Conditions and treatments
It is now estimated that 1 in 4 people in England will experience a mental health problem in any given year.
Common adult mental health conditions
The most common mental health conditions to affect adults in England are:
- mixed anxiety depressive disorder : a condition where a person experiences the symptoms of depression and anxiety. It is estimated that this condition affects 1 in 10 adults in any given year.
- Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD): a condition where a person experiences persistent and severe feelings of anxiety. It is estimated that GAD affects 1 in 20 adults each year.
- episodes of moderate to severe depression: depression is estimated to affect 1 in 40 adults a year
- phobias: an extreme, or irrational, fear (eg.a fear of heights or animals). Phobias are estimated to affect 1 in 40 adults a year.
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD): a condition where a person experiences obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviours. OCD is estimated to affect 1 in 75 adults a year.
- panic disorders (also known as panic attacks): these are estimated to affect 1 in 80 adults a year.
Complex adult mental health conditions are generally less common than the mental health conditions that are mentioned above.
However, they can have a greater impact on the quality of a person’s life and can be more challenging to treat.
Complex mental health conditions
Complex mental health conditions include:
- schizophrenia
- bipolar disorder (also known as manic depression)
- post traumatic stress disorder
- anorexia and bulimia
- personality disorders
Personality disorders are a range of conditions that affect a person’s thoughts, emotions, and behaviour. Most people with personality disorders find it difficult to deal with other people
Other uses of mental services
There are a range of other conditions that can often benefit from the input of mental health services. These include:
- autistic spectrum disorder
- dementia
- drug and alcohol dependency
- stroke. Many people who are recovering from a stroke experience symptoms of anxiety and depression
Mental health in children and young people
Children and young people also experience mental health problems.
It is estimated that 1 in every 10 children and young people who are between 5-16 years of age are diagnosed with a mental health condition.
Mental health conditions that are known to affect children and young people include:
- anxiety
- depression
- Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
- anorexia and bulimia
