According to statistics, alcohol-related deaths for men have doubled since 1993. In 2005, 3,884 men died from alcohol-related diseases, up from 1,776 men in 1993. However these figures only relate to death certificates, and charities have suggested the real figure is more likely to be around 22,000.

The Government launched The Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy in 2004 to improve early identification and treatment of alcohol problems, however the charity Alcohol Concern said the plan “lacked muscle”.

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According to new research from a study at Imperial College London and Wexham Park Hospital Berkshire, stress in an expectant mother can have an effect on the foetus from as early as 17 weeks after conception.

The amount of the stress hormone cortisol was measured in the blood of 267 mothers and the amniotic fluid surrounding their unborn babies. The study was the first to demonstrate how unborn babies are affected by their mother’s stress hormones, however the researchers expressed that these findings should not unduly worry expectant mothers.

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According to Mind, England and Wale’s leading mental health charity, ecotherapy is: “getting outdoors and getting active in a green environment as a way of boosting mental well-being”. Research conducted on the topic revealed that a huge 94% of participants said ‘green’ activities had benefited their mental health and lifted depression, and 90% said the combination of nature and exercise had the greatest effect.

This has led to calls for ecotherapy to become a recognised treatment for those suffering with mental health problems. With anti-depressant prescriptions reaching an all time high, ecotherapy could potentially help millions of people, at a far lower cost and with no side effects. The chief executive of Mind, Paul Farmers, highlighted the fact that ecotherapy could not replace drugs, but he said the debate needed to be broadened.

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Antidepressant prescriptions have hit a record high in England despite national guidance encouraging alternative treatments. The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence set guidelines in 2004 recommending that antidepressants should not be the first port of call for mild depression. Despite this, more than 31 million prescriptions for drugs (such as Prozac) were issued last year.

According to an article on the BBC website, the mental health charity Mind say the UK is “trailing behind other countries in the use of other therapies” and apparently “93% of GPs have prescribed drugs due to lack of alternatives”. However, Prozac is still recommended for those suffering severe depression as the benefits outweigh any potential risk.

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