Mental health problems 'still being ignored'

Mental health problems are still being ignored in the UK, leading to many people not receiving the treatment they need, one expert has suggested.

Lucie Russell, director of campaigns at YoungMinds, a national charity committed to improving the mental health and emotional wellbeing of all children and young people, said that mental health problems are still "the elephant in the room".

Her comments come after a new report published by mental health charity Together showed that six out of ten people in Great Britain, including 71 per cent of women and 52 per cent of men, have had at least one time in their life where they have found it difficult to cope mentally.

Stress, anxiety and depression were the three most common difficulties encountered by the public, while 32 per cent stated that they have actually been worried that they were 'cracking up' at one point.

Ms Russell said it is essential that there is more understanding about the problem so that people can be treated and those who need support receive it.

"As the report shows six in ten of us have faced mental problems but we are still ashamed to admit we are finding it hard to cope or are unhappy," she explained.

The expert added that, as women are more likely to feel depressed than men, with 80 per cent saying they regularly or occasionally feel depressed, it is time to "get the message across".

"It's about time we realised that providing support to children and young people and helping them to talk about their feelings is vital in the creation of the healthy communities of the future," Ms Russell explained.

Posted by James McCann

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