The Health Survey (NI) has run annually, on a continuous basis, since 2010/11. The 2022/23 survey included questions relating to general health, mental health and wellbeing, smoking and drinking alcohol. The sample size for the survey was 3,582 individuals aged 16 and over.

Impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on data collection - Due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, data collection for the 2020/21, 2021/22 and 2022/23 Health Survey Northern Ireland moved from face-to-face interviewing to telephone mode. Details on the changes and potential impact can be found in the Notes section at the end of the press release.

Key findings: 

• in 2022/23, almost three-quarters of respondents (72%) rated their general health as very good or good; very good or good self-assessed general health declined with age from 90% of 16–24-year-olds to 51% of those aged 75+.
• almost a third (31%) of respondents reported having a longstanding physical or mental health condition that reduces their ability to carry out day-to-day activities; this proportion has remained at a relatively similar level since 2015/16.
• a fifth (20%) of respondents had a high GHQ12 score, which could indicate a mental health problem. This was significantly lower than the 27% reported in 2020/21, however it is similar to 2021/22 (21%). Males (18%) were less likely than females (22%) to have a high GHQ12 score and respondents in the most deprived areas (28%) continue to be more likely to have a high GHQ12 score than those in the least deprived areas (17%).
• around a third (32%) of respondents reported having concerns about their own mental health in the past year (15% definitely; 17% to some extent).  This was lower than the findings in 2021/22 (35% overall: 15% definitely & 20% to some extent).
• around a fifth of respondents (19%) exhibited signs of loneliness by scoring highly on the UCLA loneliness scale. Respondents living in urban areas and those in the most deprived areas were more likely to exhibit signs of loneliness than those in rural areas and the least deprived areas respectively.
• in 2022/23, 14% of respondents were current cigarette smokers; this is a decrease compared with the 2021/22 finding of 17%.  Smoking prevalence has decreased from 24% in 2010/11. Around a quarter (24%) of those living in the most deprived areas smoke (down from 40% in 2010/11) compared with 7% of those living in the least deprived areas (down from 14% in 2010/11).
• around one in ten respondents (9%) reported that they currently use e-cigarettes or vaping devices (up from 7% in 2021/22).  Males (10%) were more likely than females (8%) to report current use.  Use decreased with age, ranging from 17% of those aged 16-34 to 1% of those aged 75 and over.  Those living in the most deprived areas (13%) were around twice as likely to use e-cigarettes as those in the least deprived areas (7%).  Similarly, those living in urban areas (11%) were more likely to use e-cigarettes than those living in rural areas (6%).
• over three-quarters (77%) of respondents aged 18 and over reported that they drank alcohol.  This was similar to 2021/22 (79%).  A quarter of male respondents (25%) reported drinking above recommended weekly limits (14 units per week), while this was true for around a tenth of female respondents (9%).  Male drinkers (16%) were more likely than female drinkers (10%) to report drinking on three or more days per week.  

This publication is a summary of the main topics included in the 2022/23 Health Survey. Further bulletins and tables will be made available on the Health Survey page on the Departmental website.