Could a new Skype based counselling service actually help ease the mental health burden on the NHS?
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Latest figures show that the number of adults who have accessed specialist mental health services between 1st April 2010 and 31st March 2011 was the highest since records began in 2003/04 at over 1.25 million people.
And with mental health issues up on the previous year (2009/10) a new survey from Mootu.com today reveals that much of that could be down to three key factors.
The study reveals that adults in the UK believe the economic downturn (83%), pace of modern life (65%) and most interestingly new technology (27%) are the leading factors in the rise of mental health and addiction problems.
The findings have been released to launch http://www.Mootu.com, a new service which makes it easier to access professional help than ever before. It is the first network in the UK to offer counselling and psychotherapy via Skype video conferencing.
Despite a growing acknowledgment that mental health issues are a problem in the UK – two thirds of UK adults admit they think mental health issues are on the rise, a staggering number of people admit they wouldn’t seek help, this is particularly prevalent amongst the unemployed where nearly 50% would suffer in silence. Yet 63% of Brits said they would consult a therapist or counsellor if they could do so from the privacy of their home or without having to take time off work, showing there is a need for an in-home provision such as Mootu.
Worryingly, even with a number of high profile celebrities – such as Sarah Harding of Girl’s Aloud and former former England rugby player Duncan Bell and – having recently spoken out about their battle with depression, over a quarter of people state they wouldn’t seek help because of the stigma associated with such mental health problems and nearly 60% state they’d rather “soldier on themselves”.
However, if they thought they had a mental health problem, 63% of people said they would consult a therapist or counsellor IF they could do so from the privacy of their home or without having to take time off work or tell the boss.
At a time when a third of all GP appointments are for mental health issues, public health services are being cut and charities such as MIND are being flooded with calls for help (up 18-28% on last year) perhaps a more innovative approach which negates issues around stigmatism would both help the number of people willing to seek help and also ease the increasing burden on the NHS.
Mootu was established by dot.com entrepreneur, counselor and former addict John Witney, and is the UK’s first and largest provider of counselling and psychotherapy via Skype. All of its therapists are members of at least one professional body, qualified and experienced in their field. Their memberships are verified by Mootu to ensure the highest standards of practice.
Listen to our podcast with John Witney, founder of Mootu, dot com entrepreneur and professional counsellor and Phillip Hodson, FRSA, a leading psychotherapist and follow of the BACP
Reblogged from The Patient Experience http://www.patient-experience.com
The Dark Threads is the true story of how a bright teenager was transformed into a zombie thanks to a cocktail of drugs and electric shock treatment for an illness she never had. Jean Davison lost years of her life when doctors misdiagnosed her mental state as chronic schizophrenia. Sucked into the psychiatric system, she eventually lost her job, her boyfriend and all self-esteem. But eventually she managed to break free. Told with humour and insight, using extracts from her medical case notes…
Far be it from me - 