How Mental Health Problems Change Over Time (OCR GCSE Psychology): Revision Note

Incidence refers to the number of new cases of mental health problems diagnosed within a specific time period (e.g. each year)

Tracking incidence is challenging because:

• not all mental health problems are diagnosed or recorded

• many studies rely on self-report data, which can be affected by honesty, accuracy, and memory

Despite this, evidence shows that the incidence of mental health problems in the UK has risen steadily over time, particularly for mood disorders such as depression and anxiety

• In 1993, around 15.5% of people aged 16–64 met the criteria for a common mental disorder

• By 2007, this had risen to 17.6%, and rates have continued to increase since

• NHS projections (2016) suggested that by 2030, there could be two million more adults in the UK with mental health problems than in 2013

Attitudes toward mental health have influenced how disorders are diagnosed and classified

• The International Classification of Diseases (ICD), used worldwide to diagnose disorders, is now in its 11th edition

• Each revision reflects advances in scientific understanding and social attitudes about what constitutes a mental disorder, e.g.

  • Added: Disorders such as bipolar disorder and PTSD are now recognised as significant mental health conditions

  • Removed: Homosexuality, which was listed as a mental disorder until 1990, is no longer considered one

This evolution shows how definitions of normality and abnormality are shaped by both medical knowledge and social values

• This demonstrates that mental health is not a fixed concept but one that changes over time.

While the types of disorders recognised have evolved, some patterns remain consistent:

• Mental health problems continue to be common, with anxiety and depression the most widespread

• Awareness and diagnosis have improved, meaning more people are seeking help

• Advances in neuroscience, psychology, and social understanding have reduced stigma and encouraged early intervention

The term ‘mental health’ became popular in the early 1900s as professionals sought to reduce the stigma attached to 'mental illness'

• They argued that the term 'illness' implied people with psychological problems were 'sick' or 'abnormal'

By focusing on health, they promoted the idea that mental well-being exists on a continuum and that everyone experiences varying levels of it

Over time, outdated terms such as ‘lunacy’ and ‘insanity’ have been replaced by more neutral terms like ‘mental disorder’, helping reduce stigma and changing perceptions

• These older terms implied that people were beyond help or lacked control over their actions, which reinforced negative stereotypes

The Mental Health Act (1959) marked a major shift in how society viewed and treated people with mental illness

Its key aims were to:

• ensure those with mental illness were treated similarly to people with physical illnesses, including the right to consent to treatment

• move care from institutions into the community, known as care in the community

• make local councils responsible for providing social care and outpatient support

This legislation helped move attitudes away from punishment and confinement toward compassion and rehabilitation

From the 1960s onwards, the media played a major role in breaking down the 'taboo' surrounding mental illness through television, radio, and public campaigns.

• In the 1970s–1980s, organisations such as Mind and Rethink Mental Illness began openly challenging stigma and promoting understanding

• In the 1990s and 2000s, national campaigns like Changing Minds (Royal College of Psychiatrists) and Time to Change (Mind & Rethink) further improved public awareness and acceptance

Recent surveys show that attitudes continue to improve:

• Between 2012 and 2013, there was a 2.8% increase in positive attitudes towards mental health — the biggest annual rise recorded

• 83% of people now agree that 'no one has the right to exclude people with a mental illness from their neighbourhood'