From the BBC
Depression and anxiety are now the most common reasons for people starting to claim long-term (over 6 months ) sickness benefits, researchers in London have said.
Illnesses such as depression are treated using medication, although patients often say they would prefer therapies such as psychotherapy or counselling. However, there are long waits for “talking therapies”.
The King’s researchers also say there are too few occupational therapists in the UK – just one specialist for every 43,000 workers. They say occupational therapists can help find ways for people to return to work after a long illness.
They have overtaken musculoskeletal conditions such as back pain, which used to prompt most such claims, the team told the British Medical Journal.
Wonder if the rates are similar on this side of the pond?
Many people with ADD also have comorbid conditions ( ADD +) such as depression or anxiety. There are many undiagnosed adults who have depression or anxiety. How successful will their treatment be if the underlying condition is undiagnosed and untreated ADD? I’m not saying that this is always is the case though.
I’ve heard many stories of people being treated for depression that actually had undiagnosed and untreated ADD as the root cause. Sometimes they even suggested to their therapist that they thought they might have ADD, but were quickly dismissed and ignored. We’ve known about ADD in one form or another (often insulting) for a hundred years.
Why does this continue to happen?
Why do businesses and governments make physical health issues a priority but mental health issues are always the poor second overlooked and over ignored cousin? Are our minds that trivial and unimportant?