Mental ill health tax drain

According to a report by disability insurer UnumProvident, more than 10 million working days were lost in 2005/2006 through stress, depression and anxiety – with public administration, education and health sectors worst affected. The study, conducted by analyst Oxford Economics, estimates that taxpayers are forking out over £6 billion as a result of mental ill health each year. Research suggests that the number of claims linked to mental and behavioural problems has soared by over five per cent each year since 2000. The highest levels of claims for incapacity benefit as a result of mental and behavioural disorders were in cities such as Manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow, while people aged 55-59 were most likely to experience mental ill health.

Diversity News

Psychodynamic evidence

A new study from physicianscientists at NewYork- Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center is the first to show that psychodynamic psychotherapy is effective in treating panic disorder. The small but significant study involved 49 patients, and compared 12 weeks of twiceweekly psychodynamic psychotherapy sessions to applied relaxation training (ART). ‘The strategy was highly effective, achieving nearly double the level of patient response by the end of treatment as compared to ART,’ said lead author Dr. Barbara Milrod. The trial is among the first to prove clinical efficacy for a psychoanalytic therapy for any major psychiatric disorder, Dr. Milrod said. ART is a structured, relaxation-focused approach with similarities to CBT.

Science Daily

Identifying emotional abuse

A survey by the NSPCC and The Guardian has found that 98 per cent of professionals think the public needs greater awareness and understanding of childhood emotional abuse. Forty-four per cent of respondents reported seeing more cases than five years ago, yet less than half felt they had enough knowledge and training to deal with it. Over 800 professionals – including those in education, social care, health and youth work – responded to the NSPCC’s online survey, highlighting their concerns about the problem of children being emotionally abused in the UK and society’s ability to get appropriate help. In 2005, just under 5,000 children who called the NSPCC’s ChildLine service were counselled about emotional abuse. NSPCC director and chief executive Dame Mary Marsh said: ‘If we are to tackle this problem successfully, we must ensure professionals get the proper training to make identifying emotional abuse a priority.’

www.nspcc.org.uk

Delayed help for veterans

British veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are waiting up to 18 months for NHS mental health treatment, according to the charity Combat Stress. Ministry of Defence (MoD) figures reveal that, since 2003, more than 2,100 troops have suffered psychiatric problems after returning from Iraq. Of these, 328 suffered from PTSD, 227 from other neurotic disorders and 373 from mood disorders. Combat Stress, which runs three treatment centres for veterans with PTSD, warned it was in danger of being overwhelmed and that more resources are needed to help the thousands of ex-service personnel who will need treatment in the coming years – serving military personnel, including reservists, must use the NHS after leaving the forces. Robert Marsh, a spokesman for the charity, said that it is unusual that veterans are seeking help so quickly but this also suggests there will be significant demand in years to come.

International News Service

Izzat may hide child abuse

Over two-thirds of British Asians think that reporting child abuse would have a negative effect on the ‘honour’ of a child’s family, according to an NSPCC survey. More than half of 500 respondents, drawn from Indian, Pakistani and Bangladeshi communities, also felt that their own family’s honour or ‘izzat’ would suffer too. NSPCC Asian Helpline Manager Saleha Islam said: ‘Cultural issues and the importance placed on family reputation could mean that child abuse is hidden away.’

www.communitycare.co.uk