Key Statistics
- The World Health Organisation confirms that 1 in 4 people experience a mental health problem each year but only 30% of this group seek support or medical intervention. Therefore around 8% of the population seek support or medical intervention for a mental health problem.
- Hospital admissions for mental health problems are rare – less than 1% over a 12-month period.
- The prevalence of mental health problems decreases with age, with prevalence greatest among 18-24 year olds, the peak age for professional sports people.
- Generally, rates of mental health problems are significantly higher for women as compared to men (around 3:2).
- The majority of people report more than one mental health problem. In a study by WHO Europe, of those who stated they had a mental health problem, 32% identified having two, 18% three and 14% identified four or more.
- Compared with the general population, people addicted to drugs are roughly twice as likely to suffer from mood and anxiety disorders, with the reverse also true.
- Stigma and a lack of knowledge about mental health problems are two key barriers to people accessing and engaging with the right help.
- Many people who perpetrate violence have no history of mental health problems and most people with mental health problems (90%) have no history of violence.
- 30% of people with a mental health problem also have problems with addiction
- 37% of people with an alcohol addiction also have a mental health problem
- 50% of people with a drug addiction also have a mental health problem
- The annual global suicide rate is 10.7 per 100,000 population.
- Individual risk factors for suicide include previous suicide attempts, mental health problems, harmful use of alcohol, trauma, financial loss, chronic pain and a family history of suicide. Many suicides happen impulsively.
- Generally males are over 3 times more likely to complete suicide. There are 20 attempted suicides for every suicide.
- Of those who attempt suicide, 15–25 per cent re-attempt and 5–10 per cent die by suicide. The highest risk period is 3 months following a suicide attempt.
- Mental health problems in order of frequency:
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- Anxiety disorders
- Substance abuse disorders
- Mood disorders
- Psychosis
- Eating disorders