Oct 2025, UK- A new nationwide survey of more than 2,100 UK adults, conducted by YouGov and commissioned by Dr. Devi Sundar founder of  Tele-Therapies and MindBody Synergy CIC, based in Gloucestershire, UK, exposes a critical awareness gap. Only 31% of adults in the UK recognise that chronic respiratory diseases can have serious mental health impacts. That means nearly seven in ten people are unaware of the emotional reality faced by millions.

A silent crisis

This lack of awareness is particularly pronounced among younger adults (18–24 years, 32%) and men (28%), while women (34%) and older adults (55+, 36%) show slightly higher recognition. Working-age adults stand out with the lowest levels of awareness overall — only 14% say they are “very aware,” while one in four (25%) admit they are “not aware at all.” That has real-world consequences. People of working age are often juggling jobs, families, and health, yet may be least equipped to recognise or seek support for emotional distress linked to chronic illness.

Awareness also differs across life circumstances. Separated or divorced adults (38%) and widowed individuals (33%) are more likely to understand these challenges — possibly because of lived experience or caregiving roles. In contrast, married adults (29%) and parents (33%) show moderate awareness, suggesting more outreach is needed within families and communities.

Regional gaps and their impact

The survey also revealed striking regional variation. Awareness is highest in Wales (37%), the South West (35%) and Northern Ireland (33%), and lowest in the South East (27%) and East of England (29%). These differences reflect how local health messaging and community support can shape understanding — or leave gaps.

When emotional breathlessness goes unnoticed, it doesn’t just affect mental health; it worsens physical health too. Anxiety and depression can amplify breathlessness, reduce adherence to treatment and delay help-seeking. In short: emotional suffering can deepen physical suffering.

Integrating mind and lungs

Over two decades of clinical work, I have seen this disconnect repeatedly. Treating the lungs alone is not enough. At Tele-Therapies and MindBody Synergy CIC, we’ve developed culturally sensitive, trauma-informed programs that combine psychotherapy, neuroscience, Ayurveda, and breath-based rehabilitation. When psychological care is embedded into respiratory treatment, patients cope better, recover more fully, and feel less alone.

This isn’t just a matter of compassion — it’s a matter of health equity and effectiveness. If 69% of people don’t even recognise the mental health impact of chronic lung disease, it becomes much harder to create demand for integrated services. And if emotional support isn’t built into care pathways, the health systems continues to treat symptoms without addressing root causes.

Dr. Devi Sundar’s Call for action

This is why we need to act now:

1. Public awareness campaigns to shine a light on the emotional burden of chronic lung disease.

2. Routine psychological screening and support embedded within pulmonary rehabilitation.

3. Clinician training in trauma-informed and culturally sensitive care.

4. Targeted funding for models that treat both body and mind — not one or the other.

The mind and lungs are intimately connected, communicating through breath and the nervous system. Ignoring the emotional dimension of lung disease is no longer an option. Millions of people across the UK deserve integrated care that acknowledges the full weight of their experience.

Breath is life. It’s time our health system treated it that way — not just with inhalers and oxygen, but with empathy, awareness, and psychological support.