The Facts!
Quick Figures:
- It is estimated that approximately 450 million people worldwide have a mental health problem. (World Health Organisation, 2001)
- 1 in 4 people in the UK will experience some kind of mental health problem in the course of a year (The Office of National Statistics, 2001)
- Rates of mental health problems among children increase as they reach adolescence. Disorders affect 10.4% of boys aged 5-10, rising to 12.8% of boys aged 11-15, and 5.9% of girls aged 5-10, rising to 9.65% of girls aged 11-15. (National Statistics Online, 2004)
- Suicide remains the most common cause of death in men under the age of 35 in the UK. This is particularly apparent in young men between the ages of 15 and 35. (The National Service For Mental Health — Five Years On, Department Of Health, 2005)
- Mixed anxiety and depression is the most common mental disorder in Britain, with almost 9% of people meeting criteria for diagnosis. (Office of National Statistics, 2001)
- The UK has one of the highest rates of self-harm in Europe, at 400 per 100,000 population. (Clinical Medicine, 2002)
If you are experiencing mental health problems or need urgent support, there are lots of places you can go to for help. They are listed at the bottom of the page.
Depression:
We often use the expression “I’m feeling depressed” when we’re feeling sad or miserable about life. Usually, these feelings go away. But if the feelings are interfering with your life and don’t go away after a couple of weeks, or if they come back over and over again, for a few days at a time, it could be a sign that you’re depressed in the medical sense of the term.
In its mildest form, depression can mean just feeling low. It doesn’t stop you leading your normal life, but makes everything harder to do and seem less worthwhile. At its more severe, major depression (clinical depression) can be life-threatening, because it can make people suicidal or simply give up the will to live.
Depression shows itself in many different ways. People don’t always realise what’s going on because their problems seem to be physical and not mental. They tell themselves they’re simply under the weather or feeling tired. Symptoms of depression are:
- Being restless and agitated
- Not eating properly
- Lacking in self-confidence and self-esteem
- Constant negative thoughts
- Distancing yourself from others and not asking for support
- Having problems sleeping
- Feeling tired
- Difficulty in remembering things
- Physical aches and pains with no physical cause
- Using more tobacco, alcohol, or other drugs than usual
- Crying a lot
- Having a bleak viewpoint
- Experiencing a sense of unreality
- Self-harming
- Thoughts of suicide
- Feeling anxious
Self-Harm
Recent research focusing on young people suggest that 10% of 15 to 16 year olds have self-harmed, usually by cutting themselves.
Self-harm is a way of expressing very deep distress. Often, people don’t know why they self-harm. It’s a means of communicating what can’t be put into words or even into thoughts
Eating disorders:
Anyone can develop an eating disorder regardless of age, sex, cultural background, although research suggests that the people most likely to be affected are young women, particularly around 12-25 years old. However, eating disorders are also increasing amongst young men and it is not unusual for it to occur during middle age.
Art Therapy:
Here at Art is the Cure* we have first hand experience of all of the above and have used Art to concur our own personal difficulties. We want to inspire you to do the same. If you feel you need more than just inspiration and Art at this time then please contact any of the list of professional bodies below.
Art Is The Cure* is not able to provide individual or emergency support for people in crisis, but there are lots of people who can:
