Middle age – the most unhappy time for Brits
Research suggests that mid-life is the unhappiest period for Brits. With children staying at home for longer, mortgages taking longer to settle, increased responsibility, and a variety of additional factors coming into play, what can be done to help individuals avert a mid-life crisis?
A survey of 13,000 individuals from 12 different countries has revealed that 27% of Brits in their 30s and 40s said they suffered from depression, compared to just 17% internationally.
Further more, the figures also showed that a huge 45% of Brits aged between 45 and 43 feel negative about their current financial situation, 21% feel negative about life in general and 30% feel negative about their career.
All of these figures come in at above the international average, as did the overall health, wellbeing and weight of middle-aged Brits.
Talking of the connection between the physical and mental health of UK individuals in their 40s, Bupa Internationals medical director Dr Sneh Khemka, who played a large role in carrying out the survey, commented that our perceptions of wellbeing are linked to general health and lifestyle.
According to Dr Khemka, talking to a counsellor or psychotherapist could help individuals who are struggling during this stage of their lives to deal with any feelings of anxiety and depression.
According to the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy, 83% of people had or would consider having counselling or psychotherapy for issues such as depression, relationship troubles, grief or stage of life problems.
If you would like to talk to a professional about any problems you may be having in your life, please visit the home page of this site and use the search tool to locate a qualified counsellor or psychotherapist in your local area.
View the original BBC News article.