World Mental Health Day: Dignity & First Aid for All

World Mental Health Day 2016 was on Monday 10th October and this year’s theme was : “Dignity in Mental Health – Psychological and Mental Health First Aid for All” and aims to address the stigma and discrimination experienced from those suffering mental health issues.  Visit the World Health Organisation Website for further details.

The NHS Digital analysis survey has just been published and is based on surveys carried out every 7 years.

The data shows that young women are now the highest risk group in England for mental health problems and that 1 in 5 women reported a common mental disorder such as anxiety and depression in 2014, compared with 1 in 8 men.  Young women also have high rates of self-harm, post-traumatic stress and bipolar disorders.

Mental Health Charities said the figures showed “nothing had improved”.

The NHS Digital Team note that since 2007 there has been a recession and changes in digital technology.  Whether growing up in the social-media era is linked to the increase in women aged between 16-24 experiencing mental health symptoms, is clearly worthy of further investigation.

The Health Secretary, Jeremy Hunt says the Government has introduced mental health waiting times and is making an NHS plan to revolutionise mental health care but the suspicion that the increase in funding for Children and Adolescent Mental Health Services of £250,0000  has not materialised in full.

While progress has been made, the ultimate goal of full parity of esteem between mental and physical health services has not yet been achieved.

We have the largest Mental Health Team in the North East, contact our team now if you need specialist advice 0191 232 9547.