How Good Therapy Improves Society

1 in 4 people experience a mental health problem each year in England.

1 in 6 people report experiencing common mental health problems (such as anxiety and depression) in any given week in England.

Specific diagnoses include:

Mixed anxiety and depression: 8 in 100 people

Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD): 6 in 100 people

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): 4 in 100 people

Depression: 3 in 100 people

Phobias: 2 in 100 people

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD): 1 in 100 people

Panic disorder: Fewer than 1 in 100 people.

Some complex conditions:

Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD): 3 in 100 people (lifetime)

Borderline personality disorder (BPD): 2 in 100 people (lifetime)

Bipolar disorder: 2 in 100 people (lifetime)

Psychotic disorders (including schizophrenia): Fewer than 1 in 100 people (any given year).

Suicidal Thoughts and Self-Harm:

Over a lifetime:

1 in 5 people have suicidal thoughts.

1 in 14 people self-harm.

1 in 15 people attempt suicide.

Women are more likely to have suicidal thoughts and make suicide attempts, while men are 3 times more likely to die by suicide than women.

Treatment:

Approximately 1 in 3 adults with common mental health problems receive treatment (talking therapies, medication, or both) in England and Wales.

Keep in mind that these figures are based on specific surveys and may not account for all groups of people. The true numbers are likely higher than reported.

The United Kingdom was recently ranked in a global survey as the second-worst place in the world for mental well-being. The only country that scored lower was Uzbekistan. Two countries currently at war—Yemen and Ukraine—scored higher happiness levels than us poor beleaguered Brits.

The Mental State of The World, from U.S. think tank Sapien Labs, questioned more than 400,000 people from 71 countries. The U.K. scored a measly 49 on a Mental Health Quotient (MHQ) scale that ranged from -100 (distressed) to 200 (thriving), with 35% of the British population reporting at the "distressed" end of the scale.

One could blame it on Brexit, or the bad weather (it hasn’t stopped raining for yonks and much of the U.K. was flooded throughout 2023 and early 2024) and, even, the post-COVID blues. While the results did show a slow recovery from the pandemic’s mental health toll, the study also found a strong correlation between wealth and unhappiness, with many of the more affluent nations scoring lower happiness levels than their poorer cousins.

“Greater wealth and economic development do not necessarily lead to greater mental well-being,” wrote the report’s authors.

In Great Britain’s defense, and for a variety of reasons, mental health is experiencing a global decline. Worldwide culprits include smartphones, ultra-processed food, and crumbling families. So, it’s hard for many citizens of the world to feel happy right now. Plus, London has just been named Europe’s best city, and Lancashire was recently voted as the country’s happiest place to live—but, still, Uzbekistan!

Maybe this is the kick that Britain needs in order to reclaim the "Great." Our always-on working culture definitely needs a massive overhaul, and the cost-of-living crisis needs a much closer eye. So, maybe it’s time to drop GDP as a measurement of success and opt for a Happiness Index instead. This is a tool that measures the well-being of its citizens rather than the country’s economic output.

Whilst happiness is a difficult metric to measure, the index seems to be doing rather well as a marker in those countries that have adopted it (New Zealand and Bhutan, I’m looking at you). But there are also other ways to measure economic health.

There’s the Human Development Index (HDI) that comes courtesy of the United Nations and focuses on people and capabilities, whilst looking at health, education, and standard of living. And there’s the Better Life Index (BLI), which was created as part of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development’s (OECD) Better Life Initiative, which looks at people’s well-being across 11 topics (including material living conditions and quality of life).

Meanwhile, back over in the Mental State of the World, although Tanzania and Sri Lanka ranked third and second respectively, they were both pipped to the post by the Dominican Republic (which is now officially the happiest place on Earth). And whilst the U.K. will never be able to compete with this Caribbean country’s beaches and tropical sunshine, it could most certainly learn a thing or two about its laid-back attitude to life.

