Nationwide Survey Reveals Lack of Public Awareness About Emotional Breathlessness Among People Living with Chronic Lung Conditions
Millions of people in the UK living with chronic lung conditions such as COPD, asthma, and long COVID not only struggle with physical breathlessness, but also face emotional breathlessness. Anxiety, fear, depression, and social isolation often go unseen and untreated, yet they have a profound impact on quality of life.
A recent nationwide survey of over 2,100 UK adults, commissioned by Dr. Devi Sundar, founder of Tele-Therapies and MindBody Synergy CIC based in Gloucestershire, reveals a striking lack of public awareness about the emotional toll of chronic respiratory disease. Only 31% of adults recognize the emotional impact of these conditions, leaving nearly seven in ten unaware.
The survey shows that younger adults (18-24 years) and men (28%) are least aware, while older adults (55+; 36%) and women (34%) are slightly more informed. Working-age adults are the most under-informed, with only 14% reporting being “very aware” and one in four admitting to being “not aware at all.”
Life experience also plays a role in awareness, with separated or divorced adults (38%) and widowed individuals (33%) showing higher awareness, likely reflecting personal illness or caregiving experiences. Married adults (29%) and parents (33%) are moderately aware, highlighting the need for targeted education in workplaces, families, and communities.
Regional differences also contribute to the lack of awareness, with the highest levels of awareness in Wales (37%), the South West (35%), and Northern Ireland (33%), and the lowest levels in the South East (27%) and East of England (29%). These disparities show that public health messaging and local support services are not reaching those who need them most.
Emotional breathlessness isn’t just invisible – it can also worsen physical symptoms, reduce treatment adherence, and delay help-seeking. While physical breathlessness can be treated, anxiety, despair, and social isolation often go unnoticed. This is why it is essential to integrate mental health support into respiratory care.
Dr. Sundar, founder of Tele-Therapies and MindBody Synergy CIC, says, “Our findings show a significant gap in public perception, which can delay help-seeking and under-recognition of psychological distress in people with chronic respiratory illness.”
At Tele-Therapies and MindBody Synergy CIC, we offer integrated care programs that combine psychotherapy, neuroscience, Ayurveda, and breath-based rehabilitation. Patients who receive this integrated care cope better, recover faster, and feel less isolated. Treating the mind and lungs together is not a luxury – it’s a necessity.
Immediate action is needed to address this issue:
1. Public awareness campaigns highlighting the emotional burden of chronic lung disease.
2. Psychological screening embedded into pulmonary rehabilitation programs.
3. Clinician training in trauma-informed, culturally sensitive care.
4. Targeted funding for integrated mind–lung care models.
The mind and lungs are deeply connected through breath and the nervous system. Ignoring emotional suffering is no longer acceptable. Greater awareness, integrated care, and targeted funding could change the lives of millions across the UK.
Dr. Devi Sundar, Ph.D., founder of Tele-Therapies LTD and MindBody Synergy CIC, is advocating for this change through her public awareness campaign “Integrate Mental and Physical Health Care for COPD Patients in Gloucestershire.” The campaign can be supported through this link: https://www.change.org/MentalHealthCOPD.
About Dr. Devi Sundar:
Dr. Devi Sundar is the founder of Tele-Therapies LTD and MindBody Synergy CIC. MindBody Synergy CIC empowers individuals and communities through holistic mind-body interventions, supporting people to overcome chronic respiratory conditions, mental health challenges, and workplace stress-related injuries nationwide. The organization offers subsidized training to patients and healthcare professionals and popular activities such as Breathe café (free) and Canvas Breath Art (subsidized fee).
Dr. Sundar’s book, Breath Beyond Illness, explores the emotional toll of chronic respiratory disease and the breath–trauma loop linking mind and lungs. It offers evidence-based insights, reflection prompts, and her Psychosocially Integrative Pulmonary Rehab (PIPR) Model for integrating emotional and physical healing. Breath Beyond Illness is available on Amazon. It encourages readers to rediscover the healing power of every breath.
• eBook: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FV8YG8YM/ref
• Paperback: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0FVDYCF64/ref
About the Study:
The findings are drawn from Tele-Therapies’ service development survey. All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. The total sample size was 2
Derick is an experienced reporter having held multiple senior roles for large publishers across Europe. Specialist subjects include small business and financial emerging markets.