A study examined mental health service users' views about social approaches to madness and mental distress, and their relationship with the social model of disability. Most service users believed that a medical model based on deficit and pathology still dominated public and professional understanding of mental health issues, shaping attitudes and policy. The labelling and stigma following from a medical model of mental illness were major barriers for mental health service users. Service users saw social approaches to mental health issues as much more helpful.
Source: Peter Beresford, Mary Nettle and Rebecca Perring, Towards a Social Model of Madness and Distress? Exploring what service users say, Joseph Rowntree Foundation
Date: 2010-Nov
A study found that 45 per cent of peak-time television programmes with mental illness storylines portrayed people with mental health problems as posing a threat to others; and 63 per cent of references to mental health were pejorative, flippant, or unsympathetic. 45 per cent of programmes had sympathetic portrayals: but these often portrayed the characters as tragic victims.
Source: Greg Philo, Lesley Henderson and Katie McCracken, Making Drama Out of a Crisis: Authentic portrayals of mental illness in TV drama, Department of Health
Links: Report | Summary | DH press release | Mind press release | Guardian report | BBC report
Date: 2010-Nov
A report said that mental health was a central public health issue and that it should be a priority across all government departments. It called on the government to make a series of important policy changes, including: tackling substance addiction through a minimum alcohol pricing policy and an evidence-based addictions policy; prioritizing mental health within smoking cessation programmes; targeting public mental health interventions at people at higher risk, for example children in care and those who were unemployed or homeless; and promoting the importance of mental health and well-being in older age.
Source: No Health Without Public Mental Health: The case for action, Position Statement PS4/2010, Royal College of Psychiatrists
Links: Report | RCPsych press release | Sane press release | Children & Young People Now report
Date: 2010-Oct
A study found that most of the relationship between violent crime and serious mental illness could be explained by alcohol and substance abuse.
Source: Seena Fazel, Paul Lichtenstein, Martin Grann, Guy Goodwin and Niklas Langstr m, 'Bipolar disorder and violent crime: new evidence from population-based longitudinal studies and systematic review', Archives of General Psychiatry, Volume 67 Number 9
Links: Abstract | Oxford University press release | BBC report | Guardian report | Nursing Times report
Date: 2010-Sep
A new book examined how and why the social and physical environment mattered for mental health and psychological well-being.
Source: Sarah Curtis, Space, Place and Mental Health, Ashgate Publications
Links: Summary
Date: 2010-Aug
A literature review examined the needs, preferences, and experiences of people with mental health conditions and/or learning disabilities when accessing benefits, specifically disability living allowance and attendance allowance.
Source: Andrew Butters, Mike Webster and Matt Hill, Literature Review: Understanding the Needs of People with Mental Health Conditions and/or Learning Disabilities and the Implications for the Pension, Disability and Carers Service, Research Report 654, Department for Work and Pensions Links: Report | Summary
Date: 2010-Jul
An article examined the effect of household financial indebtedness on psychological well-being, using a large household survey of families with children in Britain. Although there was a positive association between subjective measures of financial well-being and psychological well-being, individuals differed in their psychological response to objective household financial situations.
Source: Sarah Bridges and Richard Disney, 'Debt and depression', Journal of Health Economics, Volume 29 Issue 3
Links: Abstract | Nursing Times report
Date: 2010-May
A report called for action to raise awareness of loneliness and to tackle the impact that it could have on people's health and well-being.
Source: Jo Griffin, The Lonely Society?, Mental Health Foundation
Links: Report | MHF press release | RCPsych press release | Community Care report | BBC report | Guardian report
Date: 2010-May
An article examined the survey measurement of mental illness stigma, prejudice, and discrimination experienced by people who had personal experience of mental illness.
Source: Elaine Brohan, Mike Slade, Sarah Clement and Graham Thornicroft, 'Experiences of mental illness stigma, prejudice and discrimination: a review of measures', BMC Health Services Research, Volume 10
Links: Abstract
Date: 2010-Mar
The government published a framework for developing well-being, based on a public health approach to maintaining good mental health. It brought together the evidence base from which local authorities and the National Health Service could act to reduce inequalities and improve mental health in their areas. It highlighted the value of early intervention and prevention, through programmes such as psychological therapies, healthy workplaces, and initiatives to reduce workplace stress, as well as education and lifelong learning to promote well-being and resilience.
Source: Confident Communities, Brighter Futures: A framework for developing well-being, Department of Health
Links: Framework | DH press release | MHF press release | Community Care report
Date: 2010-Mar
A report said that the overall cost of mental health problems in Wales was £7.2 billion per year. It called for greater investment in mental health promotion, and said that this would bring economic advantages.
Source: Lynne Friedli and Michael Parsonage, Promoting Mental Health and Preventing Mental Illness: The economic case for investment in Wales, All Wales Mental Health Promotion Network
Links: Report | Summary | NHS Wales press release | Hafal press release
Date: 2010-Mar
A paper examined evidence for an income gradient in children's mental health – a tendency for low family income to be associated with poor mental health. It concluded that research findings in this area might not be very robust, and that findings should be treated with caution and interpreted in relation to the source of health assessments used for the analysis.
Source: David Johnston, Carol Propper, Stephen Pudney and Michael Shields, Is There an Income Gradient in Child Health? It Depends Whom You Ask, Working Paper 2010-08, Institute for Social and Economic Research/University of Essex
Links: Working paper
Date: 2010-Mar
A think-tank report said that solid relationships with family and friends made people better able to cope with major life-changing events such as bereavement and mental illness. It called on policy-makers and front-line service providers to give greater support and recognition to the importance of social networks in helping people get through difficult times.
Source: Beth Watts, Weathering the Storm: Negotiating transitions in Britain today, Young Foundation
Links: Report
Date: 2010-Mar
A paper (based on a seminar held in 2009) said that public services did not routinely collect data on mental health inequalities, and that the information they did collect was not used to its full potential. It called for better information to be collected, and used to measure inequalities in mental health and the life-chances of people with mental health problems.
Source: Mental Health Inequalities: Measuring what counts, Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health
Links: Paper
Date: 2010-Feb