There is not enough support for those with mental illnesses in employment, says a new report, highlighted over at The Guardian website.. The Sainsbury Centre for Mental Health (SCMH) and the College of Occupational Therapists have just released a new joint report which says that those with mental illnesses are not getting the help they need to find and keep a job.

The report follows a call from four mental health organisations that any changes in the welfare system gives the best possible support for those with mental health problems.

In a statement supporting the launch of the report, both organisations said: “People with mental health problems will be one of the largest groups affected by the welfare reform agenda. Support should be offered to everyone, no matter what mental health problem they have, with a minimal threat of benefit penalties.”

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According to an article on the BBC News Website, the practice of forcing psychiatric patients to take medication is not backed by evidence and very few investigations have been done into the use of coerced medication, despite it being widespread.

Alison Cobb, a spokeswoman for Mind said “The threat of coerced medication can discourage people from seeking treatment when they need it and may damage the relationship between patients and mental heath professionals … We urgently need to see more studies on this issue, particularly exploring the use of alternative treatments and how to include service users fully in making decisions about treatments”.

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The Guardian has reported how new research shows that ‘locking up’ those with mental health conditions, such as depression and schizophrenia, has no benefits.

Patients who are locked up due to safety fears end up feeling singled out and like prisoners, which can contribute to destructive behaviour and promote suicidal thoughts. The number of patients self-harming went up by 20 %, and causing physical aggression to others went up by 11%.

The team that carried out the research suggested that placing patients on open wards with staff manning the entrances.

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The Mental Health Media Awards took place on Tuesday night, honouring those that have helped bring mental health issues into the forefront of the media.

Hosted by Ruby Wax, who has recently made a series of programmes for the BBC about mental health, winners included Hollyoaks for a recent storyline about anorexia, and the BBC for an adaptation Alexander Masters’ book Stuart: A Life Backwards.

Commenting on the awards, Ruby Wax said “The Mental Health Media Awards shine a light on the important role and impact the media has around the portrayal and reporting of mental health issues.”

SoceityGuardian journalist Mary O’Hara also won an award, and you can read more details over at the Guardian website.

Having counselling may double a women’s chance of surviving breast cancer, a new study has shown. An article in the Telegraph reports that helping patients to improve their mental health, giving them advice on telling friends and family about their illness and dealing with tiredness.

The study, carried out by the Ohio State University, followed 227 breast cancer patients over a period of eleven years, half of whom were given counselling sessions. The number of those who died in the group that received counselling was half that of the group that didn’t.

Professor Barbara Andersen, a key figure in the research and trails said: “The results suggest that we can help breast cancer patients make positive steps that may help them live longer.”

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Stress can have many detrimental effects, but a new study has shown that it can physically change the shape of the brain, and cause long-term damage, reports the Guardian.

Various studies carried out on laboratory mice showed that, after being exposed to loud rock music, being restrained, or being deprived of food and water the size of the learning and memory area of the brain decreased by up to 3%. It’s thought that there are similar results in humans when suffering from stress for long periods of time, including brain cells diminishing, explaining why some people struggle with their memory in stressful situations.

More worryingly, stress in expectant mothers can transfer to their unborn child, affecting the way the child regulates their emotions and makes decisions.

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Mental health professionals and members of the public who are affected by Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) will get together on Saturday 22nd November for the 2008 OCD Conference at Imperial College London.

The Conference is organised by OCD Action and has been designed to educate and inspire participants, and provide an opportunity to share personal experiences. It is estimated that OCD affects approximately 1.8 million people in the UK and it is listed as one of the top 10 disabling conditions in the world by the World Health Organisation.

The day will include workshops, presentations and short films designed to help those attending. OCD Action Chairman, Peter Jennings, said: “This day of action will have internationally-respected experts deconstruct this complex disorder to show people that these intrusive thoughts and compulsive rituals are purely symptoms of OCD; symptoms which can be managed through therapy, medication and the determination to say No to OCD”.

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According to an article over on the Guardian, mental health services are being ignored by the NHS.

The Healthcare Commission reported in its annual review that the NHS is performing better than ever. However not all waiting times are measured: the report ignored the lack of access to areas of care in mental health, with some referrals for psychological ‘talking’ therapies taking up to two years.

