Mental Health Awareness is a very worthy topic of conversation. Many charities such are tirelessly campaigning to break down stigmas, improve awareness of both the importance of looking after our own mental health and highlight the support networks that are available.
From depression, eating disorders, obsessive compulsory disorder, generalised anxiety disorder, dementia and bi-polar to mention a few. Mental health encompasses a broad range of issues that many of us may experience at any age from puberty through to later in life, some of which have a more debilitating effect on daily living than others. Whether that be work, family and relationships or money matters.
Mental Health Foundation suggest that with nearly half of the adult population (43.4%) believing they have suffered with a form of diagnosable mental health issue at some point in their lives, there is definitely still work to be done in progressing the awareness of living with and improving mental health conditions.
Facts and Figures
Statistics from the Mental Health Foundation
- Mixed anxiety & depression is the most common mental disorder in Britain, with 7.8% of people meeting criteria for diagnosis.
- 4-10% of people in England will experience depression in their lifetime.
- Mixed anxiety and depression has been estimated to cause one fifth of days lost from work in Britain.
- One adult in six had a common mental disorder.
Treatment may involve Psychological Therapies, Self-management and peer support intervention, Digital Technologies, Mindfulness, Medication, Exercise, Nutrition, The Arts. Early intervention is the key to good mental health, here are the links of what to do if you or someone you know needs help.
https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/your-mental-health/getting-help
https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/helplines/
https://www.time-to-change.org.uk/mental-health-and-stigma/help-and-support