Mental Health
It is estimated that as many as 1 in 6, at any point in time suffer from a diagnosed condition such as depression and anxiety. Between 10-20% of Northern Irish teenagers suffer from depression at some time. The trend for self-harm and suicide is high, especially amongst young men (150 deaths per year and approximately 4,000 hospital admissions due to self-harm). Depression is particularly common, often dubbed the ‘Common Cold’ of psychiatry.
The world Health Organisation have estimated that by 2020 depression will be the second leading cause of disease (after heart disease). There is an increasing focus on fostering positive mental health and well-being. A regional strategy “Promoting Mental Health” Strategy and Action Plan 2003-2008 has been developed and action is being implemented. There is also currently a major review of Mental Health and Learning Disability underway in Northern Ireland.
Special working committees are looking at issues such as:
- Mental Health Legislation and Policy
- Children and Adolescents mental health
- Learning Disability
- Mental Health Promotion
- Primary Care
Limited resources is a major issue. It is estimated that there is a shortfall in community investment in mental health of £26 million. Mental health tends to be the ‘Cinderella’ of the health services.
How to tackle the stigma?
Education helps. Increasing people’s awareness of mental health issues, especially given that anyone can experience such difficulty at some time in their life Mental Health problems can be harder to understand than physical problems. They are in a sense invisible. People can sympathise with a broken leg, but find depression harder to understand if they haven’t experienced it themselves. Educating the young and helping young people build resilience in coping with adversity is another way of fighting mental health. Mental health in the workplace has been a developing area over the past few years and we are begining to talk about mental health more openly.
What can help an individual?
Medication can be helpful as part of a range of treatment, but approach should be holistic eg
- Alternative therapies such as reflexology, aromatherapy and yoga have been found by many to be beneficial
- Relaxation is important, whether structured or informal
- Exercise, even moderate, has been shown to reduce tension and improve mood.
- Creativity has been linked particularly with good mental health.
- Being aware of one’s own emotions helps, ie – emotional intelligence and being able to manage difficult emotions such as anger.
- Meaningful and interesting activity is useful – interests other than work and family alone ie hobbies etc
- Trying to have a work- home balance is useful
- Learning from experience and allowing oneself to make mistakes is important – not being a perfectionist having realistic standards.
Again, problems such as poor mental health are only 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 proplem of poor mental health is within the target areas, but it can be assumed with confidence it is a significant one.
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 Websites
www.mindingyourhead.info
www.rethink.org
www.healthpromotionagency.org.uk
www.aware-ni.org
www.niamh.co.uk
