Mental health in Aylesbury: Study into hidden pandemic reveals why people don’t ask for help and support

Why do so many people with mental health problems suffer alone without reaching out for help?

With official figures showing rates of depression doubling in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, it’s an increasingly important question.

Now new research shared exclusively with The Bucks Herald reveals the reasons vary from community to community.

The study by the international non-profit Surgo Ventures, funded partly by the UK government, involved a survey of more than 17,000 people across all parts of the country.

Of the 278 responses received in Aylesbury's health board area 46% met the criteria for further clinical assessment for either depression or anxiety.

This total was above the national average and covered people within the Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care System.

Of those asked in Aylesbury's integrated care system 26% said they didn't know if anxiety and depression were mental illnesses, this was also above the average for the UK.

A staggering 21% of people asked in this health board survey said they wouldn't seek help if mental health issues were affecting their day-to-day life.

The biggest barrier to seeking mental health support noted on surveys in the Bucks, Oxfordshire and West Berkshire area was 'wanting to solve the problem individually, without help'.

On a national level the research reveals that:

-One in three showed signs of possible depression or anxiety;

-One in five would delay seeking professional care by at least six months;

-The most common barrier to seeking care was a ‘dislike of talking about my feelings, emotions or thoughts’.

Reasons for not seeking help varied depending on the towns or cities people lived in.

For instance, concerns about the financial costs of mental illness were more common in the home counties, while people in Yorkshire were more likely to dislike opening up about their feelings.

The findings have been used to build the UK Mental Health Data Explorer, designed to help health chiefs in towns and cities across the country tackle the specific barriers to care in their own areas, from stigma to practical worries.

Surgo Ventures’ CEO and co-founder, Dr Sema K Sgaier, said: “The fact that one in five people would suffer silently with mental health difficulties is a shocking reflection of barriers to mental health care in the UK.

“What also stood out was how widely the reasons varied from community to community.

“Health leaders who want to encourage people to seek care will need to pursue tailored, hyper-local strategies for it to work.

“And our data can help provide these leaders with a roadmap on what to do in their communities.”

A spokesperson for the Department for Health and Social Care said: “We will be launching a national conversation to inform the development of a new long term Mental Health Strategy later this year.

“This kind of research will help inform what actions we should take to ensure people who need support can, and do, access it.

“Mental health services are there for those who need them, so if you need support or are concerned about someone else, please reach out for help.”

Vicki Nash, head of policy at the mental health charity Mind, said: “The pandemic has taken a great toll on the mental health of the nation, with many people experiencing a worsening of pre-existing mental health problems while others are struggling with their mental health for the first time.

"What is needed urgently is a cross-Government plan to tackle the mental health backlog, alongside additional funding to support people experiencing mental health problems earlier on before they reach crisis point and treatment becomes both more intensive and expensive.”

Subodh Dave, Dean of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said the Covid-19 pandemic had led to “unprecedented demand on mental health services”.

He said it was “essential to work collaboratively across society to remove the stigma for those struggling with their mental health so that they can come forward when they need support”.

If you are affected by the issues raised, the following organisations may be able to offer help or advice:

The Mind Infoline: 0300 123 3393 or email [email protected]

Samaritans: 116 123 or email [email protected]

The Rethink Mental Illness Advice Line: 0808 801 0525 or via its web chat service at https://www.rethink.org/aboutus/what-we-do/advice-and-information-service/