Emotional Wellbeing

These are difficult times and the economic and social costs of mental ill health are considerable. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), by 2020, depression alone will be the second biggest contributor to the total disease burden.

In addition to this, we must consider the cost of people, who while perhaps not clinically ill, are not able to fully contribute to life, family, community and work to the best of their ability. Moreover, it is now well accepted that, due to a broad range of factors, some individuals and groups face tougher life journeys than others; people, who have fewer inner resources are less able to stand up to setbacks and stress. For many people too, the financial and emotional support that can be derived from jobs, family and friends is unavailable. People who are unemployed, living in poverty or experiencing life as an outsider – people who are treated differently in terms of race, religion, sexuality, disability – can face exclusion from things that the majority of us take for granted and face an increased vulnerability to emotional distress and ill health.

It is therefore not surprising that emotional wellbeing problems are exacerbated within areas of severe social deprivation, such as the South Belfast Highway to Health target areas. There is not enough research to fully understand to how much greater the problem of poor mental health is within the target areas, but it can be assumed with confidence it is a significant one, with high unemployment levels, high levels of poverty and the effects of the NI conflict still rife in the area.

Below are links to census information on each of South Belfast Highway to Health’s target areas

• Lower Ormeau (Botanic Ward SOA 5) click here
• Sandy Row (Shaftsbury Ward SOA 2) click here
• Donegall Pass (Shaftsbury Ward SOA 2) click here
• The Markets (Shaftsbury Ward SOA 1) click here
• The Village (Blackstaff Ward) click here

UIseful Links

www.wellnet-ni.com
www.mindingyourhead.info
www.rethink.org
www.healthpromotionagency.org.uk
www.aware-ni.org
www.niamh.co.uk