LSE label mental health as most glaring case of health inequality in the UK

Only a quarter of people with mental health problems receive any treatment, despite it accounting for nearly half of all ill health suffered by people under 65, a new report has revealed.

This under-treatment of people with mental illnesses is the most glaring case of health inequality in the UK, the report, How mental illness loses out in the NHS, concluded.

The report, by the London School of Economics’ Mental Health Policy Group, a team of economists, psychologists, doctors and NHS managers convened by Professor Lord Layard, said that it is a “scandal” that with 6 million people with depression or anxiety conditions and 700,000 children with problem behaviours, anxiety or depression, three quarters of each group get no treatment.

Mental illness accounts for 23% of the total burden of disease. Yet, despite the existence of cost-effective treatments, it receives only 13% of NHS health expenditure, the report found.

For full story see Mental Health Today website

BBC Radio 1's Stories - Bruising Silence

Gemma Cairney leads a dynamic, poignant and revealing documentary about the hidden world of teenage abusive relationships.

The programme explores the issue of emotional and violent abuse through different types of relationships, including male on female, female on male and same sex - both from the perspective of the abused and the abuser, with additional contributions from experts in the issues.

We also wind back to the story of the then 19-year old hip hop star Chris Brown, who attacked his girlfriend, pop singer Rihanna, beating, biting and kicking her until she lost consciousness. We will take a look at how the story was reported on Radio 1's Newsbeat and how quickly it was all forgotten.

This story is based on the first official study of its kind into young abusive relationships, which was commissioned by the NSPCC and the Home Office. It reports 25% of girls and 18% of boys have been physically abused and 75% of girls and 50% of boys have suffered emotional abuse. The study also found that sexual violence happened to one in three girls and one in six boys.

Gemma talks to victims, perpetrators and carers as she tries to get to the bottom of this 'secret' world and under-reported story.

These powerful stories and experiences will be brought together with Gemma's own personal commentary.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01lmppc/BBC_Radio_1s_Stories_Bruising_Silence/

Elyn Saks: A tale of mental illness -- from the inside

"Is it okay if I totally trash your office?" It's a question Elyn Saks once asked her doctor, and it wasn't a joke. A legal scholar, in 2007 Saks came forward with her own story of schizophrenia, controlled by drugs and therapy but ever-present. In this powerful talk, she asks us to see people with mental illness clearly, honestly and compassionately.

Elyn Saks asks bold questions about how society treats people with mental illness. She views her illness very much according to the prevalent medical model of illness.

Click here to link on presentation on TED TALKS

Mental health spending falls for first time in 10 years

A recent article in the Guardian Newspaper:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/aug/07/mental-health-spending-falls

Chipmunks and publishing

A fellow blogger at Powys Association of Voluntary Organisations, Claire, suggested posting about a social enterprise she had come across recently. Chipmunkapublishing  "gives a voice to people with mental illness and (is a) niche publisher with expertise in the mental health field of mental health service users' empowerment, carer empowerment and disability empowerment."

It's worth taking a look at the website, not only to see the books currently being published, but also to look for opportunities. It seems that the company is always looking for people who wish to write about their experiences, and also for volunteers who are willing to take on a variety of roles, from editing to marketing.

Jason Pegler is one of the founders of the company. He says, "Chipmunkapublishing is a platform to allow people to tell the truth about how people with mental health issues are treated by society, the mental health system, the state and the status quo. I want others to follow in my footsteps and help Chipmunkapublishing break down the taboo on mental health once and for all".

The company is based in the UK, but works with people round the world.

You can read more here.

Leaving the room for five minutes...

OK...it’s time that this blog took a moment to rest, to reflect on the very nature of life. There will be a short intermission whilst Arts for Health pulls down the blinds and shuts up shop for a couple of weeks. Tiaras and tears will be on plentiful display on the streets of our empty capital. 

This year has seen the highest number of hits this modest blog receives, with new friends emerging from the unlikeliest of countries. To those of you who quietly read these pages, I hope you find this work interesting and occasionally, entertaining: and for those of you who go on to get in touch, thank you. One or two of you, I feel lucky enough to call friends - so a big thank you to you. 

This field we call Arts for Health; Arts in Health or Arts and Health is expanding and contracting - evolving right before our eyes. Its flexing its muscles too. Those in the wider cultural sector are getting it - realising that if the work’s done well, it can have a profound reach and impact. And then there are those exhilarating health practitioners, who’ve always got it, and who are now seeing a window of opportunity to assert the place of culture and the arts in the very real world of health and wellbeing. Acute settings, cultural settings, prisons, schools, on the streets, in shopping centre’s and yes, in theaters and galleries too - this arts and health thing we do, is transforming itself into more diverse and engaged practice - the beating heart of civic societies, that will emerge from the wreckage of our contemporary dystopia. 

Lets re-imagine ourselves then: post olympics - post jubilee - post global economic downturn...post dystopia. Its hard, isn’t it? From Robert Montgomery’s poetic attack on consumer culture and Shamsia Hassani’s graffiti on the streets of Kabul, to Pussy Riot’s neutering by an oppressive government - the arts offer critique of the status quo and give voice to frustration and anger, offering a thousand new opportunities of possible futures. Our wellbeing is at stake if we fail to understand the relevance of culture and the arts in relation to wider social and political agendas. Goodbye for now, enjoy life...and a lovely summer song.

Feeling on the edge

Last week whilst driving to see my Mum I heard a short but powerful piece on Radio 4 Woman's Hour about the growing incidence of self-harm amongst younger people.

You can listen to the piece at this BBC website here.

"Feeling on the edge, helping you get through it", is a leaflet produced by the Royal College of Psychiatrists which provides information to people who are self-harming and their carers. It describes what happens to people who are provided specialist mental health support, and gives contact details for other agencies such as The Samaritans, Papyrus and The National Self-Harm Network. And many more too.

You can link to the online leaflet here.