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Mental health-Taboo subject? Not anymore Sami Glover
Sami.Glover@aspen-waite.co.uk
Throughout the last decade the subject of mental health has been prodded and poked with increasing intensity, with many people still feeling ‘uneasy’ at the topic of discussing mental health issues – either their own or other people’s. But here at Aspen Waite – no more. Let’s talk open and freely about Mental Health and the impact that it has on both our personal and professional lives. So first of all…
What is mental health? There are many definitions online, but I think a great embodiment is “a person’s condition with regard to their psychological and emotional well-being”. Many people see “mental health” as a bad thing – where in fact it actually describes all facets – not just negative ones. A person can have a positive mental health – when they feel safe, happy, supported or loved. It is this positive mental health that we all strive to have every single day, and when we cannot achieve it, we feel ‘unworthy’ and a ‘let down’ to our family and friends. What we forget to tell ourselves is that we are all human – and everyone has those same moments. It is how we are able to cope with those moments that defines how our mental health is affected.
How prevalent are mental health disorders? • Fifty percent of mental illness begins by age 14, and three-quarters begins by age 241 • One in four adults and one in 10 children experience mental illness, and many more of us know and care for people who do2
• Mixed anxiety & depression is the most common mental disorder in Britain, with 7.8% of people meeting criteria for diagnosis5 • Mixed anxiety and depression have been estimated to cause one fifth of days lost from work in Britain6
What type of mental health problems could you be diagnosed with? There is a myriad of different ‘mental health conditions’ that groups of the population have been diagnosed with. These include conditions such as anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression, eating disorders, panic attacks, OCD…. The list goes on. None of these diagnoses are anything to be ashamed of – in fact we should be embracing the diversity that comes with knowing and working with people who have these diagnoses. A lot of people talk about ‘suffering’ from a mental health disorder and it being an ‘issue’. Whilst I agree that sometimes it is very difficult to live with some of these conditions – let’s not box it up and tie it up in a neat bow – people are MORE than a word, and it’s the words that we use that sometime help to define the situation they find themselves in.
How can you help identify someone who might need help? There are many changes that you could notice which might indicate that someone is suffering from poor mental health – some are obvious and some are not! • Mood changes/dramatic shifts in emotion
• 73% of people living in the lowest household income bracket (less than £1,200 per month) reported having experienced a mental health problem during their lifetime, compared to 59% in the highest household income bracket (more than £3,701 per month)3
• Sleep and/or appetite changes
• In the UK in 2019, 6,524 people took their own lives4
• Problems with concentration or memory problems
• Change in their normal level of ‘function’ at work or socially • Withdrawal from previously enjoyed activities • Apathy and/or loneliness