The National Institute for Clinical Excellence has been recommending psychological therapies for people with a range of mental illnesses for years, however according to Rethink, 68% of people with schizophrenia are not getting this treatment.

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According to a recent article in the Guardian, mentally ill children are still receiving inappropriate treatment on adult wards. The children’s commissioner for England, Sir Al Aynsley-Green, led a study that found only 15% of NHS trusts are treating children on appropriate wards, and warned that “much still needs to be done to ensure young people placed on adult wards have the appropriate level of care and support they need.”

A spokesman for the Department of Health said: “Spending on mental health services increased by 31%, or £1.2bn, in the past five years, allowing the NHS to invest in the services and staff needed to transform mental health provision. This has included a commitment that, by November this year, no under-16 will be treated on an adult psychiatric ward and that by April 2010 all under-18s will be treated in an age-appropriate environment in hospital.”

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According to an article on the Guardian, the number of people admitted to hospital in England with mental illnesses linked to use of illegal drugs has doubled in the past decade. Figures show that 38,170 adults and children were admitted with drug-related mental and behavioural disorders in 2006-2007, an increase of 101% since 1996-1997.

Marjorie Wallace, chief executive of the mental health charity Sane, said: “More than twice as many young men were admitted as young women, which suggests men may be more likely to self-medicate with illicit drugs to manage their emotional distress.”

The figures show that men accounted for 79% of the 1,573 deaths from illicit drug use in England and Wales in 2006.

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According to a survey, conducted by the charity Rethink, of more than 3000 mental health service users, 87% reported the negative impact of stigma on their lives. Research found that nearly 9 out of 10 people with mental health problems have been affected by stigma and discrimination, with two thirds saying they have stopped doing things because of the stigma they face.

Rethink reported: “Stigma stops people with mental health problems from doing everyday things such as applying for jobs, making new friends, and going out to pubs and shops. It can even prevent people from reporting a crime”.

An article on the Guardian highlighted this with reference to employment: “One-third of people with mental health problems report having been dismissed or forced to resign, and, according to a report published in 2004 by the Social Exclusion Unit, just 24% of people with long-term mental health problems are in employment, despite them having the highest “want to work” rate of any group.”

According to the charity Rethink, the message service users want to convey, is: “We are people. See me, not the illness.” It is stigma that makes this difficult.

Mental health charity Mind has recently announced Dr Liz Miller as Mind Champion of the Year 2008. The award honours those who have made a significant contribution to challenging discrimination against people with mental health problems. Liz is a practising GP in London and suffers from bipolar disorder. She has written and spoken about her own experience, and co-founded the Doctors’ Support Network, a self-help group for doctors experiencing mental health problems.

Liz is also a founding trustee of Stand to Reason, a UK organisation committed to fighting discrimination and changing attitudes to mental illness, led by people who have experienced mental illness and based on research.

Liz said: “I’m very touched to receive the award. It’s really important that we change attitudes about mental health, and a good starting point is changing attitudes within the medical profession”.

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A new study has recently found that drinking or smoking heavily may accelerate the development of Alzheimer’s disease. According to the results, drinkers may develop the disease nearly five years earlier, while heavy smokers may develop it two years earlier. The study was conducted on 938 people aged 60 or more who had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.

Ranjan Duara, of the Mount Sinai Medical Centre in Miami Beach, said the results were significant “because it’s possible that if we can reduce or eliminate heavy smoking and drinking, we could substantially delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease for people and reduce the number of people who have Alzheimer’s at any point in time”.

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Recent findings published by the Guardian suggest that individuals with mental health problems are three times more likely to have debt problems. Experts warn that financial troubles can result in depression, anxiety and even suicide.

Those suffering with bipolar disorder are likely to be more affected than most, as experts believe over-spending is often part of the condition. A report published by the mental health charity Mind has found that debt is leaving tens of thousands of people struggling to live.

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According to the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL) a survey has been published saying that self-harm, anorexia, aggression and bullying are the results of increasing childhood stress. The teachers and lecturers believe that the children today are under a lot more pressure than 10 years ago. The stress that children are experiencing is caused by different issues, tests and exams, also home life and family break ups.

With the increase of young people committing suicide this has attracted media attention and is highlighting that there are issues that some children cannot deal with. There is a need for mental health care to be available in schools for the children that need it.

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