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How common are mental health problems?
Approximately 1 in 4 people in the UK will experience a mental health problem each year.
In England, 1 in 6 people report experiencing a common mental health problem (such as anxiety and depression) in any given week.
How common are specific problems?
- Generalised anxiety disorder - 5.9 in 100 people
- Depression - 3.3 in 100 people
- Phobias - 2.4 in 100 people
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) - 1.3 in 100 people
- Panic disorder - 0.5 in 100 people
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) - 4.4 in 100 people
- Mixed anxiety and depression - 7.8 in 100 people
The survey also measures the number of people who have self-harmed, had suicidal thoughts or have made suicidal attempts over their lifetime:
- Suicidal thoughts - 20.5 in 100 people
- Suicide attempts - 6.7 in 100 people
- Self-harm - 7.3 in 100 people
During 2003–2013 in England, 13,972 deaths (28 per cent of general population suicides) were identified as patient suicides, i.e. where the person concerned had been in contact with mental health services in the 12 months prior to their death. This represents an average of 1,270 patient suicides per year over the period.
How accessible is treatment?
Reports from both England and Wales suggest that approximately 1 in 8 adults with mental health problems are currently receiving treatment. Medication is reported as the most common type of treatment for mental health problems.
Ask yourself, if your finger stopped working as it should would you do something about it?
That answer is probably yes, so why when the most important organ in our bodies isn't working as it should, we hide away and be afraid to seek help?