Other ne’er-do-wells in the poll included South Africa at number 69 and Brazil at number 68. The United States was placed at a fair-to-middling 29th.

Source: https://mentalstateoftheworld.report/2023_read/

Here are the top five common mental health conditions in the UK:

Mixed anxiety and depression: Affecting 8 in 100 people, this combination of anxiety and depression is the most prevalent mental disorder in Britain.

Generalised anxiety disorder (GAD): Occurs in 6 in 100 people and is characterised by excessive worry and anxiety.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD): Affects 4 in 100 people and often results from traumatic experiences.

Depression: Experienced by 3 in 100 people, depression can significantly impact mood, energy, and daily functioning.

Phobias: Occur in 2 in 100 people and involve intense, irrational fears of specific situations or objects.

Additionally, some complex conditions include:

Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD): Affects 3 in 100 people over their lifetime.

Borderline personality disorder (BPD): Occurs in 2 in 100 people over their lifetime.

Bipolar disorder: Affects 2 in 100 people over their lifetime.

Psychotic disorders (including schizophrenia): Fewer than 1 in 100 people experience these in any given year.

Keep in mind that these figures are based on specific surveys and may not account for all groups of people. The true numbers are likely higher than reported.

Depression is the most common mental disorder, impacting an estimated 300 million people worldwide. It generally affects women more often than men.

Adolescents between the ages of 12 and 18 are particularly vulnerable to mental health issues. Factors such as puberty, which increases hormones in the brain, can lead to heightened anxiety levels or make them more prone to mood disorders like depression or bipolar disorder.

Additionally, young people in the UK have higher mental health needs than ever, with 1 in 6 experiencing a mental health problem in 2020, up from 1 in 9 in 2017.

There are several mental illnesses that are often overlooked or misunderstood. Here are five of them:

Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD): BPD is characterised by intense mood swings, unstable relationships, and impulsive behaviour. Unfortunately, it carries significant stigma and shame, leading to misconceptions and fear among the public.

Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD): Often misused as an adjective for being neat or orderly, OCD is much more complex. It involves intrusive thoughts and repetitive behaviours that significantly impact daily life.

Bipolar Disorder: Public conceptions about bipolar disorder can be oversimplified. It actually involves extreme mood shifts between depression and mania, affecting a person’s energy, behaviour, and thinking.

Schizophrenia: The complexity of schizophrenia contributes to its misunderstanding. It’s not just about hearing voices; it involves disruptions in thought processes, emotions, and perceptions.

Antisocial Personality Disorder: Often undiagnosed and untreated, this disorder is sometimes referred to as “psychiatry’s forgotten disorder.” It involves persistent patterns of disregard for others’ rights and societal norms.

Understanding and empathy can help reduce stigma and promote better mental health conversations.

1. Multiple Personality Disorder or Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)

DID is defined by DSM 5 as a person having more than two distinct identities. Each with its own way to perceive the environment and self.

Their persona controls their identity at different times. These personalities are so distinct that they even have their own names, act, history, fashion style, and preferences.

Repeated childhood trauma can interrupt personality development and create other personalities. These made-up alter egos help the patient cope with the painful traumatic experiences.

COMMON SIGNS OF DID:

Patients with dissociative disorder have difficulty coping with emotional stress. They have a sense of being detached from their selves and their emotions.

2. Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder

Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder sits under cluster-C of Personality Disorders by DSM 5. It is defined as a consistent chase for perfectionism, orderliness, and a need for pervasive interpersonal and mental control.

Do you know someone who is so obsessed with perfection? They are so devoted to getting the work done to the point of neglecting social relationships. The patient performs a repetitive ritual that fills their day that normal routine becomes impossible.

COMMON SIGNS OF OCD:

Symptoms of this disorder include the repetitive urge to reorganise, clean, rearrange and check if everything is in order. Not giving in to their compulsions causes significant distress.

