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Britain Question #1 Answer: FALSE!! The number one British mental health charity – Mind – conducted interviews with individuals diagnosed with depression, bipolar disorder, post traumatic stress disorder and schizophrenia. Of the 970 people interviewed 57% reported that they had recovered from their mental illness or were coping with support. Of the 970 people interviewed by Mind the following Behaviors that aid in Recovery were identified:
When it comes to exercise MIND partnered with Canon Health and Fitness to market the relationship between exercise and mental health. The MIND survey found that 83% of individuals with mental health problems use exercise as a stress reducer and mood elevator. Of the gym members interviewed 75% said they used exercise to maintain their mental health – to reduce stress and elevate their mood (Canon Health and Fitness Survey) People with mental health problems reported using everyday activities to help their mental health. These activities included walking (85%), housework (49%), and gardening (39%). 57% of those with mental health problems said regular exercise improved their motivation; 50% said it improved their self-esteem; 24% said exercise improved their social skills. Due to the overall benefits of exercise MIND is pushing for mental health and physicians to prescribe exercise as part of the treatment plan for recovery. With self-help is recovery those with mental health problems can take it upon themselves to exercise. This would also be a good strategy for consumer run organizations to adopt. Working out as a group, whether it is walking, gardening, lifting weights or other activities can have multiple benefits. Exercise can reduce stress and elevate mood, while working in a group connects us to others and builds social skills. This is a pretty economical, healthy, and fun way to move or maintain mental health! Group work also helps those with low motivation and depression to exercise. If all you have the energy to do is get up in the morning it is difficult to exercise on your own. Being part of a group makes it easier to be active and having a partner(s) may increases the probability that you’ll get up and get moving! “Mental health is one of the few areas of health care in Britain today where the expectation of recovery is very low.” by Richard Brook, the Executive Director of the British mental health charity, MIND. Barriers to recovery: Of those who had recovered or coped with their mental illness:
Benefits Trap: Sometimes the services required for recovery are not available according to one’s benefits or insurance coverage. When this is the case it is difficult to move up the recovery continuum if necessary services are not available to you. Low Income: Lack of money is a barrier to a healthy, successful life with out mental health problems. Adding mental health problems to this mix makes it even more challenging. For more information on MIND’s research go to www.mind.org.uk Click on News, policy, and campaigns to find the latest information, what mental health bills the British are working on and pick up some tips to increase your success on the road to recovery. Other British Websites Include: www.bbc.co.uk/?ok = British Broadcasting Company. This site provides information from Britain and sites pertaining to mental health include Health, Science and Nature, Society and Culture and many more. www.mhrc.cc/links/mh_sc/ = Mental Health Resource Center for England provides a lot of information on recovery alphabetically. This site also links many more sites that look at mental health and recovery issues.
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Recovery Models n Definitions n Barriers to Recovery n Recovery Tools n International Recovery Awareness
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