Breaking News English Lesson on Mental Illness

Britain's National Health Service suggests that up to half of adults have suffered from a mental illness in their life. The Health Survey for England shows that 25 per cent of all adults have had a mental health problem. A further 18 per cent believe they have suffered from one but have not seen a doctor. A mental health expert said more should be done to get people the help they need: He said: "[These] figures are another wake-up call for the NHS to ensure that mental health support is available for people who need it when they need it….Effective mental health treatment saves lives."

Researchers questioned 5,000 adults about their experiences. They found that 26 per cent of them were diagnosed with a mental illness. Depression was the most common form of mental illness, with 19 per cent of people suffering from it. Women are more likely to suffer from problems than men. Over 40 per cent of middle-aged women have had an illness at some time in their life. A spokeswoman from a mental health charity said: "These are shocking figures…because the scale of mental illness is already known but too often ignored."