It is a fact that we do not talk about mental illness in our society.
There is propensity to overestimate the problems that those with serious mental health issues pose to society.
An example is that The Sun had as its headline on World Mental Health Day 2013: ‘1,200 people killed by mental patients.’ Whilst it is true that 1,200 people have been murdered by those with mental illnesses over the past decade, the overall number of murders was 6,605. Indeed, the figure of murders by those with mental illnesses had fallen from 163 in 2004 to 86 in 2010.
The misconception was added to as an NHS survey discovered that one in ten people felt that ‘It is frightening to think of people with mental problems living in residential neighbourhoods.’
However, studies show that those suffering with mental illnesses are three times more likely to be victims of crime than the rest of the population. The risk that they pose is minute compared to the risk that they face.
The anxiety problems affecting approximately 300,000 children and adolescents are not being properly addressed as the one-size-fits-all approach to treating teenagers may be putting their futures at risk, according to the study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders (‘Teenage anxiety: tailored treatment needed,’ www.bbc.co.uk, 8 November 2014).
Young people are diagnosed with anxiety orders if the effects prevent them from functioning on a daily basis (such as attending school or social event). Adolescents were more likely than children to suffer from depression or low moods.
Where specialist treatment is offered, it is usually Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) that is prescribed. It is a talking treatment that assists them to understand the triggers, and encourages them to change the way they think about and behave in anxiety-inducing situations.
However, Dr Polly Waite (the lead researcher) commented: ‘We found teenagers were often receiving treatment designed for younger children who is then simply being adapted or made cooler.
‘For example, some of the pictures used on the online therapy were simply changed from teddy bears to images of grungy teenagers.’
Dr Waite continued: ‘Many teenagers therefore will be receiving treatment that does not specifically address symptoms that occur in adolescence.
‘This may mean they have poorer treatment outcomes, putting their futures at risk.
‘By targeting more effectively, we could stop teenagers developing mental health problems leading to fewer suicides and incidence of drug and alcohol problems.’
Lucie Russell of the charity YoungMinds added: ‘It is worrying but not surprising that sometimes adolescents are not able to receive specific treatment for their needs.
‘This needs to change if we want to stop the slide of many young people from children’s to adult mental health services because their problems weren’t addressed appropriately when they first started to suffer.’
The situation does not improve when the workplace is reached (‘Employer bias against mental health conditions rife, study reveals,’ People Management, 28 October 2014; ‘Mental ill-health: a hidden problem that undermines British businesses,’ People Management, 20 January 2014). In the ‘Breaking the Silence’ report by Bupa (October 2014), it was stated that a third of business leaders felt that workers with mental health issues would not return to full productivity. Indeed, some of them labelled such employees as unpredictable, weak and erratic.
However, 53 per cent of those employees regarded themselves as top performers. A fifth of them had felt under pressure to resign and a half thought that their disability had forfeited their chance of promotion.
Eighty-eight per cent of employers thought that they had a supportive culture that encouraged all to discuss mental health. By contrast, 70 per cent of members of staff did not feel comfortable talking about such issues or concerns.
The BITC Workwell research on the FTSE 100 (January 2014) found that not one of the companies reported publically on employee psychological health and only six of them revealed that staff have access to an employee assistance programme (EAP).
It is important because God has created all of us and is still involved with the inmost parts of us (Psalm 7: 9, 26: 2; Revelation 2: 23). As the consequence, we must support and encourage those who are living with mental health issues.
Regardless of age and employment status, we must not shy away from those who need our help and ensure that they get the best supported living opportunities.
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