Are We Dealing with the Stigma around Mental Health Issues

People fear psychological and emotional problems much more than they do physical ones. We accept that ‘whatever can go wrong, will go wrong’ with our bodies because of their complexity and because we are familiar with the signs of physical strain. But we are much less accepting of health issues related to the most complicated organ of all – the brain.

Social Pressures and Isolation from 2000 to 2007, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) measured an increase in common mental health disorders, including OCD, panic disorder, and depression with anxiety, in the adult population (ages 16-64). Part of this change could be down to increased reporting, but most people still feel uncomfortable with telling their GP about mental health problems. We tend to associate such issues as a sign of weakness, and are often afraid of the potential cost of admitting to a problem. What if you lose your job? Or the people you care about? What if you cannot afford treatment?...