POWERLESS, angry, worried – four in ten Scots adults say Brexit is taking a toll on their mental health, a charity claims.

More than one in 10 people said it had caused them problems sleeping, with a similar level citing Brexit as a cause of confrontation with friends or family.

Upwards of one in five said it had caused them anxiety, with the same proportion blaming it for triggering “high levels” of stress.

And more than four in ten adults told pollsters Brexit had made them feel powerless, angry or worried.

Both Remainers and Leavers linked their experiences with withdrawal from the Brussels-based bloc.

The figures, released today and based on survey responses from more than 1000 people, come from the Mental Health Foundation Scotland, which says its findings would, if extrapolated across the population, mean almost two million individuals are suffering ill effects.

In contrast, just a fraction of respondents – between 2-7% – said Brexit had made them feel hopeful, happy or confident over the past 12 months.

Toni Giugliano of the Mental Health Foundation Scotland suggested rolling news coverage dedicated to Brexit could be part of the problem for those experiencing negative effects.

This coverage has recently included a number of high-profile “meaningful votes”, some of which have stretched into the night, and subsequent statements by Prime Minister Theresa May.

It has also included analysis of the implications leaving has for the economy, migration rights, the education sector and national security.

The Scottish Government is amongst the voices warning of upcoming problems in each of these areas.

He stated:  “Our poll suggests that nearly two million adults in Scotland have experienced a range of negative emotions as a result of Brexit.

“This is true among both people who voted Leave and Remain. Almost three in five people (57%) who voted Remain said they have felt powerless, while a third (33%) who voted Leave felt the same thing.  

“Feelings of powerlessness or worry are linked to a higher risk of mental health problems and they may also exacerbate existing difficulties.”

Adults living in Scotland were asked about Brexit and their mental health in an online exercise over the four-day period from March 14-18.

Giugliano went on: “Our Brexit poll indicates the importance of our environments to our mental health. We also know, from other examples worldwide, that an unstable political environment can potentially affect people’s mental health.

“The number of people who said they felt high levels of stress or problems sleeping is also a concern and this may be linked to the 24/7 back-to-back reporting on the issue.”

On ways to alleviate any psychological stresses linked to the upcoming change, he commented: “There are things we can do to help protect our mental health and today we’re offering some advice about how people can look after their wellbeing in the face of Brexit. For instance, you could reflect on how news consumption is affecting you and consider muting news notifications on your smartphone and limiting yourself to reading a morning paper or watching the evening news.  

“It’s important to talk to others about how we’re feeling and not suppress our emotions if we’re feeling overwhelmed.

“If you’re stressed about your long-term status at work because of changes in immigration or because your employment is vulnerable as a result of Brexit, talk to your HR colleagues to get assurances and contact your employer’s Employee Assistance Programme for psychological support.”