New study says mental illnesses are under-treated

A World Health Organisation study has said that mental illnesses are under-treated when compared to physical illnesses.

The new study, which was published in the British Journal of Psychiatry, examined 15 countries to establish the treatment of specific mental and physical disorders.

Six low-and-middle-income countries and nine classed as high-income were included in the World Mental Health survey.

The treatment sought and received for both physical and mental disorders were investigated and several key findings were identified.

According to the survey, respondents attributed more disability to their mental than their physical disorder and this was found to be held as strongly in low-and-middle-income countries as in high-income countries.

The proportion of people receiving treatment was found to be much lower for mental than for physical disorders in high-income countries and even more in low-and-middle-income countries.

Researchers have said that the low treatment rates calls for more attention to be paid to mental disorders.

Figures from the Mental Health Foundation state that one in four people will experience some kind of mental health problem in the course of a year.


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