Sun 4 Aug 2019, 14:12 PM | Posted by editor
LETTER by Mark Langabeer, Newton Abbot Labour Party member
Dispatches reporter, Sanah Ahsan investigates the increase in the number of young people suffering mental health problems in Britain. Ahsan herself suffered from depression and now works as a therapist for the NHS. The programme reported that 700,000 young people have been referred for treatment and this represents a rise of 45% from two years ago. One in eight people aged between 5 and 19 have mental health issues but a third of these are not getting the treatment they need.
Ahsan believes that talking therapy worked for her. On average it takes nearly five months before treatment starts. As a result, many are prescribed with anti-depressant drugs. There are up to seven million people taking anti-depressants, a rise of 10% over the last three years. Ahsan interviewed the head of a GP practice who thought that it’s easier to prescribe pills because in some cases, the length of waiting times for more suitable treatments. A number of contributors also complained about the side effects when coming off the drugs.
In the past, there was a stigma attached to mental health. Campaigns to be open about mental health issues are promoted. Royals, such as Prince William and Harry, have been at the forefront of these campaigns. Ahsan felt that this was a positive thing. However, there is a negative aspect to these destigmatise programmes. She interviews a Consultant Child Psychiatrist who believed that some of the emotions expressed are normal and should not be regarded as an illness. They only address the symptoms, not the causes of mental illness.
Ahsan concludes that young people today have more pressures than ever before. Particularly vulnerable are women between the ages of 16 and 24.Loneliness, trauma and poverty are the causes of this mental health crises. Failure to acknowledge this is failing our youth. In my opinion, the solution to this crises is for youth to join and become active in Young Labour and fight for a Socialist transformation of society.
