Summary

Anxiety disorders are the most common mental health problem, occurring in one in ten people. There are several different types of anxiety disorder, including generalised anxiety disorder, specific phobia, social phobia, agoraphobia, obsessive compulsive disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder. One in six men and one in four women suffer from depression at some point in their life. Depression is more than just feeling sadness or low, and is a complicated medical illness that has many causes including genes, environment, lifestyle, brain chemicals, personality and psychology, and occurs in numerous forms including bipolar disorder, major depression and post-natal depression. How does one identify anxiety or depression, and what forms of treatment are available to their many sufferers? What can friends, family and health professionals do to help people experiencing anxiety and depression to cope with and recover from these conditions? Chapter 1: Anxiety Chapter 2: Depression Glossary; Facts and Figures; Additional Resources; Index