Mental Health

Issues

Many are describing the UK in a mental health crisis. With mental health conditions costing the NHS over £13bn in 2022, it is clear more needs to be done. Statistics about mental health in the UK include:

  • MIND survey found 1 in 3 people will have a mental health disorder at some point in their life.

  • MIND found that 1 in 6 children have a mental health disorder (up from 1 in 9 in 2018).

  • A record 1.4 million children sought the NHS for mental health problems in 2022

  • 40% of students felt their mental health decline through university with 35% of university students currently experiencing a mental health disorder.

  • In 2010, 20 out of 100,000 men in UK committed suicide.

  • Suicide is the biggest killer of men under 50 in UK.

  • Alcoholism and drug addition increased over Covid and a Lancet Study concluded that the pandemic caused a mental health decline overall.

  • We are currently experiencing a shortage of spaces in mental health hospitals. Thousands of patients each year have to travel to a non-local mental health hospital as their local is full. This is increasing the difficulty and distress.

Causes

There are several causes of the rising mental health crisis:

  • Unrealistic expectations and body image pressures brought on by social media.

  • Disruption in sleep schedules (due to early school/work starting times and late night distractions).

  • Work, school, and life stresses.

  • Childhood abuse, trauma, or neglect.

  • Addiction.

  • Social isolation and loneliness.

  • Experiencing discrimination.

  • Bereavement.

Solutions

The actions below follow the new governmental initiative to try and equate both physical and mental health:

  • NHS Mental Health Implementation Plan increased mental health funding by £2.3bn by 2023.

  • New standards to increase the minimum spending requirements of Integrated Care Systems (ICSs) for mental health.

  • A&E departments now include crisis teams and will refer people in a mental health emergency to Psychiatry Liaison Teams (often based in hospitals) or Crisis Resolution and Home Treatment Teams (often based in the community).

  • Crisis Resolution and Home Treatment Teams (includes psychiatrists, mental health nurses, social workers and support workers) can visit patients at their house or in a crisis centre and help with urgent mental health support.

  • Removing stigmas around mental health with ITVs “Britain Get Talking” and Prince Harry’s “Heads together Campaign”. Male suicide rate has now fallen to 15 per 100,000 (from 20 in 2010).

  • Increasing education about mental health conditions and symptoms in school and universities. This enables people to spot early warning signs and seek help before it worsens.