Around one person in six adults in England had at least one common psychiatric disorder with women more likely to experience common psychiatric problems than men, and the peak ages being between 25 and 54 for men, and 16 to 34, and 45 to 54 for women. Only around a quarter of those with a common mental health condition were receiving treatment for their condition. Psychotic disorders, such as schizophrenia and affective disorder, are also more common in younger age groups, with the peak age being 35 to 44 for both men and women. (Psychiatric Morbidity Survey of Adults, 2007, http://www.ic.nhs.uk/pubs/psychiatricmorbidity07). Within Devon, 33,700 persons were registered with depression at their GP practice, and 5,800 persons were registered with a serious mental illness (Quality and Outcomes Framework, 2013). The anxiety and mood disorders indicator from the Indices of Deprivation 2010 shown in figure 9.22 below highlight the pattern of mental health needs across the population, highlighting particular concentrations in Exeter, Exmouth, Teignmouth, Dawlish, Newton Abbot, Totnes, Ilfracombe, Bideford and Barnstaple. Poor parental mental health can have a detrimental effect on the health and development of children, leading to an increased risk of mental health problems for the children themselves. The prevalence and age distribution of common mental health problems highlight the need for a family focus in adult mental health services, and also the need to increase access to treatment.
Figure 9.22, Indices of Deprivation 2010, Mood and Anxiety Disorders Indicator, Devon areas in national context
Source: Indices of Deprivation, 2010
There are four self-reported wellbeing measures in the Public Health Outcomes Framework, relating to how satisfied people are with their life, how worthwhile they think the things they do in their life, how happy they are, and whether they feel anxious or not.
Table 9.9, Self-Reported wellbeing measures in Devon compared with the South West and England, 2013-14
| Measure | Devon | South West | England |
| Low satisfaction score | 4.9% | 5.3% | 5.6% |
| Low worthwhile score | * | 4.4% | 4.2% |
| Low happiness score | 8.5% | 9.7% | 9.7% |
| High anxiety score | 18.1% | 19.3% | 20.0% |
Source: Office for National Statistics Integrated Household Survey, 2014 * not available for Devon
Around 65 deaths per annum are registered as suicide or injury undetermined (open verdict), with a direct age standardised rate of 10.4 per 100,000. This was above the South West (10.1), local authority comparator group (9.5) and England (8.8) rates. Figure 9.23 highlights difference by sex, which tend to be low and stable for females and higher and more variable in males. Suicide rates are highest for people in the 40s and 50s and are relatively low for persons in their teens and 20s.
Figure 9.23, Deaths from Suicide or Injury Undetermined by Sex, Direct Age Standardised Rate per 100,000 population (aged 15 and over), 2001-2003 to 2011-13
Source: Primary Care Mortality Dataset, 2014