Health Affected by Fear

The Mental Health Foundation in the UK has said that fear and anxiety are on the rise within the UK. The most up to date statistics of the UK population also back this statement, revealing a long term rise in anxiety disorders.

The Foundation said that this epidemic of fear and anxiety is impacting on the economy by way of continuing the economic crisis as well as limiting the possibility to get out of it. They want the government to start a campaign across the country showing people how to avoid and be free from anxiety and the health problems that emerge as a result.

 The Office for National Statistics published a report that showed how in 2007 anxiety disorders affected 15% of the population compared with 13.3% in 1993. That amounts to 7.2 million people or 10% of the population.

Additional research by a separate body revealed that 37% of people feel more frightened than they used to be.

From the Mental Health Foundation, Chief Executive Dr Andrew McCulloch, said “This report shows that fear is having a serious negative impact on the mental and physical health of the nation. The modern world will test our resilience again and again, and people need to know how to process their emotions better to prevent harm to their mental and physical health. A mental health promotion campaign that shows individuals how to look after their own mental health would be of immense public benefit, and help prevent common mental health problems like anxiety and depression."

Dr McCulloch went on to say that “Prevention campaigns about physical illnesses like heart disease and cancer are often mounted but we have seen little investment in educating people about how they can look after their mental health. Currently less than 0.1% of adult mental health investment is allocated to mental health promotion. The UK needs to follow the example of countries like Australia that take the mental health of their whole populations seriously and invest in promotion more readily.”

NaturalMatters