An article examined whether perceived relative position was associated with mental well-being for people living in deprived areas. Mental well-being was found to be positively associated with: perceived relative quality and status of the home; perceived internal reputation of the neighbourhood, though not external reputation; and perceived relative standard of living. Furthermore, respondents who thought that they lived in an area where some people had higher incomes than others also reported higher mental well-being, controlling for the effects of their own income.
Source: Ade Kearns, Elise Whitley, Lyndal Bond, Matt Egan, and Carol Tannahill, 'The psychosocial pathway to mental well-being at the local level: investigating the effects of perceived relative position in a deprived area context', Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, Volume 67 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2012-Dec
An article examined the relationships between housing and neighbourhood psycho-social risk factors/benefits and mental well-being for residents in relatively deprived areas. A range of psycho-social factors were positively associated with mental well-being, with the most important being: the attainment of feelings of residential and personal progress; having a sense of control at home; and the aesthetic qualities of the dwelling and neighbourhood environment. Empowerment in relation to both one's landlord and local area changes were also important, although slightly less strongly associated with mental well-being. The perceived relative position of the dwelling and neighbourhood had the least strong associations with mental well-being once aspects of quality were taken into account.
Source: Ade Kearns, Elise Whitley, Lyndal Bond, and Carol Tannahill, 'The residential psychosocial environment and mental wellbeing in deprived areas', International Journal of Housing Policy, Volume 12 Issue 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2012-Dec
An article examined the incidence of antenatal and postpartum depression and other mental health problems among women. The poorest patients, particularly those aged over 35, were almost 3 times as likely to develop depression as women from affluent backgrounds.
Source: Lu Ban, Jack Gibson, Joe West, Lind Fiaschi, Margaret Oates, and Laila Tata, 'Impact of socioeconomic deprivation on maternal perinatal mental illnesses presenting to UK general practice', British Journal of General Practice, Volume 62 Number 603
Links: Abstract | RCGP press release
Date: 2012-Oct
An article examined community development approaches to addressing mental distress and promoting mental well-being.
Source: Angus McCabe and Ann Davis, 'Community development as mental health promotion: principles, practice and outcomes', Community Development Journal, Volume 47 Number 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2012-Sep
An article said that there was no evidence of an increase in the prevalence of depression in male cohorts born since 1950. In women, there was limited evidence of increased prevalence. Demand for mental health services might stabilize or even fall for men.
Source: Nicola Spiers, Paul Bebbington, Sally McManus, Traolach Brugha, Rachel Jenkins, and Howard Meltzer, 'Age and birth cohort differences in depression in repeated cross-sectional surveys in England: the National Psychiatric Morbidity Surveys, 1993 to 2007', Psychological Medicine, Volume 42, Issue 10
Links: Abstract
See also: Nicola Spiers, Paul Bebbington, Sally McManus, Traolach Brugha, Rachel Jenkins, and Howard Meltzer, 'Age and birth cohort differences in the prevalence of common mental disorder in England: National Psychiatric Morbidity Surveys 1993–2007', British Journal of Psychiatry, Volume 198 Issue 6
Date: 2012-Sep
A paper examined the relationship between well-being and mental ill-health. Although mental well-being and mental illness were associated, they were ultimately independent. Well-being was multi-dimensional, with different groups experiencing different aspects of well-being: it was important that its measurement was not reduced to a single question – for example, about 'happiness'. Such simplifications would be misleading, for example when considering the distribution of well-being by age or sex.
Source: Sally McManus, Mental Health and Wellbeing, Occasional Paper 9.1, International Centre for Lifecourse Studies in Society and Health
Links: Paper
Date: 2012-Sep
A second reading was given to a private member's Bill designed to end a ban on people who had had serious mental health problems from taking up public positions such as MPs, company directors, or jury members.
Source: Mental Health (Discrimination) (No.2) Bill, Gavin Barwell MP, TSO | Debate 14 September 2012, columns 542-576, House of Commons Hansard, TSO
Links: Bill | Explanatory notes | Hansard | HOC research brief | DPM press release | Labour Party press release | Mind press release | Time to Change press release | United Response press release | BBC report
Date: 2012-Sep
An article examined the impact of a novel approach to anti-stigma mental health education, called 'inclusive dialogue'. The approach encouraged young people to grapple with the complexities of mental illness, with an emphasis on personal narratives rather than abstract concepts. Participants reported that taking part enhanced their confidence in talking about mental illness, and increased their understanding and capacity for empathy towards others with mental health problems.
Source: Emma Lindley, 'Inclusive dialogue: the way forward in anti-stigma mental health education?', Journal of Public Mental Health, Volume 11 Number 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2012-Aug
An article said that people who experienced symptoms of anxiety or depression had a lower life expectancy than those without any such symptoms. Even people with minor symptoms of mental health problems seemed to have a higher risk of death from several major causes, including cardiovascular disease.
Source: Tom Russ, Emmanuel Stamatakis, Mark Hamer, John Starr, Mika Kivimaki, and David Batty, 'Association between psychological distress and mortality: individual participant pooled analysis of 10 prospective cohort studies', British Medical Journal, 31 July 2012
Links: Article | Wellcome Trust press release | Sane press release | UCL press release
Date: 2012-Jul
A report examined why many men who needed help with problems that affected their mental well-being did not seek it from social projects run by voluntary and community organizations.
