Beat stress forever
Do you feel stressed or anxious right now? If the answer is yes, you're not alone. The country's economic woes are taking a toll on our mental health.
Inquiries for psychiatrists rose a staggering 43 per cent last month compared to December 2007, according to the directory inquiries service 118118.
Its survey of call patterns reveals how deeply the nation's mood has shifted in the last year.
Calls for mental health centres increased by 30 per cent in the same period and for hypnotherapists by nearly a quarter (24 per cent) while calls for organisations such as Samaritans rose by 22 per cent.
It seems some of us are even turning to higher powers to help us cope in the recession. Calls for clairvoyants and palmists have more than doubled, up by an astonishing 161 per cent.
What's particularly worrying is that some experts are warning that the deepening economic crisis could lead to an increase in suicide rates as growing numbers of people face unemployment, mounting debts and housing insecurity.
Research shows that unemployed people are two to three times more likely to die by suicide than those in employment, according to the charity Samaritans, which provides confidential emotional support.
Samaritans trustee Stephen Platt, an Edinburgh University professor of health policy research, says: "Economic recession, particularly when it's sudden and severe, can lead to an increase in suicide rates.
"It's not only because more people become unemployed and, as a result, more psychologically vulnerable, but because those in employment feel threatened, too."
Health professionals are certainly preparing for an increase in people seeking help for anxiety and stress in coming months.
Blanka Robertson, of NHS Bristol's mental health and well-being strategy team, says: "We're concerned about the stress and anxiety which individuals and families are experiencing as a result of the current economic climate. We have been working closely with Job Centre Plus to ensure that appropriate information is available in terms of practical support and advice about maintaining positive well-being in difficult times."
This includes producing an information leaflet for people at risk of experiencing difficulties in the recession, which will shortly be available on the website www.bristol.nhs.uk
"The leaflet offers information and support on what to do when facing unemployment and on looking after oneself in terms of general physical and mental well-being," says Ms Robertson.
In a timely development, a new mental health support service launches in Bristol from April.
Available through GPs, the new service will provide "a range of advice and help to people experiencing anxiety, depression and stress, including problems caused by the recession", she says.
Private counsellors such as Ann McCracken, chairman of the International Stress Management Association, have noticed that many more people than usual are coming forward for help.
"My referrals have increased dramatically – up 100 per cent in the last four months. For some, it's because of impending redundancy or actual redundancy, but oddly enough, most people haven't said it's the economic situation that's causing them problems," she says.
"However, they are affected by the general concern and increased worry factor.
What's happening is very unsettling and increases anxiety. People say 'I feel so tense, I'm not well and things aren't going well at work or at home'."
As well as psychiatrists and counsellors, people are also trying to manage their stress by turning to alternative therapies. Calls for masseurs have rocketed by 80 per cent as Britons seek hands-on stress relief, according to 118118.
Massage therapist Jez Annamaria Marascalchi, who practises at Bristol's Berkeley Centre as well as privately, says aromatherapy massage can be very helpful in reducing stress because it works on physiological and emotional levels as well as physical.
"It's about taking a holistic approach and looking at the mind and the body together," she says.
"Stress is physically manifested in the body but, obviously, it's a mindset as well. When you get stressed, lactic acid builds up in your muscles and regular massage can relieve that, while loosening up the body has a definite impact on your mind."
That's also why stress management professionals all recommend exercise as a great stress reliever. But perhaps the most important step is to talk to someone, says David Gunnell, professor of epidemiology in Bristol University's department of social medicine.
He has studied suicide extensively and agrees that there's evidence linking economic recession with rising levels of mental distress.
But he is worried that "more gloomy reporting" and highlighting of the issue, particularly suicide, in the media could exacerbate the problem for vulnerable people.
He says that to stop matters from getting out of control, it's crucial to recognise that you're not alone in feeling anxious and to talk to someone.
"People don't seek help and bottle up their problems, sometimes because they're afraid of the stigma, and then they go into a spiral of despair," he says.
If you're experiencing problems you should go to your GP or a counsellor for help.
"It's perfectly acceptable to talk about these things."
Samaritans spokeswoman Robyn Clark agrees: "It's when people don't talk to each other and bottle up their problems that things can get out of hand.
"People tell us there's an incredible emotional release to be found in just talking to each other, and that's where organisations such as the Samaritans come in.
"If you can't talk to people close to you because you feel too scared or you don't want to burden loved ones, you can talk to us.
"It's OK to phone us if you're worried. We're here for anyone in emotional distress."
■ Samaritans has designated Friday February 6 as Stress Down Day as part of its campaign to raise awareness of stress in the workplace and also to raise £10 million for the charity. To show your support, all you have to do is wear your slippers to work or take part in a stress-busting activity in return for a donation to Samaritans. For details visit www.stressdownday.org
■ To contact Samaritans call 08457 90 90 90 or visit www.samaritans.org
■ For Jez Marascalchi visit Bristolmassage.org.uk and for the International Stress Management Association visit the website www.isma.org.uk
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