October 10th was World Mental Health Day, the World Health Organization's (WHO) annual focus on mental health issues. This year's theme was "investing in health", highlighting the need for further research, treatment and acceptability of mental health problems. #Worldmentalhealthday was trending on Twitter, with hundreds of people leaving messages and comments.
Alcohol is known to play a significant role in mental health and wellbeing - the Mental Health Foundation say alcohol can both provoke and intensify existing mental health problems and those with mental health problems more at risk of alcohol misuse and vice versa.
Alcohol and mental health factsheets are available here from the Mental Health Foundation, the Institute of Alcohol Studies and Alcohol Concern.
Alcohol is often used as a coping mechanism for many people - a major survey by the Samaritans showed that half of its respondents used alcohol for stress relief. Bridget O'Connell from MIND states:"Some people who experience mental health disorders may turn to alcohol as a form of self-medicating, and this can result in dependency and may worsen symptoms."
Risk of alcohol dependence in people diagnosed with schizophrenia is three times the average population risk; for people diagnosed with depression and affective disorders 1.9 times the average risk; and in people diagnosed with anxiety the risk of alcohol dependence is 1.5 times higher. As many as 70% of successful male suicides are alcohol related.
England's mental health strategy, No health without mental health, states that alcohol problems often go unrecognised, and that there is good evidence that brief interventions are effective those with mental health problems post-discharge or in general medical settings.
For further information on mental health see NHS Choices mental health pages, MIND, the Mental Health Foundation or Centre for Mental Health. The Samaritans offer a 24/7 confidental support service for anyone experiencing feelings of distress or despair.
we all know that it is not advisable to be alcohol dependent but why is it that some people still cant live without alcohol in their system? Alcohol could only worsen the problems and may even cause deformities to pregnant women.
Posted by: micrognathia | Saturday, October 15, 2011 at 12:55 PM