Written by:

Danny Smith

Last Updated:

September 30th, 2024

Mental Health

What is Mental Health?

According to the World Health Organisation, ‘mental health is a state of mental well-being that enables people to cope with the stresses of life, realise their abilities, learn well and work well, and contribute to their community.’ More than just a component of health and wellbeing, the WHO states that mental health ‘is a basic human right.’

What is important to remember is that mental health is not a fixed state. It is fluid and can change over time. It is likely that in our lives, we will have periods of worse mental health than others. However, poor mental health does not always mean that a mental illness is present (and vice versa).  Mental health refers to our emotional and psychological wellbeing. We all have mental health, and this can be negative or positive. [2] On the other hand, mental health conditions or disorders are diagnosable concepts that highlight areas of struggle. These usually have quite specific criteria. Mental disorders can often be grouped into categories, such as mood disorders, personality disorders, or psychotic conditions.

Mental Health in the UK

Managing mental health is a global issue. The prevalence of different conditions and specific areas of concern vary from country to country.

In England:

• 1 in 4 people experience a mental health condition each year
• 1 in 6 experiences a common mental health condition (like anxiety or depression) in any given week
• Only 1 in 3 people with a common mental health problem are in treatment for mental health disorders
• Anxiety and depression are the most common mental disorders
• A fifth of all lost workdays are linked to anxiety and depression
• A spike in depression in recent years has been linked to the coronavirus pandemic and increased cost of living

The Link Between Mental Health and Addiction

Addictions and mental health feed into each other. This typically happens in one of two ways:

1. An individual starts to use a potentially addictive substance or behaviour in order to soothe or manage periods of mental health distress
2. The psychological impact of addiction leads to a deterioration in mental health, leading to the development of a mental illness or severe distress as a result of dealing with addiction

Addiction can negatively impact our mental health – but mental health struggles can lead us down the path of addiction. This means that there is a complicated relationship between these two concepts. Regardless of whether psychological struggles or addiction comes first, the two are heavily intertwined.

This is present in clinical data. Out of the 289,215 people beginning treatment for addiction in England between 2021 and 2022, 70% had a mental health need of some kind.

Co-Occurring Disorders

An individual is described as having a co-occurring disorder (sometimes also known as a dual diagnosis) if they are dealing with more than one mental health condition.This can raise some difficulties for individuals coping with their mental health independently, as managing multiple psychiatric conditions without appropriate support can be a tricky balance. Treatment for a dual diagnosis may take a multi-pronged approach, incorporating medication, therapies and community support where needed.

It is quite common for mental health diagnoses to co-occur with a substance use disorder or behavioural addiction. However, any psychiatric condition could be a co-occurring disorder. For example:

ADHD

ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) is a behavioural condition and can be linked to difficulty concentrating and impulsivity. An estimated 3-4% of the UK population have ADHD.

Anger Management

Anger management issues can be present when an individual finds it difficult to control feelings of rage. Whilst anger is a normal and expected emotion, some individuals find that it negatively affects their social, professional and romantic relationships.

Anxiety

Anxiety is an umbrella term for any condition linked to feelings of panic, anxiousness and worry. Anxiety may seem similar to stress, but it is a more specific experience that can be very difficult to manage. Symptoms can include panic attacks, social withdrawal, and the use of substances to alleviate nerves.

Autism

Autism is a type of neurodiversity; some people are born with autism, whilst others are not. We can think of autism as a disability that changes how someone interacts with the world.  Autism is particularly linked with social communication, emotional regulation, and sensory processing.

Bipolar Disorder

Bipolar fits under the umbrella of ‘mood disorders.’ It is characterised by extreme highs (‘manic’, hyperactive moments) and lows (periods of extreme depression that can lead to suicidal ideation) that can be difficult to predict or regulate.

Borderline Personality Disorder

A borderline personality disorder is a condition linked with high levels of emotional distress, impulsivity, and how we understand ourselves and our relationships with others. BPD is associated with high-risk maladaptive behaviour, such as risky drinking or drug use.

Codependency

Codependency occurs when we become increasingly reliant on our relationships. This can cause psychosocial strain and intense connections with others that can become unhealthy and threaten one another’s wellbeing.

Depression

3 in 100 people are diagnosed with depression in the UK every week. [18] More than just ‘feeling low’, depression is a serious mental health condition that can lead to very low motivation, social isolation, self-harm, addictive tendencies and suicidal ideation.

Grief

Grief is a natural response to loss. But in some cases, it can become chronic and pose a genuine threat to our wellbeing, stopping us from engaging in our day-to-day lives.

Insomnia

Insomnia is a type of sleep disorder. People with insomnia may find themselves struggling to get to or stay asleep. [20] Over time, this can lead to extreme fatigue and worsening mood alongside a range of physical health complications.

OCD

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is defined by ‘obsessions’ (intense thoughts) and ‘compulsions’ (repeated behaviours) that can feel out of control. 1 in 100 people are diagnosed with OCD in England every week.

PTSD

Post-traumatic stress disorder often occurs because of a traumatic episode. Usually leading to flashbacks and nightmares, PTSD can lead to very distressing emotions, intense anxiety and depression.

Body Dysmorphic Disorder

Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is often diagnosed when someone has repeated episodes of psychosis. This may include hallucinations, delusions and what psychiatrists describe as ‘loss of contact with reality.’

Self-Harm

Self-harm happens when someone purposely engages with harmful behaviour. This could include heavy drinking or drug use, cutting oneself, inducing vomiting or hair pulling. Self-harm is a sign of distress and is usually used as a method of controlling difficult emotions.

Stress

Stress happens when we feel under pressure, overwhelmed or threatened in some way. It can lead us to feel out of control and catalyse a range of negative physical and mental health effects.

Suicide

Suicide is when someone intentionally takes their own life. There are many reasons why an individual may feel led to this point – appropriate support is pivotal in managing suicide risk.

Causes of Mental Health Disorders

Our experiences with our mental health are very individual. There are a whole range of reasons why an individual may start to struggle with their psychological well being. Common causes of mental health conditions include:

• Experience of abuse
• Social isolation
• Chronic stress
• Financial difficulties
• Housing insecurity
• Experiencing stereotyping, prejudice or discrimination
• Addiction
• Losing a loved one
• Losing a job
• Relationship breakdown

Key Signs of Mental Health Distress

Each mental health condition has a list of specific symptoms to look out for – it can be difficult to be aware of them all. But what we can be mindful of is key signs of mental health distress, such as:

• Social withdrawal
• Change in sleeping pattern
• Change in eating patterns
• Low mood
• Anxiety
• Hallucinations
• Delusions
• Unpredictable moods
• Appearing very stressed or overwhelmed
• Difficulty maintaining usual commitments
• Reckless or irrational behaviour
• Appearing very tired
• Using tasks to distract yourself

Seek Help Today

Mental health difficulties can be a whirlwind – but you do not need to manage them alone. At Oasis Recovery Bradford, we are proud to offer specialist, confidential support for complex mental health conditions in times of need. Call us to make initial contact with us and start your recovery journey today. At UKAT, we believe that each and every person deserves stable mental health. Our expert team is here to help you take the first step towards it.

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