Mental Health

Introduction

Many of the risk factors for mental illness are linked to deprivation, so a general pattern occurs with the three northern regions (North East, North West and Yorkshire & Humber), showing worse measures than the three southern regions (South East, South West and Eastern England) and the two midlands regions (West Midlands, East Midlands) in between. London has a very inconsistent pattern appearing at different places on different indicators.

Highlight figures

Not surprisingly, given the patterns of risk factors for mental ill health, the North East displays some of the highest rates of mental illness in England.

  • Data from the Health Survey for England shows that the North East is the only English region with an estimated prevalence of possible psychiatric disorder measured using the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (17.5%) that is significantly higher than the England average (13.2%).
  • The North East has the highest age standardised death rates from suicide and injuries of undetermined intent in both males and females aged 15 and over. The rate for males (20.4 per 100,000) is significantly higher than the England average (16.4 per 100,000).
  • The North East has the highest age standardised rates of hospital admission for self harm and for drug overdose. Rates were significantly higher than the England average.