About Mental Health

How many people experience mental illness?
Nationally, one in four people are likely to have a mental health problem in the course of a year. The population estimate for Surrey is 1.1million with 681,000 adults of working age. More than 80,000 people of working age, in the County, have mental health needs. Out of Guildford and Waverley’s 164,258 population of adults, it is estimated that 14,432 people suffer mixed depression and anxiety. Some people do recover, they respond well to treatment and medication without too much damage to their emotional, social and working life. Oakleaf exists to help people who are less fortunate and find their road to recovery more difficult to achieve. Finding and keeping a job is an important aspect of the recovery process.

Facts and figures
• Mental illness is misunderstood and receives negative or sensational media coverage
• People with mental health problems are more likely to be victims than perpetrators of violence – but stigma and discrimination attached to their condition prevails
• Depression and anxiety can affect up to one in six of the population
• People with mental health problems are three times more likely to be in debt. They have the lowest employment rate for any of the main groups of disabled people
• Low self esteem, stigma and lack of confidence are the main barriers to re-employment
• Many mental health sufferers want to work but only 24% actually enter the labour market
• Less than four in ten employers are willing to recruit someone with a psychiatric disability
• People with severe mental health problems are three times more likely to be divorced
• In some cases, social isolation as a result of long term unemployment can lead to suicide

Recognising Mental Health Distress
Mental health problems can present in a wide variety of ways, depending upon the individual and circumstances. It is difficult to define what is 'normal', other than to use an individual's usual behaviour as a point of comparison. Changes in people's mood and personality can provide important indicators as to how they are feeling. Unusual mood swings or social withdrawal might, for example, provide some indication that the person is experiencing some degree of emotional distress. The information below describes the differing types of mental illness and provides links to other sources of information.

Anxiety
Anxiety can be described as an overwhelming feeling of discomfort or unease. At the same time as feeling anxious people may also experience physical changes such as sweating, a racing heart, palpitations or rapid breathing. Although anxiety can be unpleasant, it rarely lasts for long. Most people cope with the condition by learning to understand their particular anxiety so they can develop more control over it in the future.

Bi-polar affective disorder – also known as manic depression
Bi-polar affective disorder is a serious mental health problem involving extreme swings of mood (highs - mania and lows - depression). Someone experiencing mania may not recognise it is happening. Incoherent, rapid or disjointed thinking or being easily distracted are common features of an episode of mania. Other symptoms may include paranoia and hallucinations affecting vision, hearing or perception. Grandiose delusions or ideas can occur where a sense of identity and self has been distorted by the illness.

Men and women, of any age from adolescence onwards and from any social or ethnic background, can develop bi-polar disorder. It often first occurs when work, study, family or emotional pressures are at their greatest. In women it can also be triggered by childbirth or during the menopause. The illness occurs in phases. It is possible to remain well for long periods without experiencing another bi-polar episode. Typically the key to coping with manic depression is an early diagnosis and acceptance of the condition.

Deliberate Self- Harm
Deliberate self-harm is the intent of an individual to cause physical injury to themselves. The usual reason for self harm seems to be the need to seek relief from unbearable emotional distress. Some healthcare practitioners think of self-harm simply as behaviour, resulting from other difficulties. However, others suggest that it is a psychiatric disorder involving problems with perception, thought, emotions and/or behaviour. Many people who self-harm have signs of other psychiatric disorders such as depression or personality disorder.

Depression
Depression describes a range of moods which affect an individual's ability to cope with everyday living. It is more than being 'moody', it saps energy and self-esteem and will affect one in five of us during our lifetime. Depression can affect anyone of any age, class, race or background. Most people who have a diagnosis of manic depression will experience a severe depression at some time. Usually this will follow an episode of mania where the trauma of the manic episode can sometimes compound the depression. For some people depression will be more likely to occur in the winter months. Symptoms commonly experienced include: a feeling of emptiness or worthlessness, loss of energy and motivation for many (or all) everyday activities, pessimism and negativity about most things. Thoughts of death and suicide can be common but may be hard to discuss.

Eating Disorders
Eating disorders - either eating too much or too little - occur when people use food as a way of dealing with personal difficulties. In a world where expectations of personal achievement run high but outcomes are influenced by so many factors beyond individual control, the one thing a person can control is their own body. Research has shown that some people are genetically susceptible to developing an eating disorder which is then triggered by external life events, often as a result personal or family trauma in childhood such as physical and or sexual abuse. Anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa and compulsive over-eating are the main eating disorders.

Hypomania
Someone who is experiencing hypomania may seem very self-confident and euphoric but may react with sudden anger, impatience or become irritable, sometimes for the slightest reason. S/he may have more ideas than usual, be unusually busy, work too much or be very creative, but not be able to focus on anything for long or switch off and relax. S/he may become more reckless than usual, which might mean errors of judgement at work or in relationships, or be more talkative or challenging with people.

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is the term used to describe an anxiety disorder affecting a person, who has a compulsion to carry out physical rituals or actions. People who have this disorder suffer from acute anxiety and obsessive thought patterns. They believe that their anxiety can only be relieved by performing the same tasks or rituals over and over again.

