).

In Wales, a smaller proportion and a smaller number called themselves disabled (21.1 per cent, 670,000) compared with in 2011 (23.4 per cent, 696,000).

The ONS said that for the first time the disability data include people suffering with mental health issues, after it changed the questions to align more closely with the definition of disability in the Equality Act of 2010. In its questionnaire to identify disability, the ONS asked people: “Do you have any physical or mental health conditions or illnesses lasting or expected to last 12 months or more?” If they answered yes, a further question, “Do any of your conditions or illnesses reduce your ability to carry out day-to-day activities?” was presented.

In contrast, people filling in the census in 2011 were asked: “Are your day-today activities limited because of a health problem or disability that has lasted, or is expected to last, at least 12 months?”. The ONS said: “The Equality Act (2010) defines an individual as disabled if they have a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term negative effect on their ability to carry out day-to-day activities.

“The way we identify disabled people has changed in 2011-21 and this may have had an impact on the number of people identified as disabled.”

Craig Moss, research manager at the disability equality charity Scope, said: “It’s good that the experiences of disabled people with mental health conditions are now recognised in this survey.”

The census also published figures on unpaid carers and general health. The data for 2021 show that five million people – including children as young as five – provide unpaid care to others with problems related to old age or longterm health conditions.