New research reveals hidden cybercrime mental health crisis

A survey of 1,002 Britons who have been a victim of cybercrime in the past year, commissioned by Akamai, reveals most are ashamed of their experience, feel they've done something wrong, and believe there's an unfair stigma placed on them.

Cybercrime causes significant mental health damage

On average, cybercrime costs the victims surveyed £808. As a result, one in five struggled to pay their bills or had to cut back spending on essentials like food in the wake of the financial losses their cybercrime incurred. However, the damage cybercrime causes to mental health is less widely understood.

Nearly two-thirds of Britons said they felt traumatised by what happened to them (62%), and a majority also admitted to feelings of shame (59%) and embarrassment (67%). Over half (55%) said they continued to experience anxiety after the cybercrime, especially while using online services, and nearly one in three (29%) had trouble sleeping.

Despite this, many Britons are likely to hide the cybercrime they experienced from others. More than two-fifths (43%) said they avoided telling people about what happened to them, out of fear that they would be judged. A similar number (41%) admitted they hid the true extent of the emotional impact. Nearly two-thirds (64%) blamed themselves for what happened.

'Cybercrime is incredibly common. And with the rise of AI, it's becoming even more difficult to tell the difference between a genuine request from someone you know, and a scammer," said Natalie Billingham, EMEA Managing Director, Akamai. "Cybercrime is not just a technological issue; it's a human one. Cybercriminals prey on a victim's vulnerability as there's still a perception that if you're a victim of cybercrime, you've done something wrong. They rely on their victims not talking about their attack. We need to stop this 'cyberstigma' because if we're more understanding about cybercrime, and talk about it more, we'll stand a better chance of fighting back against cybercriminals."

Combatting 'cyberstigma'

The Britons surveyed experienced a wide range of cybercrimes, including phishing (57%), identity theft (33%), phone hacking (30%), and ransomware (15%). But the majority said they couldn't find resources and support to help them (55%), and that there needs to be more support for cybercrime victims (70%). Britons reported it took an average of ten weeks for them to feel back to normal after the cybercrime they suffered.

To address this problem, Akamai has published a new guide for dealing with the mental health impact of cybercrime, in partnership with Dr Tara Quinn-Cirillo, associate fellow of the British Psychological Society. It's Time to Talk About Cyberstigma includes detailed advice for cybercrime victims and those close to them on how to have open discussions about cybercrime, as well as advice for the public on what steps they can take to protect themselves online.

Download It's Time to Talk About Cyberstigma here: https://www.akamai.com/resources/ebook/akamai-cyberstigma-guide

"Cybercrime can be devastating to an individual's mental well-being. As this research has shown, self-blame is common, and feeds into feelings of inadequacy that can be incredibly toxic," said Dr Tara Quinn-Cirillo. "The truth is, today cybercrime can happen to anyone, and it's so important we consider the mental health effects of this type of crime on victims. I'm proud to contribute to this important work shedding light on this under-reported issue."

About the research

The research was conducted by Censuswide, among a sample of 1002 respondents who have been a victim of a cybercrime (in the last 12 months) in the UK. The data was collected between 23.08.2024 - 27.08.2024. Censuswide abides by and employs members of the Market Research Society and follows the MRS code of conduct and ESOMAR principles. Censuswide is also a member of the British Polling Council.

About Akamai

Akamai Security protects the applications that drive your business at every point of interaction, without compromising performance or customer experience. By leveraging the scale of our global platform and its visibility to threats, we partner with you to prevent, detect, and mitigate threats, so you can build brand trust and deliver on your vision. Learn more about Akamai's cloud computing, security, and content delivery solutions at akamai.com and akamai.com/blog, or follow Akamai Technologies on X, formerly known as Twitter, and LinkedIn.

About Dr Tara Quinn-Cirillo

Dr Tara Quinn-Cirillo is a Chartered and HCPC Registered Counselling Psychologist and Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society, with over 20 years' clinical experience.

Media Contact: Akamai PR, [email protected]

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