Eleanor Service |
In Scotland today, mental illness is one of the foremost health challenges faced. It is estimated that more than one in three people are affected by a mental health issue every year. The most common mental health problems are depression and anxiety.
Poverty Influences Mental Illness
How poverty stricken an area is has a direct correlation with its rate of mental illness. The more deprived the area, the higher the rate of mental illness. People living in the most deprived areas are more than three times as likely to spend time in hospital because of mental illness as those living in the less deprived areas.
The suicide rate is also more than three times higher in the most deprived area compared to the least.
Employment is beneficial to mental health. Despite the majority of people with mental health problems being employed, in general people enjoy better mental health when they have a job, compared to when they are unemployed.
Each Gender is Different
In 2010/11 double the amount of women than men went to their GP because of anxiety or depression, but the suicide rate for men is three times higher than it is for women.
Although, men and women are hospitalised because of mental illness in equal numbers, it is more likely for men to be admitted because of schizophrenia and conditions related to substance abuse.
Women are more likely to suffer from a personality disorder or mood disorders.
Use of Antidepressants
About 12% of Scottish people take antidepressants on a daily basis, whereas the other major drugs for mental health are used by only 1-3% of the population.
Stigma is Decreasing
In 2009, 58% of people who had suffered a mental health issue had experienced discrimination or stigma at some point in the previous 5 years.
In 2007, this statistic was 82%, which shows how much the stigma went down in just two years.
Suicide Rates are Going Down
The number of suicides was at its peak between 1992 and 2002, but since then they have been decreasing. The most recent figures for 2014 indicate the lowest number of suicides since 1977. In 2010, however, the suicide rate in Scotland was much higher than the rates in England and Wales.
For the men it was 73% higher, but for the women it was almost double. Some of this difference may be due to the way statistics are gathered.
Numbers are Increasing
Stigma may be decreasing, but the number of people being given treatment for mental health problems is rising.
This is thought to be because more people are accessing treatment as people are understanding mental health better, not because more people have mental illnesses.
However, our aging population as lead to an increasing number of people suffering from dementia.
More people are being treated at home, as more care in the community strategies are being put in place, and since 1998 the amount of people psychiatric hospitals has dropped by at least a third.
Lengthy Waits
Some people seeking treatment wait a long time for specialist care.
Last year, new targets were set to reduce long waits to see a specialist, unfortunately though, the NHS have been unable to meet these targets.
Within 18 weeks, 81% of people saw a psychiatrist, but the target set was 90%. This target was also set for children to see specialists, but only 73% saw one within 18 weeks.
It must be noted however that the NHS has only been recording waiting times since, 2012, before then we don’t know how long people were waiting.
Going Forward
As Scotland moves forward, many targets and strategies are being set to try and improve the treatment of mentally ill patients, and to see they are being given the help they need. Going forward it is hoped that people needing help are given it swiftly and appropriately, and they do not feel discriminated against in any way for whatever problem they are suffering from. It will go a long way in helping to fix one of the biggest health challenges Scotland faces.
