Mental Health

The WellBeing Programme and the benefits of improved self-awareness

You don't need to be ill to get better
When you read these lines, thoughts about someone you know who suffers from depression may surface, maybe a programme you watched on TV, or that story you read about someone who committed suicide. It may make you feel a bit sad, compassionate even. You may be wondering if there is something you can do to make things better. However, I am writing about mental health and well-being, not illness.

The world is full of pressures, deadlines and financial problems. It is all too easy to suffer from depression, anxiety and loss of confidence. In 2006 the Government found that in the UK population, up to 1.5% were suffering with severe mental health problems, up to 4 % were suffering from severe mental illness and up to 25% were presenting with mental health problems of some kind.

Traditionally, psychology practice and research have tended to concentrate on what can go wrong with people and how this can be remedied. A lot of work has been done on things such as neuroses, addictions, depression and other disorders.

When I called Mind the other day for up to date statistics on mental health, I was astounded to find that one if four of us are likely to suffer with some sort of mental health problem in our life time.