FUNDAMENTAL FACTS ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH 2016

2.2.3.2 Physical disability
More than 15 million people – 30% of the
UK population – live with one or more
long-term condition(s) and more than 4
million of these will also have a mental
health problem. 256 The connection
between physical and mental health is
twofold, with those who have a physical
health problem being at an increased risk
of developing mental health problems;
the same is true for the opposite (mental
health problems increase the risk of
physical health problems).
• According to the 2014 APMS,
people with symptoms of a common
mental health problem are more
likely than those who do not have
symptoms to have a long-term
physical condition. This association
between physical and mental health
was further exemplified by the
finding that over a third of people
with severe symptoms (37.6%) have
a long-term physical condition,
compared to a quarter (25.3%) of
those with no or few symptoms of
a common mental health problem:
a pattern that is found in both men
and women. 257
• Wellbeing scores (calculated using
the Warwick-Edinburgh Mental
Well-being Scale, e.g. WEMWBS)
were lower for people with longterm
physical conditions (51.03)
compared to those without a longterm
physical condition (53.15). 258
• People with severe symptoms of a
common mental health problem are
twice as likely to have asthma as
people with no or few symptoms. 259 •
•
•
•
•
Rates of CMD-NOS were found to
be higher in those with cancer and
diabetes. Low wellbeing was found
to be higher in those with diabetes
(11%) than those without diabetes
(5.1%). 260
Both asthma and high blood
pressure were associated with a
wide range of different mental
health problems, including
depression, anxiety disorders and
PTSD. 261
A 2012 report published by The
King’s Fund and Centre for Mental
Health highlighted that individuals
with physical health problems are
at an increased risk of poor mental
health, particularly depression and
anxiety. 262
This report also showed that: 263
––
Long-term conditions account
for 80% of GP consultations
––
30% of people with a long-term
physical health condition also
have a mental health problem
––
46% of people with a mental
health problem also have a longterm
physical health problem
A meta-analysis of 22 studies shows
that, for patients with chronic heart
disease, those with depression have
higher rates of complications and
are more likely to undergo invasive
procedures. 264
46