More people than ever could be suffering with mental health issues
Charity Mind thinks worry around issues like the cost of living crisis and the war on Ukraine are a cause
Last updated 16th Feb 2023
More people than ever across Merseyside could be suffering with a mental health problem according to a charities research out today.
The UK’s mental health is said to be the worst it’s ever been, according to Mind.
The charity has said pressures including the cost of living crisis, the war on Ukraine and the knock on from the covid-19 pandemic are negatively affecting people's mental health.
Research suggests around 1.2 million people are on the waiting list for community-based NHS mental health services.
It’s also estimated that eight million more have mental health needs but have not yet been in contact for support.
Andrew Noon, is a director at Evolving Mindset CIC in Knowsley. As well as promoting positive mental health in the community, they deliver mental health training packages within organisations, schools and the community sector. All of the profit received is reinvested into providing free community mental health & Well-being Projects for individuals and families.
Andrew said: “I think these issues have been quite key in driving towards poor mental health and you know these things that are going on in our lives and are almost like larger scale.
“They can really amplify our ongoing mental health needs that we may already have or make other issues a lot bigger than what they already are.”
Dr Sarah Hughes, who became chief executive of Mind in January, said the impact of these stresses can be vast.
She said: "We are really worried. This feels like a bit of a perfect storm that we need to take hold of.
"We have got the recovery from the pandemic, we have got the cost of living crisis and we can't underestimate the impact of the war in Ukraine and global instability.
"All of these things contribute greatly to the vulnerability that we are all experiencing to a greater or lesser extent.
"What we know is after the financial crash in 2008 the number of people taking their own lives increased - we don't want that to happen again."
Merseyside's Evolving Mindsets has seen a growing number of challenges since the pandemic.
Andrew said: “I think we've seen a huge increase in the complexity, I suppose, of people reaching out for support with us.
"A lot of people are now coming to us for employability support following, losing a job or zero hour contracts and not having the security in their employments. That's having a huge impact on people's mental health and wellbeing.
"But we're also seeing more people seeking support for other areas such as addiction.
"I've previously worked in the NHS and have known pressures that it involved in the NHS and it seems to be with the amplified need at this moment in time, people aren't able to receive the support that they need. So, they are reaching out to the third sector organisations, like us, to be able to meet these needs or to try and help them the best way.”
NHS England has said that mental health services will receive an additional £2.3 billion every year by 2023-24 to help improve services while providing support to more people than.
Andrew adds that third sector groups like Evolving Mindset are there to help with a wide range of mental health issues.
He said: “Reach out and seek support because that's the most important thing that we do. Talk about these things and we don't bottle it up and and keep it in.
“I've been there myself, I've experienced my own difficulties, so has all the team here and that's why we wanna try and support our local community, the best way that we possibly can.
“We know what it's like to go through difficult periods and keep it to ourselves also. But we've also experienced then seeking support ourselves and shared that load with other people and the benefit that has so.
“If you don't have people around, if you don't have a support network, we are here.
"Reach out to us and we'll do the best that we possibly can to support you through whatever it is.”