Quarter of adults have mental health condition

A new survey has shown that mental health is something that will impact a large number of people across the UK.

According to the survey released by the government's Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC), more than a quarter of adults (26 per cent) will experience some form of mental illness in their lifetime and need mental health care. 

Depression was the most common form of illness, with nearly a fifth (19 per cent) of all respondents saying they had been diagnosed with the condition.

The research, which asked 5,000 adults, found that women were more likely to have depression than men. In fact, in nearly all categories, females were found to be more susceptible to mental health problems than males.

Three per cent of men said they had self-harmed, compared to five per cent of women, while four per cent of males and seven per cent of females had reported making a suicide attempt, the analysis found.

Out of all of those who had been diagnosed with a common mental disorder, half had experienced the condition in the past year, indicating that mental health is a problem that is currently affecting a large number of people.

Rachel Craig, from the National Centre for Social Research, which conducted the study, said the survey "leaves us in no doubt as to the prevalence of mental ill health in England".

However, although the condition affects so many people, prejudice against people with a mental illness still exists and there is still some resistance to allowing them to get the care they need.

Ms Craig said: "Men are more likely to hold prejudiced and less tolerant views than women. But there is evidence that if you know someone with a mental illness you are less likely to hold negative views."

The survey makes an important distinction between common and serious mental health disorders, with common ones being defined as conditions like anxiety and phobias, while bipolar, eating disorders and schizophrenia were regarded as serious conditions.

Read about support and personalised care at Barchester care homes for anyone with mental health concerns.