frequently asked questions

How many people experience mental health problems in the UK?

1 in every 4 of us will experience a mental health problem at some point in their life. Problems like stress and depression are very common; these conditions can be triggered by stressful life events like exams or family problems.

Is there a treatment for every type of mental illness?

There are lots of treatments available for mental illness, including talking therapies and medication which help people make a full recovery.

Do more women have mental health problems than men?

While there is little difference in the numbers of men and women with mental health problems, there are big differences in the number of men and women diagnosed with different mental health problems.

Depression is twice as common in women than men - this can be linked to social and cultural factors, like how women are treated in the workplace and at home, and differences in help-seeking behaviour.

More men are diagnosed with alcohol dependency than women, and are more likely to commit suicide. This can also be linked to differences in relation to gender.

Are people who are mentally ill more likely to be violent?

People experiencing mental illness are no more violent than people who are not experiencing mental illness.

There is a common misconception that people with schizophrenia are dangerous but this is simply not true. In fact, people experiencing mental health problems are more likely to be the victims of physical and verbal abuse due to stigma and discrimination. 49% of people with mental health problems have been harassed or attacked.

Do people who claim they are depressed just need to "pull themselves together?"

Like any physical illness, like a cold or flu, a person with depression will experience various symptoms. These can include decreased energy, lack of motivation and changes in sleeping patterns. Someone with depression can also feel very negative and find it difficult to care about anything.

Depression affects many people in the UK, and the number of people being diagnosed is increasing. The World Health Organisation predicts that by 2020, depression will be the second largest cause of suffering in the world, second only to heart disease.