Suicide, murder and heart attack rates are expected to increase as a result of the recessions, reports the BBC.
An analysis in the Lancet of economic changes and death rates predicts that the UK will see around 290 more suicides because of rising unemployment. It’s thought by mid-2010 10% of the workforce may be unemployed.
The study read more »

A feature on the Independent website today highlights the emotional cost of the recession.
The Samaritans are reporting a rise in the number of calls, mainly from people worried about money. One in ten calls are related to financial worries, with over half of these being from people worried about job security.
Drinking has also risen, with read more »

Instead of encouraging smokers to quit the habit and save money, the recession has meant many are continuing to smoke to help deal with stress, reports the BBC.
A survey of 877 smokers and ex-smokers by Ipsos Mori revealed that nearly a quarter of smokers had abandoned plans to try and kick the habit, and 28% read more »

New figures show the that depression is costing £8.6 billion a year, reports The Independent.
Over the last decade the figure has risen by £3 billion. The figure does not include the impact on the NHS, just the cost on the economy caused by people taking time off work. Those who become unemployed due to mental read more »

Many soldiers returning from duty in Afghanistan and Iraq may be suffering from post traumatic stress disorder in silence, reports The Telegraph.
A ’stiff upper lip’ attitude may be preventing soldiers from admitting they have a problem, and talking about how they feel.
Professor Alexander McFarlane, professor of psychiatry at the University of Adelaide and head of read more »

In a world of rolling news and constant information updates, scientists fear that it is causing extra stress on the brain, reports The Times.
Two new studies have suggested that the constant flood of information may result in brains blocking the development of wisdom – traits such as empathy, tolerance, emotional stability and compassion, and we read more »

Moving house more than three times can have a detrimental effect on children’s’ mental health, reports the Telegraph.
A new study has shown that moving house, and therefore losing contact with friends and being taken away from familiar surroundings, may cause the child to feel they’re being ignored, and can result in suicidal feelings.
The study monitored read more »

An article over at the Guardian website highlights how children can be affected by using social networking sites such as Facebook.
Children see their profile on such sites as ‘advertising’ for themselves, aiming to get as many friends as possible, rather than a few close friends. The child’s self-esteem may be affected by comments read more »

Post-natal depression is a familiar condition, however antenatal depression is far more unheard of, reports The Times.
One in four women experience an episode of depression in their life, and it’s most likely to occur during the reproductive years.
Symptoms during pregnancy such as tearfullness, anxiety, and being irritable are often put down to hormones, but could read more »

The first study to investigate adolescent victims of stalking has showed that the problem is largely being ignored, reports the Guardian.
the report says that behaviour associated with stalking is instead being categorised as bullying if the victim is a teenager, whereas if the victim was an adult it would warrant a police investigation.
the research consisted read more »