Male, white-collar, mid thirties is the new typical gambling addict according to the NHS. The typical patient now seen in the National Problem Gambling Clinic (NPGC) is a white-collar male in his mid 30’s who has one or sometimes two jobs to further his addiction. Psychiatrists reported an alarming number of city workers and graduates read more »

A new multi-million pound strategy put in place by the government, aims to increase access to “talking therapies” in England and should cover up to 75% of the country by March, reports the BBC. It has been estimated that six million working age adults suffer from depression or anxiety at any one time, resulting in read more »

More than twenty thousand armed service veterans are serving sentences for criminal offences reports The Sun. The statistics come from a nationwide survey of probation officers who say many of the former military personnel were suffering from stress and depression from their service. Harry Fletcher, assistant general secretary of probation officers union Napo expressed how read more »

A recent report featured in The Telegraph looks into new research suggessting that online counselling should be offered to those who are depressed in a bid to avoid long waiting times to see a doctor. With one in six adults suffering from depression or chronic anxiety, online counselling may offer an alternative to a growing read more »

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. 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 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 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 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 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 read more »