Personality Disorder
When someone is described as having a 'personality disorder' the term implies that their personal characteristics cause regular and long-term problems in the way the individual copes with life and interacts with other people. The causes are not fully understood but two main factors involved seem to be: 1) experience in early childhood such as when a child is consistently deprived of affection or bullied; and 2) some personality traits seem to be inherited. There are about ten categories of personality disorder ranging from anti-social to borderline to obsessive.

Psychosis
The term psychosis is used to indicate certain characteristics of a psychiatric illness. A doctor may use the term to describe someone who can’t distinguish their own intense thoughts, ideas, perceptions and imaginings from reality. Forms of psychotic behaviour include: hallucinations; delusions; paranoia; mania and catatonia.

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
Experiencing a traumatic event will often trigger strong emotional or physical reactions even though the event will be over. It is quite common and perfectly normal for a person to experience stress reactions when they have passed through a horrible ordeal. Professional help is sought when symptoms persist.

Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
SAD is characterised by repeated bouts of depression prompted by a lack of sunlight in the dark months of winter. Sunlight entering the eye acts as a stimulus for nerve impulses to the part of the brain which controls mood, appetite, sleep, sex drive and temperature. Less light entering the eye is believed to affect the functioning of activity in this area of the brain. An estimated one in a hundred of the British population suffers from SAD.

Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is not, as many people believe a split personality. When someone becomes unwell, they are likely to show drastic changes in their behaviour. They may be upset, anxious, confused and suspicious of other people, particularly anyone who doesn't agree with their perceptions. They may be reluctant to believe they need help. Doctors will look for various 'positive' symptoms (strange thinking, hallucinations and delusions) and 'negative' symptoms (apathy, emotional flatness, inability to concentrate, wanting to avoid people or to be protected).

The human mind has been described as being like an orchestra. The mind's separate functions - thought, sensation, memory, emotions and so on - can be thought of as the orchestra’s instruments. Normally these functions are integrated - they play in harmony. What seems to happen in schizophrenia is that this integration is somehow disrupted or 'split'. It is as if the various instruments are playing different tunes producing an indescribable and painful jangling – the result for the mind is schizophrenia. For people with the illness, it results in their being unable to trust their sensations and experiences and, by extension, the behaviour of those around them.

If you wish to find out about treatment, medication or other mental health services, the following mental health links should be useful:

Contact, a mental health directory (2005) http://www.dh.gov.uk/assetRoot/04/10/88/08/04108808.pdf

Department of Health
Policy and useful links
http://www.dh.gov.uk/PolicyAndGuidance/HealthAndSocialCareTopics/MentalHealth/fs/en

Depression Alliance
E-mail: information@depressionalliance.org
Website: www.depressionalliance.org

First Steps to Freedom
E-mail: info@first-steps.org
Website: www.first-steps.org
A confidential helpline for people suffering from general anxiety, panic attacks, phobias, obsessive compulsive disorder, anorexia and bulimia, and their carers. Offers counselling, listening, advice, support and information.

Maudsley Hospital
An information site primarily for family and friends. Lots of useful jargon-free information
www.mentalhealthcare.org.uk

Mental Health Foundation (MHF)
E-mail: mhf@mentalhealth.org.uk
Website: www.mentalhealth.org.uk
Researches mental health issues and produces information sheets and other publications.

Mental Health Helplines Partnership Project
www.helplines.org.uk/MH_members.htm
The Telephone Helplines Association's website lists a number of different mental health telephone services.

MIND Website
www.mind.org.uk
Campaigns for better mental health services in England and Wales, Publishes a range of helpful books and leaflets.

NHS Direct
0845 4647
NHS Direct offer people in England and Wales medical information and advice by phone or over the internet. They can also refer callers to various self help and support organisations.

National Institute for Mental Health in England
www.nimhe.csip.org.uk
NIMHE is responsible for supporting the implementation of positive change in mental health and mental health services.

National Institute for Clinical Excellence
www.nice.org.uk
Responsible for the production of clinical guidelines and treatments including medication

National Personality Disorder website
www.personalitydisorder.org.uk

National Phobics Society
www.phobics-society.org.uk
Helpline: 0870 122 2325 - Monday to Friday 9.15-9pm

National Self Harm Network
www.nshn.co.uk

One in one hundred
www.oneinonehundred.co.uk
Website, produced by pharmaceutical company, Janssen-Cilag, giving information and resources for people with a diagnosis of schizophrenia and their friends and family, including a comprehensive list of support groups around the country.

Rethink
E-mail: advice@rethink.org
Websites: www.rethink.org or www.rethink.org/at-ease (for young people)
Dedicated to improving the lives of anyone affected by severe mental illness, by providing information, advice and advocacy services, raising awareness of mental health issues, and challenging the attitudes that create stigma.

The Samaritans
Tel: 08457 90 90 90 (24-hour helpline)
E-mail: jo@samaritans.org
Website: www.samaritans.org.uk
Confidential counselling for anyone with emotional problems. Phone, e-mail or call in at your local branch (the address will be in your local telephone directory).

SANE
www.sane.org.uk saneline: 0845 767 8000
Provides information, advice and support for people affected by a severe mental health problem, their friends and relatives.

Shift – a Government national anti stigma campaign
www.shift.org.uk

Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health
Information and research
www.scmh.org

Young Minds
E-mail: young.minds@ukonline.co.uk
Promotes the mental health of children, young people and their families. Parents and medical professionals (not young people themselves) can get in touch for support and information about local services and who to contact. Useful resource sheets and booklets available.