Parkinson's and mental health
You may experience a range of mental health issues alongside your physical Parkinson's symptoms. Find out how to look after your mental health and get support.
These can range from depression and anxiety to hallucinations, memory problems and dementia.
Anxiety and depression are two of the most common mental health symptoms that affect people with Parkinson's. Nearly half of all people with Parkinson's have experienced one of these issues.
They can be triggered by the stress of receiving a diagnosis like Parkinson's. Or you might be anxious about work. Symptoms can also be triggered by physical changes in the brain caused by the condition itself.
Looking after your mental health
To help improve the amount and quality of your sleep, make sure your bedroom is quiet and comfortable. Try to go to bed at the same time each night.
Try to maintain a healthy, balanced diet. Avoid too much alcohol and caffeine, especially late in the evening. These can make some of the physical symptoms of anxiety worse.
Research has shown that exercising 2 to 3 times a week, especially as part of a group, can help with depression. It can also boost your mood and help you sleep well.
Mindfulness meditation can improve your physical and mental wellbeing. The Parkinson's mindfulness toolkit introduces you to the techniques and benefits of mindfulness.
Get support for your mental health
Our helpline
You can call our free and confidential helpline on 0808 800 0303.
Our trained advisers can provide support, whether you're worried about your mental health and your symptoms, need more information about work, money and benefits, or just want to know what help is available to you.
Other helplines
Mental health charity Mind have several helplines for information on mental health issues. Find out more about the helplines on the Mind website.
Call Samaritans on 116 123 at any time for free.
Speak to a health professional
People with Parkinson's regularly tell us that they feel their mental health issues make their physical symptoms of Parkinson's worse.
That's why it's important to talk to your GP, specialist or Parkinson's nurse about all of your Parkinson's symptoms, whether physical or mental.
The Parkinson's UK Tech Guide
The Tech Guide is the place to find consistent and reliable information about devices and apps that could help you live well with Parkinson's.
This includes products which may help improve your mood and promote good mental health. You can filter by type of product, such as a device, app or website, and by the symptom that you want to address, such as anxiety or depression.
See what people with Parkinson's think on our Tech Guide website.
Talk to others in your situation
There are lots of places where you can connect with people who may be experiencing similar issues to you.
The Parkinson's UK Forum
You can also talk to people on our online forum. The community welcomes anyone affected by Parkinson's. It's a great place to share information and have a chat all you need is an email address. Visit our forum.
Groups
Groups are a great way to meet other people with Parkinson's in your area, find out more about the condition and get support in a friendly and welcoming environment. Find a group near you.
Support for family and friends
It's important for family, friends and carers to recognise that the mood of someone with Parkinson's can negatively affect their own emotions.
Because of this, you should try to look after your own physical and mental health as much as you can. This can be difficult, but it's important to remember that by taking care of yourself, you will be better able to support the person with Parkinson's.
Many carers find it helpful to join a group, where they can meet other people in a similar situation. Some Parkinson's UK groups have special activities for carers. Our forum has a dedicated section for carers, friends and family.
Read our information on supporting someone with Parkinson's.
Par-Con 2026
Par-Con is our 2-day in-person and online event for the Parkinson's community. Join us and connect with others, find out about the latest research and how to live well with Parkinson’s.
