Talking, Not Drugs, To Treat Mental Problems

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Talking, Not Drugs, To Treat Mental Problems
 
A new scheme has been launched to use 'talking therapies' rather than drugs to treat over one million people who have mental problems.

The Department of Health's Mental Health Strategy puts more than £400m into therapies like counselling which re-train the mind to think more positively.

Currently drugs such as Prozac are the primary treatment for depression - nearly 40 million prescriptions were issued last year.

But counselling is more effective than pills at fixing underlying causes of mental illness.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said the strategy will give mental health the priority it deserves, he said: "Speak to anyone. They will know someone who has had to deal with anxiety, depression, eating disorders or other problems.

"They are so often overlooked and ignored because there is a stigma attached to them compared to physical health problems. What I would like is that stigma removed."

Mental health problems affect one in four people and are the biggest reason for incapacity benefit claims. They cost the economy around £105bn a year.

The problems can start young - one in 10 children has a mental health problem.

Mitchell has ADHD, but his mother, Vicky, said psychological support had improved his behaviour.

"He was getting into a lot of trouble at school, not concentrating, not listening and so on," she said.

"The treatment has really helped him out. He's back in a mainstream school now."

Mental health charity MIND welcomed the strategy, but chief executive Paul Farmer said it should be judged on results.

Source: Sky News