3. Histrionic Personality Disorder

HPD is found in the Personality Disorder Category of DSM 5 list of diagnoses. Patients with this personality disorder usually present dramatic and erratic behaviour to gain attention.

These people are self-centred and pay too much attention to their physical appearance. Their mental image of themselves is distorted. They gain their self-esteem from the approval of others.

Though normal functioning in society is not affected by this type of disorder. But sometimes the manipulative skills of these persons with HPD can affect interpersonal relationships.

COMMON SIGNS OF HPD:

• People who are overly sensitive to disapproval and criticisms

• Acts dramatically in front of a crowd, but with lacking sincerity

• Exhibits inappropriate flirtatious behaviour

• Self-centred and does not care about others

4. Autocannibalism

Now we’re getting into the freaky areas of psychiatric disorders. Autocannibalism is not be recognised as a diagnosable mental health illness by DSM 5. It is a mental illness that is usually portrayed in horror movies. But it exists in the real world!

Commonly known as self-cannibalism, this is a rare mental disorder where the patient eats some parts of themselves.

Freaky? Wait till you learn that some of the symptoms of this disorder are being practiced by some people as a habit. Yes, you read it right. Nail-biting and chewing on the dead skin of your finger is a form of autocannibalism.

Extreme versions of this disorder include eating one’s skin scabs, hair, boogers, poop, and bodily discharges. Like OCD it also involves impulse control and is linked to depression and anxiety. Cognitive-behavioural therapy together with aversion can help with this kind of disorder.

CASE STUDY OF AUTOCANNABILISM:

Health experts state that patients with a history of psychosis and drug use develop this kind of disorder. Hallucinations explain why these patients can’t resist eating themselves.

COMMON SIGNS OF AUTOCANNIBALISM:

People with this type of disorder are usually embarrassed by their behaviour and withdraw from social interaction. Some have eating disorders and wounds all around the body that are at risk for infection.

5. Alice in Wonderland Syndrome

Alice in Wonderland syndrome (AIWS) or Todd Syndrome is not recognised in the DSM 5. It is diagnosed through the presenting symptoms.

This disorder is characterised by distorted visual perception or also known as metamorphopsias. It is a related disorder with the movie “Alice in Wonderland” where Alice changes in body size by eating a cake. AIWS is a condition of visual hallucination is the perception of one’s body size, color, and shape.

AIWS is usually associated with brain injury and excessive use of antipsychotic drugs.

COMMON SIGNS OF AIWS:

• Loss of limb coordination and sensations

• Distorted sensory perception

• Hallucinations involving a group of animals

6. Alien Hand Syndrome

This mental disorder does not hold a spot in the DSM 5. It is another rare disorder where the patient’s hand acts differently and out of their control. It’s as if their hand has a mind of its own.

Alien hand syndrome is characterised by purposeful but involuntary movement of the hands. Some patient claims that their hand will try to drown or stab them. Experts are still trying to find out how to cure the symptoms.

This bizarre behaviour is related to disturbances of brain function. Especially when the right parietal lobe is damaged. Which is the area of the brain that controls planning and spontaneous movement.

COMMON SIGNS OF AHS:

The most common symptom of this disorder is the inability to control hand actions. The limb is considered a foreign part of the body.

7. Capgras Syndrome

Capgras delusion may not be directly dealt with in DSM 5, but falls under the delusional disorder.

Patients experience an irrational fear that a person they know is replaced by an imposter. They have this unshakeable delusion that the person that they use to know becomes suddenly unfamiliar.

Imposter syndrome often occurs to the patient with neurodegenerative conditions like dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. Also happens to people with bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.

COMMON SIGNS OF CAPGRAS SYNDROME:

The most common symptom of Capgras syndrome is the belief that someone close to them is fake. Or has been replaced by someone who looks exactly the same.

8. Apotemnophilia

Apotemnophilia or also known as body integrity identity disorder is not included in the DSM 5 but can be found in ICD-11. It is another neurological disorder where the patient has an overwhelming desire to surgically cut away a healthy body part.