Source: Aman Johal, Anton Shelupanov, and Will Norman, Invisible Men: Engaging more men in social projects, Young Foundation
Date: 2012-Jul
An article examined the association between public stigma in 14 European countries and individual reports of 'self-stigma', perceived discrimination, and empowerment among persons with mental illness. Targeting the general public through mass anti-stigma interventions might lead to a virtuous cycle by disrupting the negative feedback engendered by public stigma, thereby reducing self-stigma among people with mental health problems.
Source: Sara Evans-Lacko, Elaine Brohan, Ramin Mojtabai, and Graham Thornicroft, 'Association between public views of mental illness and self-stigma among individuals with mental illness in 14 European countries', Psychological Medicine, Volume 42, Issue 8
Links: Abstract
Date: 2012-Jul
An article examined the findings from a review of the theoretical and empirical literature on the links between crime and fear of crime, the social and built environment, and health and well-being. Crime and fear of crime might have substantial impacts on well-being: but the pathways were often highly indirect, mediated by environmental factors, difficult to disentangle, and not always in the expected direction. The built environment, for example, might affect health via its impacts on health behaviours; its effects on crime and fear of crime; or the social environment. There were also unexpected factors that might affect intervention success, such as the risk of adverse effects from crime prevention interventions as a result of raising awareness of crime.
Source: Theo Lorenc, Stephen Clayton, David Neary, Margaret Whitehead, Mark Petticrew, Hilary Thomson, Steven Cummins, Amanda Sowden, and Adrian Renton, 'Crime, fear of crime, environment, and mental health and wellbeing: mapping review of theories and causal pathways', Health and Place, Volume 18 Issue 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2012-Jun
Two linked reports said that discrimination against people with intellectual disabilities and people with mental health problems persisted in Europe despite the ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities by the European Union and 21 member states. They highlighted the need to move from institutional to community-based living arrangements, and to reformulate laws and policies to make them more inclusive.
Source: Involuntary Placement and Involuntary Treatment of Persons with Mental Health Problems, Fundamental Rights Agency (European Commission) | Choice and Control: The right to independent living – Experiences of persons with intellectual disabilities and persons with mental health problems in nine EU member states, Fundamental Rights Agency (European Commission)
Links: Report (1) | Report (2) | FRA press release
Date: 2012-Jun
Date: 2012-Jun
A report by an all-party group of MPs said that more than half of the population was grappling with mental and physical problems relating to negative body image.
Source: Reflections on Body Image, All-Party Parliamentary Group on Body Image
Links: Report | Brook/FPA press release | Platform51 press release | BBC report | Guardian report
Date: 2012-May
A report said that helping others was beneficial for people's mental health and well-being.
Source: Dan Robotham, Isabella Goldie, Lauren Chakkalackal, Chris White, Kirsten Morgan, and Eva Cyhlarova, Doing Good? Altruism and wellbeing in an age of austerity, Mental Health Foundation
Links: Report | MHF press release
Date: 2012-May
Researchers developed and tested a comprehensive social inclusion index that was suitable for use in both general population and mental health services research, and in routine outcomes measurement.
Source: Peter Huxley, Sherrill Evans, Sally Madge, Martin Webber, Tania Burchardt, David McDaid, and Martin Knapp, 'Development of a social inclusion index to capture subjective and objective life domains (Phase II): psychometric development study', Health Technology Assessment, Volume 16 Number 1
Date: 2012-Feb
An article examined a range of stories concerning mental health research published in two media outlets between 2008 and 2010. The distribution of stories did not reflect 'disease burden' – research on dementia was over-represented, while depression and alcohol were under-represented. There was an emphasis on biological research, and stories on psychological interventions were rare. United Kingdom research was over-represented.
Source: Grant Lewison, Phillip Roe, A Wentworth, and George Szmukler, 'The reporting of mental disorders research in British media', Psychological Medicine, Volume 42, Issue 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2012-Feb
An article examined the implications of lawful psychiatric coercion being predicted by social group membership (correlated with race, age, and gender). It queried the ameliorative impact of government-appointed 'visitorial' bodies. Legalism-plus-safeguards was a questionable basis for meaningfully bringing discriminatory powers to book, or for reversing the differential impact of pathogenic social forces.
Source: David Pilgrim, 'Lessons from the Mental Health Act Commission for England and Wales: the limitations of legalism-plus-safeguards', Journal of Social Policy, Volume 41 Issue 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2012-Jan
An article examined evidence on the extent to which personal debt affected mental health, and vice versa. Data existed indicating that indebtedness might contribute to the development of mental health problems, and mediate accepted relationships between poverty, low income, and mental disorder.
Source: Chris Fitch, Sarah Hamilton, Paul Bassett, and Ryan Davey, 'The relationship between personal debt and mental health: a systematic review', Mental Health Review Journal, Volume 16 Number 4
Links: Abstract
Date: 2012-Jan