Mental health problems and their prevalence

Mental health problems and their prevalence
People with mental health problems can be divided into three broad groups:
1. At any one time, one-sixth of the working age population of Great Britain
experience symptoms associated with mental ill health such as sleep problems,
fatigue, irritability and worry that do not meet criteria for a diagnosis of a mental
disorder but which can affect a person’s ability to function adequately (Office for
National Statistics, 2001).
2. A further one-sixth of the working age population have symptoms that by
virtue of their nature, severity and duration do meet diagnostic criteria (Office
for National Statistics, 2001). These common mental disorders would be treated
should they come to the attention of a healthcare professional. The commonest
of these disorders are depression, anxiety or a mix of the two.
3. The most recent national survey found that about 0.5% of the population
has a probable psychotic illness (Office for National Statistics, 2001) and the
generally accepted estimate is that between 1% and 2% of the population will
have a severe mental illness, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or severe
depression, which requires more intensive, and often continuing, treatment and
care during their lifetime (Wing, 1994).
Although as a group those with a severe mental illness are more disabled than
those with a common mental disorder, there is no clear cut relationship between
diagnosis and disability at the individual level. A person with an anxiety disorder
can be housebound and require intensive support from a carer whereas a person
with schizophrenia can lead a normal life in all respects other than the subjective
experience of their symptoms.
There was little change between 1993 and 2000 in the proportion of the population of working age that has mental health problems (Office for National Statistics, 2001). We will not know whether it has increased since then until the results of the survey undertaken in 2007 is published.