Mental Health
Mental health seems to be a hot topic in the media at the moment, but what role does alcohol have to play in this issue? This page tells you more.
The stats
In 2014/2015, one in ten (10%) adults exhibited two or more symptoms of depression, indicating moderate to high severity. This level is similar to that reported in the previous survey periods of 2008/2009 (8%), 2011/2012 (8%) and 2012/2013 (9%). The proportion of adults reporting one or more symptoms of depression in 2014/2015 (20%) was significantly higher than the proportion in both 2012/2013 (17%) and 2008/2009 (14%).
The proportion of those with two or more symptoms of depression rose significantly between 2008/2009 and 2014/2015 for men (7% to 10%) but not women (10% in both survey periods). Significant increases were seen in the proportion of both men and women with one or more symptoms (11% to 19% for men, 16% to 21% for women).
The cycle
Alcohol is linked to suicide, self-harm and psychosis.
Alcohol can actually increase anxiety and stress rather than reduce it.
The proportion of adults with at least one symptom of anxiety rose from 21% in 2012/2013 to 24% in 2014/2015.
The proportion of adults with two or more symptoms of anxiety, indicating moderate to severe levels of anxiety, showed an increase from 9% in 2008/2009 to 2012/2013 to 12% in 2014/2015. Women were significantly more likely than men to exhibit two or more signs of anxiety (15% compared to 9%).
In action
If you are concerned about someones mental health and displays of aggression click here.
Ever wondered why people can become aggressive? Because of the reduced levels of Serotonin our perception of a situation narrows, putting the spotlight on the threat in the environment that cuts out the neutral information.
For example, our partner talking to an attractive man at the bar. You may fail to see that it is actually the barman and that he is talking to others.
Does this give meaning to the word blind drunk?
Chicken before the egg
Some drink to relieve the pressures of anxiety and depression.
Others drink to relieve the anxiety and pressure caused from drinking.
Symptoms of depression in 2012-2015 (combined), by age and sex, and by area deprivation
Those in the most deprived areas were 4 times more likely than those in the least deprived areas to report two symptoms of depression (16% compared with 4%), using age-standardised data. Comparable patterns of prevalence of two or more symptoms of depression increasing with deprivation were seen for both men (18% in the most deprived quintile compared with 6% in the two least deprived quintiles) and women (15% in the most deprived compared with 3% in the least deprived).
Self harm
Alcohol can make people lose their inhibitions and behave impulsively, so it can lead to actions they might not otherwise have taken – including self-harm and suicide[4].
According to the NHS in Scotland, more than half of people who ended up in hospital because they’d deliberately injured themselves said they’ve drunk alcohol immediately before or while doing it. 27% of men and 19% of women gave alcohol as the reason for self-harming.
Extreme levels of drinking (such as more than 30 units per day for several weeks) can occasionally cause ‘psychosis’. It’s a severe mental illness where hallucinations and delusions of persecution develop. Psychotic symptoms can also occur when very heavy drinkers suddenly stop drinking and develop a condition known as ‘delirium tremens’ – symptoms include body tremors and confusion.
If you’d like more information on the effects of alcohol and mental health check out Drinkaware* & Royal College of Psychiatrists.
*DRiNKLiNK has no affiliation with Drinkaware