Last week, NHS Digital, NatCen Social Research and the Department of Health Sciences at the University of Leicester published the latest results of the National Study of Health and Wellbeing (sometimes referred to as the Adult Psychiatric Morbidity Survey).

The National Study of Health and Wellbeing Survey  is carried out every seven years and has been running since 1993. It aims to determine how everyday stresses, strains and joys affect the health of people living in the England.  It focuses on common mental disorders which are disorders that cause emotional distress, interfere with daily function but do not usually affect insight or cognition. Common mental disorders include types of depression and anxiety. Depression occurs when a person experiences low moods and a loss of interest in everyday things and experiences. Anxiety disorders include panic disorder, phobias and obsessive compulsive disorder.

The current survey focuses on data collected in 2014 and is based on interviews with 7,500 adults over the age of 16. It explored a range of areas including wellbeing, disability, physical health, pain, lifestyle behaviours, work and stress and life events. The results of the survey can be used by those working in the health field to get a clearer picture of the public’s health and wellbeing so they can plan their services accordingly.

What does the study tell us?

The study revealed that one in six  (17%) adults have a common mental disorder and more women were affected by mental illness than men with one in five (20.7%) women having a common mental disorder compared to one in eight men (13.2%).

Other disorders were also explored and it was found that one in a hundred adults were affected by psychotic disorder and autism each.  Also, one in fifty people experienced bipolar disorder and one in thirty people were drug dependent and a similar proportion of people were found to be alcohol dependent.

The study found that young women were particularly at risk of developing a mental disorder having high rates of common mental disorders (28.2%)0, self-harm, post-traumatic stress disorder and bipolar disorder.

The survey also found that common mental disorders were more common in Black women, adults under the age of 60 living alone, women living in large households, adults who were not in employment or were in receipt of benefits and in those who smoked cigarettes.

When the researchers looked at ethnicity they found that in men common mental disorders affected all ethnic groups similarly but when they looked at women there was a difference. In women, common mental disorders were more common in Black and Black British women (29.3%) compared to non-British White women (15.6%) and British White women (20.9%).

The survey suggested that depression was more prevalent among Black women and panic disorder appeared to be more prevalent in Black, Asian and mixed ethnic groups.

Conclusion

Common mental disorders are a significant issue in England and the survey reveals that these are more common in Black women and there is a need to understand why this is and provide Black women with the appropriate support to address this. As a charity we will do what we can to address this issue.

You can download the National Study of Health and Wellbeing below.