Psychotherapy, counselling and mental health in the news
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Mental health services in England are at crisis point, says Dr Martin Baggaley, medical director of the South London and Maudsley NHS Trust (BBC News, 16th October 2013). In recent years more than 1500 beds have closed with many NHS trusts working beyond capacity.
The research conducted by BBC News and Community Care magazine found that a minimum of 1,711 mental health beds have been closed since April 2011, including 277 between April and August 2013, a 9% reduction in the total number of mental health beds - 18,924 - available in 2011/12.
Speaking to the BBC, Dr Baggaley, commented: "We are in a real crisis at the moment. I think currently the system is inefficient, unsafe. We're certainly feeling it on the front line, it's very pressured, and we spend a lot of our time struggling to find beds, sending people across the country which is really not what I want to do. There seems to be a genuine increase in demand. That's partly explained by a reduction in beds, by resources coming out of the health system, the squeeze on social services budgets, and by the general economic situation."
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News: Domestic abuse to include non-violent control - BBC
Legal definitions of domestic abuse in the UK will now include psychological and emotional abuse as well as physical violence, the BBC reports (19th September 2012) as the Home Office announces changes that will take effect from March 2013.
The article quotes one victim: "There were several incidents of violence over the six years that I suffered. However, there were many more incidents of psychological and emotional abuse that went on even if there was no violence. These were about control and power and diminishing my self-esteem to the point of not being able to see what was going on or trust my own instincts. Because there were fewer incidents of violence, I didn't consider myself a victim of domestic violence.
"Only after when the violence escalated, when divorce proceedings were started and my ex-husband started losing control over me, and the children witnessed the abuse, did I realise I was a victim and I must do something. If I had been more aware that I was suffering the psychological abuse and emotional abuse, I may have been more able to see what was going on and get the help I needed for me and the children much sooner."
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News: Suicide rates in Europe 'linked' to financial crisis - BBC News
The BBC (8 July 2011) reports that there has been an increase in suicides of between 5% and 17% in nine countries.
Researchers compared data of 10 countries with only Austria recording a drop in suicide rates between 2007-2009. The UK saw a 10% rise, with 6.75 suicides per 100,000 people. Greece had the worst record.
Dr David Stuckler of the research team comments: "There was a complete turnaround. Suicides were falling before the recession, then started rising in nearly all European countries studied. Almost certainly these rises are linked to the financial crisis."
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Counselling and psychotherapy in the news
News: Money woes 'linked to rise in depression' - BBC News
Prescriptions for anti-depressants have increased by more than 40% over the past four years. During the same time period, there has been a four-fold increase in referrals to talking therapies, according to Department of Health figures.
Marjorie Wallace of mental health charity Sane comments: "It is impossible to say for sure that economic problems are leading to a rise in depression. But we are certainly hearing more from people who are worried where the next meal is coming from, job security and cuts in benefits - many who are getting in touch with us for the first time. It is a toxic combination, especially for those who already have darker thoughts and other problems."
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Counselling and psychotherapy in the news
News: One in five Britons has consulted a counsellor or a psychotherapist - The Observer
The stigma of talking about problems with a therapist appears to be diminishing. The present findings of the BACP research found that 94% of people in the UK consider it acceptable to have therapy for anxiety and depression, a marked jump from 67% back in 2004. There has also been a jump in figures for the acceptability of seeking therapy for divorce and relationship breakdowns.
Cary Cooper, BACP President, comments: "This survey represents a significant shift in people's attitudes towards therapy – practically a revolution – at a time when mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression are far more common than was realised. Mental health conditions currently affect one in six of the population at an annual cost to England alone of £77bn. It's no accident that the growth of the problem has encouraged mass support for more effective treatments," said Cooper.
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Counselling and psychotherapy in the news