What is mental health?

 

One in every four people in the UK has a mental health problem, with one in 100 people having a severe or serious condition. The NHS estimates that every year around 250,000 people will be admitted to a psychiatric hospital and around 4,000 people will commit suicide.

Receiving the right support can aid recovery, improve symptoms or help with developing coping techniques for people with mental health problems no matter how severe. To find out more about the support options Craegmoor provides visit our mental health services page.

Mental health is a broad term used to describe how we think, feel and behave. Every year, one in four people in the UK will have a mental health problem which will affect how they feel about and react to certain situations.

There are lots of different mental health problems which affect people in very different ways, some of the most common include:

  • Depression
  • Bi-polar (sometimes referred to as manic depression)
  • Schizophrenia
  • Personality disorders
  • Anxiety
  • Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
  • Phobias

For more information about these conditions visit our mental health problems page.

Mental health problems are often misrepresented and therefore misunderstood which can lead to individuals with mental health problems facing discrimination. Campaigns like Time to Change aim to end mental health discrimination; Time to Change encourages celebrities and members of the public to speak out about their experiences demonstrating that individuals can live full and productive lives and in some cases recover completely.

What causes mental health problems?

A number of factors can cause mental health problems; they can develop after a traumatic event such as the loss of a loved one or may affect people who have stressful jobs or live in difficult conditions. Mental health problems have also been linked to genetics and to certain vitamin and mineral deficiencies.

Rethink is an organisation designed to give a voice to people affected by mental health problems and divides the causes into four types:

  • Physical e.g genetics, diet, accidents such as head injuries
  • Social e.g work, home life, friends and family
  • Environmental e.g living in an area with high crime rates
  • Psychological e.g traumatic or significant events

Who can be affected?

Anyone can be affected by mental health problems. Certain groups are more likely to be at risk; such as people with learning or physical disabilities or homeless people, but any person can develop mental health problems at any stage in their lives.

How do you treat mental health problems?

There are many types of treatment available for people with mental health problems, some of the most common are medication, counselling and psychotherapy.

The most suitable treatment is determined by the individual and their situation; GPs will be able to advise individuals about their options or they can discuss any issues with a support group or charity, such as Mind which runs over 180 local Mind associations.

Counselling is sometimes referred to as a talking therapy and can be used to treat a number of different conditions. It aims to help people discuss their problems and deal with any issues that are affecting their lives. Counselling is available through the NHS if referred by a GP; however, individuals can opt to receive counselling privately without a referral. When seeking private treatment it is always advisable to consult a professional body such as the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy before booking a counsellor.

Another common talking therapy is Cognitive Behaviour Therapy or CBT. CBT aims to change people’s attitudes to their behaviour and therefore support them to manage any problems in a more effective way. By focusing on how thoughts and feelings affect the way they behave, with their therapist an individual can work to develop a more positive strategy for coping with issues. CBT is very effective for people with depression or anxiety disorders.

Psychotherapy can involve talking to a trained therapist but sometimes other methods prove to be more effective. Other forms of psychotherapy include art, music or drama therapy. By using other forms of communication these types of psychotherapy can be very effective for individuals who are unable or not confident expressing themselves verbally.

Craegmoor services are committed to providing support in the most suitable way for the individual with Multi-disciplinary teams on hand to support nursing staff. These teams can include psychiatrists, psychologists, occupational therapists, educational and vocational service coordinators, art and music therapists and others dependent on the needs of the service.

Can you get better?

Yes, some people recover completely, however, others may relapse occasionally and some may not recover. It is important to remember that it is possible to recover from all forms of mental health problem.

For those who do not recover completely it is still possible to improve their quality of life significantly. At Craegmoor we aim to celebrate every achievement made by the individuals we support no matter how large or small, as each step brings them closer to achieving better mental health. Three of the people we support in Lincolnshire created a magazine ‘New Life’ about their achievements; they decided to write about their successes as they hoped to inspire others to recognise that even the smallest steps can eventually lead to the biggest life changes.

What to do if you think you or a loved one may have mental health problems

The first step is to talk to your GP about the situation, they will be able to refer you to the correct form of treatment or reassure you if you or your family member does not require referring (if you feel like your GP has made the wrong decision you can always ask for a second opinion).

As well as charities and organisations such as Mind and Rethink who can offer advice and support, there are a number of online forums and blogs where individuals and family members can speak to or read about the experiences of others who are in the same situation. We recommend Time to Change’s ‘Join the Conversation’ section which combines blogs, forums and real life stories from members of the public and celebrities such as Ruby Wax, Stephen Fry and Patsy Palmer. The NHS also has a number of blogs and videos about mental health problems.

Conclusion

Mental health problems can affect any person at any time; however, there is a lot of support and advice available for individuals and their families. Charities such as Mind, Rethink and SANE all aim to remove the stigma from mental health and support people to understand mental health problems.

If you are concerned that you or a loved one may need regular or long term support either in a residential setting or in your own home you can contact us on 0845 2 774679 or fill in our enquiry form for more information.