Facts and statistics
Definition
"Mental health is a state of well-being in which the individual realises his or her own abilities, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully and is able to make a contribution to his or her community."World Health Organisation
Mental health problems are very common
At any one time, one adult in six suffers from mental health problems of varying severity.Office for National Statistics (2000) Survey of Psychiatric Morbidity Among Adults Living in Private Households. London: HMSO
One person in four will experience some kind of mental health problem in the course of a year.
Goldberg D (1991) Filters to care in Indicators for Mental Health in the Population. Jenkins R and Griffiths S (ed). London. The Stationery Office.
60-70% of adults will at some time in their lives experience depression or worry of sufficient severity to influence their daily activities.
Mann A (1992) In: Jenkins R, Newton J and Young R (eds) The Prevention of Anxiety and Depression. London: HMSO
It is suggested that more than half of those who attend their general practice may have some symptoms of depression.
Freeling P and Tylee A (1992) In: Handbook of Affective Disorders.Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone.
Suicide
In England there are more than 5000 suicide deaths per annum. On average one person dies every two hours. In the last 20 years or so, suicide rates have fallen in older men and women, but risen in young men.Department of Health (2002) National Suicide Prevention Strategy. London: The Stationery Office.
Suicide is still the biggest cause of death in young men.
Suicide among men accounts for more years of life lost than prostate cancer. About 100,000 life years are lost for suicide compared to about 30,000 for prostate cancer.
'100,000 life years lost through suicide among men', Press Release - Thursday, 09 March 2006, Men's Health Forum
A qualitative study amongst people with severe and enduring mental health problems found that, in their view, social networks such as discussing their suicidal feelings with friends or relatives, were considered just as helpful as psychiatric services. Religious beliefs and affiliations were also helpful. Three-quarters of patients were in contact with psychiatric services when feeling at their lowest, and this contact was generally thought to be helpful. Negative influences included the media and the stigma of psychiatric illness.
Eagles JM, Carson DP, Begg A, and Naji SA (2003) Suicide prevention: a study of patients' views British Journal of Psychiatry 182: 261-265
Social and financial costs of mental illness
"40% of people on incapacity benefit have a mental illness""35% of people with mental illness want to work - that's the highest "want to work" rate of any disability group"
"Only 40% of employers say they would employ someone with a mental illness, while 75% of employers say that employing someone with schizophrenia would be impossible or very difficult."
'Hitting the wall', The Guardian, 5 July 2006
The cost of mental illness in England adds up to £77.4 billion.
This equates to:
- £12.5 billion for care provided by the NHS, local authorities, privately funded services, family and friends;
- £23.1 billion in lost output in the economy caused by people being unable to work (paid and unpaid);
- £41.8 billion in the human costs of reduced quality of life, and loss of life, amongst those experiencing a mental health problem.
Masthead photo by sparktography from Flickr. Used under a Creative Commons licence.
