The UK-based Mind: For Better Mental Health is a mental health charity whose mission is to be there “to make sure anyone with a mental health problem has somewhere to turn for advice and support.”
They have an information and advice section, helpline numbers to call, ideas of what to do if you’re in crisis, information on diagnoses and conditions and treatments, rights and legislation, mental health statistics (which of course I couldn’t pass up; more on that in one moment), communities and social groups, and money and mental health. They run a blog–and run campaigns. They’re a full-service mental health website, and quite impressive.
Not just an infographic junkie (the site more than satisfied today’s cravings), I also love statistics (that is, other people’s statistics. Ones I have to run myself will stay un-run until the cows come home.).
So here’s what mental health stats look like in England, according to Mind:
- around 300 people out of 1,000 will experience mental health problems every year in Britain
- 230 of these will visit a GP
- 102 of these will be diagnosed as having a mental health problem
- 24 of these will be referred to a specialist psychiatric service
- 6 will become inpatients in psychiatric hospitals.
They share that around 1 in 20 people at any one time experience major or ‘clinical’ depression.
That’s a high rate, but, interestingly enough, lower than that of France or the U.S., who have the highest incidences of depression, according to a 2011 study sponsored by the World Health Organization.
The case is similar with bipolar disorder, where “Most studies give a lifetime prevalence of 1 per cent for bipolar disorder and equal prevalence rates for men and women” in the UK; the stat is 4.4% in the U.S.
None of that is to minimize the grave suffering of those with mental illness in the U.K.
Mind shared this illuminating infographic on the top mental health issues in the UK in 2012. On the other side, I’ll tell you what really caught my eye.
Anything jump out at you?
I was shocked to see that one in five people have been waiting over a year for talk therapy. Given what we know about the effectiveness of combined psychopharmacology and psychotherapy, I’d say that’s a pretty harmful fact.
And how’d you like the fact that 34% never had a choice in the treatment they’d been given? Now what could that even mean? Does that literally mean that medicine is prescribed without a person’s input, or a doctor is dedicated to a person’s case without any responsiveness from the patient? Tell me I’m mis-interpreting this one.
And a personal favorite: 6 in 10 employers don’t want an employee with a mental health problem. Given how many workers have mental health problems and are excellent employees, I’m not sure the surveyed bosses thought that through before answering. At least, that’s what I’m hoping.
Anything surprise you about the state of affairs in England as opposed to elsewhere?
Anything jump out at you as too bad to be true?
NZ Cate
September 22, 2012
Unfortunately none of this surprises me about the state of play in the UK. I talk to people every day who are trying to access mental health support in the UK and it just seems completely awful for them. While I don’t for one moment think my own country has the perfect system, it does make me appreciate a little better what I have. Thanks for sharing this.
candidaabrahamson
September 23, 2012
And thanks for sharing your insights into it. I’d love to hear what it’s like for you down there–a top psychiatrist I know things New Zealand and Australia have far superior mental health care than we here in the States do, although of course there’s a way to go. [Like your new little gravatar!]
NZ Cate
September 23, 2012
Thanks Candida. A very good friend drew it for me recently, so it’s become my ‘logo’.
Maybe I should write a post about mental health care in NZ. I do think it is better than yours in that it is public and so theoretically accessible by everyone. Well that’s how it’s meant to be…
candidaabrahamson
September 23, 2012
Cate–I’d love a post from you on health care in NZ. You have a truly unique and perspicacious perspective that would make it most illuminating.
NZ Cate
September 23, 2012
In that case… watch this space.
sanford finkel
September 22, 2012
This is surprising. My colleagues in the UK have portrayed the services to me in a more positive light. There is more outreach and community programs with on-site home visits by a mental health team.
My specialty is with the aged, so this situation might pose more of a problem to younger age groups.