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Together, UK Mental Health Charity working alongside each person with mental health issues on their journey towards greater wellbeing. Trusted experts in service user involvement

Six out of ten of Britons ‘find it difficult to cope mentally’

08 March 2010

  • Three in ten have worried they are 'cracking up'
  • People isolating themselves in times of distress
  • Mental health and wellbeing relevant to all
  • Care Services Minister Phil Hope comments on Together charity survey findings

Six out of ten of people (62%) in GB (71% of women) (52% of men) have had at least one time in their life where they have found it difficult to cope mentally, according to the results of an online YouGov poll released today by the mental health charity Together.

Cracking up

The research, which was commissioned by Together to launch its annual Mental Wellbeing Week (8th-14th March), an annual event which promotes better mental health for all, found that stress (70%), anxiety (59%) and depression (55%) were the three most common difficulties encountered by the public.

But an astonishing 32% stated that they have actually been worried that they were ‘cracking up’ at one point or another (37% of women) (26% of men).

Affects everyone

Liz Felton, ex-Psychiatric Nurse and Together CEO says: “This research shows that mental health and wellbeing is an issue relevant to most people, not just those with diagnosed issues. We hope the results go some way to try and reduce the ‘them and us’ mentality about the topic that can lead to stigma, and perhaps prevents some people from seeking help, or talking about what they’re going through when they need it.”

As part of Mental Wellbeing Week, people supported by the charity who have had difficulties themselves are reaching out to others by sharing the 10 top pieces of advice they’d give to others having gone though it themselves on the charity’s website, and acting as ‘Voices of Experience’ spokespeople.

Isolation

The Together research also revealed that of the respondents that did admit to experiencing difficulties, 69% had taken at one step that saw them try and isolate them from the outside world or mask how they were feeling, rather than facing up to what was happening.

30% of respondents in this category (37% women) (22% men) had cancelled plans to see friends or made less of an effort to see them at difficult times, and an astonishing (18%) of women stated that at least one point in their lives, they’d wanted to go out but felt too nervous to do so. Whereas men (23%) were more likely than women (19%) to drink more alcohol than normal when feeling low.

According to the Matthew Hyndman and Jo Smith-Kearney, Together Voices of Experience spokespeople for the week, isolating yourself from the outside world is one of the worst things that you can do if you’re having difficulty coping.

Jo Smith-Kearney, Voices of Experience spokesperson for Together says: “My advice to others is that when you are feeling low you have to force yourself to make an effort and be as disciplined as you can, ‘duvet days’ can be habit forming! You can lay in bed and rot, but you’ll regret it afterwards.”

Matthew Hyndman, Voices of Experience spokesperson for Together says: “I was bullied at University and it put me into a downward spiral to the point where most of my days were spent in the house staring at the television. I now realise this is the worst thing you can do, because the more isolated you become, the harder and more unimaginable it seems that you will ever have the courage to enter ‘normal’ life again. It was like a vicious circle, but one I broke in the end.”

Visit: www.together-uk.org for wellbeing advice.

 

Commenting on the mental health charity Together's survey findings Care Services Minister Phil Hope said:


"Other debilitating conditions like cancer or heart disease prompt sympathy and understanding. But mental health is all too often treated as taboo.

“As this survey makes clear, many of us will be affected by mental health problems at some point and that is why we are bringing forward a radical new approach which includes the national roll out of our successful talking therapies programme, NICE guidelines, new action on suicide prevention and a plan to tackle the stigma shrouding mental illness. The recently launched NHS Stressline also offers practical and emotional support for people suffering from anxiety, depression and stress."

Read samples of media coverage generated by Mental Wellbeing Week 2010.

ENDS

For more information or interview requests please contact:

Claire Monger, Senior Media and Communications Officer / Project Manager Mental Wellbeing Week 2010 at Together on: 07894 194 010 or 0207 780 7366

Or

Amanda Williamson, Communications Manager at Together on: 07889 318870 or 0207 780 7392.

Notes to Editors

  • All figures, unless otherwise stated, are from YouGov Plc. Total sample size was 2000 adults. Fieldwork was undertaken between 15th - 17th February 2010. The survey was carried out online. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all GB adults (aged 18+).
  • Together is a national charity working alongside people with mental health problems so they can lead fulfilling and independent lives. We work with over 4,000 adults with mental health issues a month, at more than 100 different projects.
  • Mental Wellbeing Week 2010 (8th-14th March), is a week promoting better mental health for all. This year we are highlighting how common it is for many people, regardless of their mental health ‘status’ or diagnosis, to have times in their life when they have difficulty coping mentally, whether that’s through stress, depression, anxiety or because of an upsetting life experience. By doing this we hope to reduce the ‘them and us’ frame of mind that can lead to people with mental health concerns encountering stigma, and perhaps prevents other people in distress from seeking help, or talking about what they’re going through. We are also focusing on the lessons that can be learnt from people who have had mental health concerns and worked through those difficult times. We hope the public will be inspired by the people we work with sharing their experiences and advice for better mental health, and take some positive steps to improve they feel emotionally, or to even share their own tips at www.together-uk.org
  • There are 9 Voices of Experience spokespeople for Mental Wellbeing Week. All of whom have experienced mental health problems themselves. For more information about our spokespeople, including their locations, please click here.
  • As part of Mental Wellbeing Week, people supported by the charity who have had difficulties themselves are reaching out to others by sharing the 10 top pieces of advice they’d give to others having gone though it themselves on the charity’s website. To view this list please click here.

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