New research has found that many politicians rate their mental health as “low” due to the stress associated with the job. The Berlin-based non-profit organisation, the Apolitical Foundation, produced a report called “Mere Mortals” which assessed the mental wellbeing of politicians worldwide. The report found that 41% of politicians’ mental health was rated as low with a mere 4% rated as high. Elected officials around the world experience online trolling, social media abuse, long hours, demanding travel and hostile press. Stress levels have become intolerable for some politicians in the face of these ongoing issues.
Jacinda Ardern, prime minister of New Zealand, and Mhairi Black, MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire South, are examples of politicians who have cited exhaustion as the reason for their early resignation. In addition to the difficulties faced by politicians in dealing with mental health, the Mere Mortals report argues that mental ill-health among politicians also endangers democracy as elected officials may be unable to perform their jobs or good candidates may choose to avoid politics altogether.
The Apolitical Foundation’s research cohort of over 100 candidates found that most were “generally resilient” and “high-functioning” despite the difficulties they experienced. While it is important for those in politics to have “thick skin” and deal with the challenges of public life, there is also a need for providing effective support systems to help manage the stresses. Talking to fellow politicians is often effective as they can offer empathy and “realistic, practical insights”. Peer-to-peer support, mentoring, life coaching and therapy have been suggested as useful tools to help politicians address their mental health issues.
With over 50 elections taking place worldwide this year, concern for the mental wellbeing of politicians is at the forefront of many minds. Matthew Flinders, a contributor to the Governing under Pressure? The Mental Wellbeing of Politicians report in 2018, has suggested that there may be a link between the mental health of politicians and the health of democracy itself
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