Apotemnophiles will usually find it difficult to get a surgeon to willingly amputate a healthy limb. But these patients are so desperate, that they will attempt extraordinary ways to damage the limb. They would crush a leg on the wood chipper or lose an arm with a chainsaw just to get rid of the unwanted body part.

CASE STUDY OF APOTEMNOPHILIA:

Some researchers found a link between apotemnophilia and inappropriate sexual behavior. Some patient considers their unwanted healthy limb as an erotic object and wanted it removed. Most people with apotemnophilia are almost always been sexually attracted to amputees.

COMMON SIGNS OF APOTEMNOPHILIA:

A strong desire to destroy a part of their body to make them feel “complete”.

9. Cotard’s Delusion

Discovered by a French Psychiatrist in 1880, Cotard’s delusion is one of the scariest mental illnesses that ever existed. It is also not exactly listed in DSM 5 but falls under the categories of anxiety and schizophrenia.

This is also known as the walking corpse syndrome where the sufferer believes that they are deceased, or dying and out of existence.

Studies show that patients suffering from this disorder would refuse to eat or take medications. Some would even report having auditory hallucinations telling them that they are already dead.

CASE STUDY COTARD’S DELUSION:

A case study of a man in Cajamarca was admitted after his reports of seeing blurred faces of dead people telling him that he was dying. The patient refused to eat saying that the food is rotten and wanted to see a priest confess his “great sins”.

COMMON SIGNS OF COTARD’S DELUSION:

• Severe sadness and depression

• Being insensitive to pain

• A patient will stop doing daily activities such as speaking and eating

• Having delusions to harm self

10. Paris Syndrome

This is also not specifically pointed out in DSM 5 but the signs and symptoms are present in some categories. Paris syndrome is considered another form of culture shock. This temporary phenomenon exclusively happens with Japanese nationals who visited Paris for the first time.

Aside from the usual language barrier, the disappointment with how Paris looks causes psychological distress. When the “City of Love” does not meet their mental expectations they meltdown.

COMMON SIGNS OF PARIS SYNDROME:

Having a different variety of psychiatric symptoms after experiencing culture shock. With feelings of persecution from the hostility of others.

11. Stendhal Syndrome

Stendhal Syndrome is also not listed in DSM 5 as a mental health condition. But it is considered as one of the most peculiar conditions among other mental disorders. It is characterised by the feeling of being anxious and confused after being exposed to a large amount of artwork.

In extreme cases, the patient even experiences psychosomatic symptoms such as heart attack and hallucinations.

COMMON SYMPTOMS OF STENDHAL SYNDROME:

The main symptom of this disorder is the altered sensory of colours and sound. The patient has an unexplainable sickening feeling with beautiful art.

Other Rare Mental Disorders

• Factitious Disorder or Munchausen Syndrome

• Reactive Attachment Disorder

• Exploding Head Syndrome

• Foreign Accent Syndrome

• Conversion Disorder

• Koro Syndrome

How Are Rare Mental Disorders Treated?

Most rare mental disorders can be treated by a combination of antipsychotic medications and therapy. These are patterns of behaviours collected through a person’s lifespan that can be corrected. 

What is the Most Serious Type of Mental Disorder?

All mental disorders are serious. Treatment depends on how long has the person been suffering from it. Psychotic disorders are treatable. With the right therapy, they can be on their road to recovery.

Source: https://kentuckycounselingcenter.com/rare-mental-disorders/

Mental health significantly impacts our social interactions and relationships. When individuals experience mental health problems, it can affect their ability to connect with others and maintain healthy relationships. Good mental health enables positive communication, healthy boundaries, and empathy toward others.

Additionally, approximately 1 in 4 people in England experience a mental health problem each year, ranging from common issues like anxiety and depression to rarer conditions such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. It’s essential to recognise and support those around us who may be struggling with mental health challenges.