Brits get serious about drinking and depression

Apr 18 2006

Experts in the UK are warning that the favorite ritual of a glass of wine at the end of a stressful working day is for many a form of "self-medication" and a substitute for seeking professional help with their problems.

In a report by the Mental Health Foundation it suggests there is a direct link between the fact that alcohol use has more than doubled over the past 50 years along with an increase in anxiety, anti-social behaviour and addictive behaviour.

The foundation slaps the blame squarely on government ministers for failing to do enough to emphasise the impact drink has on mental well-being.

It is demanding the Government issue new guidance stressing the dangers of using drink as a "pick-me-up" and as a buffer for resolving deep-rooted insecurities about relationships or work.

The report is timely as it coincides with government plans for all cans and bottles of alcohol to carry health warnings.

The warnings are part of an effort to curb the nation's escalating binge-drinking habit.

Figures estimate that alcohol abuse costs the country as much as £20bn a year, much of this borne by the NHS and the increase in particular in the number of women and younger drinkers is a cause for concern.

Twenty per cent of men and 8 per cent of women binge drink at least once a week and campaigners have lobbied for more money to be spent on sensible drinking messages and education about safe drinking levels for some time.

An alcohol strategy to curb binge drinking, which has focused on the health dangers such as liver disease is already in action but the Mental Health Foundation believes this places too much emphasis on the medical risks and not enough on how alcohol can alter the brain chemistry and lead to increasing vulnerability to depression and anxiety.

Meanwhile in the north of the country the Scots too are getting to grips with the same issues.

A campaign and website have been launched there to coincide with the start of National Depression Week.

Depression Alliance Scotland (DAS), says the stigma attached to the illness makes it difficult for people to seek help.

DAS co-ordinator, Illena Day says the 'Mother, Father, Brother, Sister, Son, Daughter, Lover, Friend, You?' campaign aims to show that anyone including family and friends could suffer from depression.

Apparently as many as 321,000 depressed Scots sought help from their GP last year and there are concerns that more cases go unreported.

DAS says one in five people living in Scotland are expected to suffer from depression at some stage in their lives, with symptoms such as feelings of hopelessness, inadequacy, self-hatred, guilt, agitation and weight loss.

Mrs Day says although depression is a common illness, unlike asthma or diabetes, there is a stigma attached to it which prevents many sufferers from seeking help.