It was good to see Mental Health
Awareness Week discussed in the media last month - highlighting the impact of
mental health on individuals, their family members and friends.
The BBC wrote an article last month
about 'when does your mental health become a problem'.
It stated that one in four people are
expected to experience a mental health problem, and highlighted that sadly stigma
and discrimination are still very common. Indeed myths assuming that mental
illness is somehow down to a 'personal weakness' still exist.
So how do we define mental health?
A person considered 'mentally healthy' is someone who can manage
the day to day normal stresses of life and can easily go about their activities
in order to look after themselves. However, as we’ve all
experienced at some time, our state of mind can radically change in response to
events that happen in daily life.
The question is, when
is someone thought to be mentally ill, how is it diagnosed?
This
illness cannot be 'tested' by checking blood or body fluids. Instead the usual
practice is diagnosis by an experienced psychiatrist or clinical psychologist.
Taken from the Royal College of Psychiatrists – these
statistics below paint a clear picture of how common mental illness is in the
UK. They show how important it is to have a good understanding of mental health issues,
which should be taken seriously. It’s
really important to raise awareness of these sometimes complex issues, to help people
with such problems reduce feelings of isolation, loneliness and a reluctance to
admit to such difficulties.
·
Anxiety
will affect 10% of the population
·
Bipolar
disorder will affect one in 100
·
One in
every 150 15-year-old girls will get anorexia, as will one in every 1000
15-year-old boys
·
20% of
people will become depressed at some point in their lives
·
Obsessive
compulsive disorder (OCD) will affect 2%
·
Personality
disorder will affect one in 10, though for some it won't be severe
·
Schizophrenia
will affect one in 100
Well known actor and presenter Stephen
Fry is a relentless campaigner of mental health issues. He is President of the
mental health charity Mind. Having such a well known personality involved in
this area can help break down barriers.
There are many ways a
person can seek information about mental health issues. While the internet contains
a wealth of information, not all of it is accurate and so checking for
reputable sources is extremely important.
Books are also a good source of information, but once again it is
important to check out the credentials of the author. Self-help books can offer
expertise, advice and support and there are many written by professionals in
their field of practice.
The Books on
Prescription scheme, recently launched Nationally with books available through
the local libraries provides an excellent source of information. The list is
available through the Reading
Well Agency . They provide a good selection of books covering numerous
topics, ranging from depression, anxiety and eating disorders through to obsessive
compulsive disorders.
The Dummies Series on
‘Overcoming Depression’ and ‘Overcoming Anxiety’, along with the ‘Anxiety and
Depression Workbook’, are also good source of well documented and easy reading
books to consider as a source of information., along with many other books on
this topic, including “An introduction to CBT” published by Icon,
Elaine Iljon Foreman BA (Hons), M.Sc., AFBPsS
Consultant Chartered Clinical Psychologist specialising in
the treatment of fear of flying.
