Introduction & Effects of Mental Health (AQA GCSE Psychology): Exam Questions

Time to Change

Time to Change was a mental health campaign in England. It was designed to reduce stigma and discrimination experienced by those with mental health problems. Time to Change was run by the charities Mental Health Media, Mind, and Rethink Mental Illness and started in 2007.

Research by Henderson and Thornicroft (2013) found that between 2008 and 2011, the amount of discrimination reported by people who used various mental health services had significantly decreased. This was a change from the previous 10–15 years. Earlier research had shown a lack of improvement in the levels of stigma and discrimination in a number of western countries.

David regularly uses online betting apps. Over time, he has found that he spends more time gambling than he intends to, often ignores his responsibilities, and feels restless and distracted when he tries to stop. He is beginning to realise that his gambling behaviour may be harmful.

Recent studies show rising anxiety rates in young people, linked to factors like constant social media use, high expectations, and escalating housing costs.

Meanwhile, researchers note that in clinical diagnosis, some minority cultural groups experience higher rates of misdiagnosis, suggesting there are biases in how symptoms are perceived by clinicians unfamiliar with different cultural norms.

Counsellor: Hi Anne-Marie. Why have you come for counselling today?

Anne-Marie: A month ago I was feeling fine, but over the past few weeks I have noticed that it feels more difficult to make decisions and deal with problems.

Counsellor: So you are aware of a change in your mental health?

Anne-Marie: I guess so, it just feels much harder to cope with everything.

Effects of significant mental health problems

A report looking at the effects of significant mental health problems has been published today.

The report suggests that one of the most worrying effects is the negative impact on the physical well-being of people with mental health problems. Not only can this increase the number of visits made to doctors and other healthcare professionals, it can also decrease productivity due to people missing work.

The report also looks at other effects, such as the higher costs of policing due to increases in crime rates and the damage caused to relationships.

Psychologists believe that social media can make us feel lonely!

Researchers claim they have discovered that spending more time on social media sites can actually make us feel less connected to other people. This increases our sense of isolation. Researchers say that this is having a negative effect on our mental health and could be damaging to our relationships. It may also have a negative effect on our physical wellbeing and lead to an increased need for social care.