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News |Mental health


downsmail.co.uk Young face rising anxiety THE crisis ofmental health in people of all ages is rarely out of the news. In a special report, Neil


Nixon examines the problems, challenges the establishedwisdomand talks to those affected... OVERthepast 20 years,Britainhas experienced a growth in reported mental health problems. Each person’s problem is unique


to them, but reports and investiga- tions have established a series of causes, all of which appear to have contributed to the current national crisis. There is no shortage of research


and statistical information on the range of problems, and the overall picture suggests one of increased levels of mental health problems across thewhole population. The average life expectancy in the


UK has continued to rise in recent years, although a 2018 report sug- gested this has almost levelled off, caused mainly by earlier deaths in poorer areas. This still leaves the numbers of


those living much longer at an all- time high. In 2014, the Office for National


Statistics reportedthat 13,780people who had reached the age of 100 were alive in 2013 –more than four times the figure for 1983.


general economic recession and un- employment on the rate of suicides and people considering suicide.” More recent studies have con-


firmedthose observations andhigh- lighted the role played by the resulting austeritymeasures andso- cial media in contributing to the growing issues. Late in 2015, The New Statesman


Age-related mental health condi-


tions – notably dementia – have placed amassive strain on theNHS, local surgeries andcare homes,with a surge in demand on the time of medical staff and the prescribing of relatedmedication. The NHS predicted demand


caused by the ageing population, but not the spiralling increase in problems amongst the rest of the population. A number of causes have been


identified, including the financial crash of 2008 which raised levels of


stress and anxiety. It also caused a range of otherproblems – notably in terms of the knock-on effect on young children at the time who are today’s teenagers andyoung adults. A 2008 British Medical Journal


study reported that 45% of people who are in debt havemental health problems, comparedwith only 14% of thosewho are not in debt. It added: “The effects of [an eco-


nomic] downturn affect the mental health not only of some adults but also of their children…Numerous studies have also shown the effect of


revealed that UK suicides were ris- ing, particularly for men aged be- tween 45 and 59. Amongst the young, socialmedia


is reported as amajor factor behind episodes of anxiety, depression and self-harm. Young people’s charity Ditch The


Label reported in 2017 that 71% of young people felt socialmedia plat- forms did not do enough to prevent cyber-bullying. Concerns also exist about algo-


rithms within platforms that re- spond to user behaviour and work to keep people engaged. Digital de- vices are blamedfordisruptedsleep patterns,whichcanincrease anxiety.


I found help and career NowI’mback tome


KELLY Lee (31) works forMaid- stone and Mid-Kent Mind –a choice thathasbeencentral toher own recovery. She said: “I have sufferedwith


mental ill-health from a young age. Diagnoses such as anxiety, depression, obsessive-compul- sive disorder and bi-polar led four years ago to a diagnosis of a borderline personality disorder. “I had feelings of high anxiety.


At times I couldn’t leave the house,mymoods fluctuatedfrom deeply depressed to really high. “I suffered with paranoia and


impulsive behaviours – they are part of the disorder. “Iwould burn out quickly and


suffered from suicidal thoughts. In 2015 Imade an attempt onmy ownlife. Inowsee thatmy symp- tomswerenot failingsbutpart of my illness,not reasons for shame. “I voluntarilywent into a psy-


chiatric hospital to get my med- ication sorted and have support while I was understanding my newdiagnosis. “Later, I sought further support


andthat ledme toMaidstone and Mid KentMind. I was so thank- ful to themthat I wanted to help


26 Malling October 2018


where I could. Fundraising and volunteering intheirbefriending service helped me continue my recovery.” “Three years later, I work for


MMKMind. The courseswe run havehelpedme immensely, andI can look forward to the future. My children have helped raise money formental health support and understand it’s not some- thing to be ashamed about. “I aim to build my career


within mental health and con- tinue to help people withMMK Mind. I want to become a CBT practitioner, and I am lucky that there are opportunities within Mind to build on skills.”


PENELOPE (25), of Fant, feels her recovery really startedwith the correct diagnosis. She said: “I have always felt ‘different’, struggling to copewith emotions.


Thisworsenedwithmy parents’ divorcewhen Iwas nine. “Constant arguments taughtme that screaming andshoutingwas a nor-


malmethod of communication. Soon Iwas out of control, and self-harm- ing from12. I became increasingly violent in a bid to stop this behaviour. “Sleeping pills and therapy didn’t solve the problemand inmy teenage


years I hoped to end it all through taking pills. I ended up inA&Emental health services. “I was banned from


classes to the point whre I had to move school. I was regularly drunk at weekends. “In the end, I moved


out before I was thrown out, which led to more drinking and a terrible co-dependent relation- ship. I got into a fight so bad I was arrested and foundmyself in a young person’s psychiatric unit. I justwanted to die. “I planned to get out of there and killmyself onmy 18th birthday. “Thankfully, Imetmy husbandtwoweeks after I got out.At 19, Iwasde-


pressed again andwent tomyGP. She really helped, gettingme tested for ADHD. “I was told I should have been diagnosed at 10, having shown classic


signs.Iwasmedicated until last year,when I started coming offmy pills. “I had a dip about twomonths ago. Itwas horrid to be in that situation,


butmyGPwas amazing. I amnowback on some ofmy pills, but feel like I amback tome.”


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