This Mental Health Awareness Week, NHS Milton Keynes Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is looking at mental health from a new angle.
1 in 4 people in the UK will experience a mental health problem at some point in their lives. This Mental Health Awareness Week, 8-14 May 2017, NHS Milton Keynes Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) is going to be looking at mental health from a new angle.
In 2013 there were 6,233 mental health related suicides recorded in the UK for people aged 15 or older. Of these, 78% were male and 22% were female. There are strong links between physical and mental health problems. Research has found that 30% of people with a long-term physical health problem also have a mental health problem and 46% of people with a mental health problem also had a long-term physical health problem.
Mental health services in the UK are overstretched, have long waiting times and, in some regions, lack specialist services. Mental health research receives only 5.5% (£115million) of total UK health research spending. In the UK, the estimated costs of mental health problems are £70-100 billion each year.
Dr Nicola Smith, Local GP and Chair of NHS Milton Keynes CCG, said:
“Milton Keynes currently provides Improved Access to Psycological Therapies through our “Talk for Change” service who receive some 6000 referrals per year. This represents a 15% access rate for the estimated prevalence of 26,724 people who will experience a common mental health problem.
“During Mental Health Awareness Week, rather than ask why so many people are living with mental health problems, it is important to uncover why too few of us are thriving with good mental health. With people struggling to cope with the demands of life and stuck on getting through the day, we hope to explore how many people are surviving or thriving with a mental health problem and what steps we can take to look after our mental health, building resilience to cope with the demands of life.
“If you’re suffering from stress, anxiety or depression, or just the normal emotional ups and downs with life, rest assured you are not alone. There are plenty of resources and services available including NHS Choices Moodzone which offers practical advice, interactive tools, videos and audio guides to help you feel mentally and emotionally better.”
Derys Pragnell, Head of Public Health, Milton Keynes Council, said:
“Milton Keynes Council, with support from intu and the local 5 Ways to Wellbeing partnership has launched a week long exhibition of residents’ photographs as part of the finale to its ‘5 Ways to Wellbeing’ campaign at intu this week (8-14 May), The ‘Take Notice’ competition showcases the positive impact that slowing down and taking notice of your surroundings can have on your mental health.
The 5 Ways to Wellbeing MK initiative aims to prompt people to build 5 practical, straightforward steps into their daily life which are evidenced to improve feelings of wellbeing, may ward off anxiety and depression and could lead to them living 7.5 years longer.
To find out more about how to Take Notice and 5 Ways to Wellbeing MK, including information on the competition mentioned above, and more, visit www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/5waysmk”
Rehab 4 Alcoholism is a helpline for people experiencing addiction. This helpline aims to stop addiction before it becomes too late. For more details please visit their website or call 0800 111 4108
For more information on how to get involved in this year’s Mental Health Awareness Week, visit https://www.mentalhealth.org.uk/campaigns/mental-health-awareness-week?gclid=CKLSi7ThntMCFcy87QodfuIF3g
