Mental health conditions

What are mental health conditions?

Mental health conditions, disorders or illnesses take many different forms, affecting the way you behave, feel, and think. They can feel as bad or worse than any physical illness. Although certain symptoms are common in specific mental health issues, no two people behave exactly. The level of impairment of an individual’s cognitive, emotional, or behavioural functioning will be different.

Mental health conditions are not a sign of weakness. They are an upsetting and frightening experience. But remember they are a common human experience, so please talk about what you are feeling and seek help. This will decrease the distress and sense of isolation you may be suffering.

Who is affected by mental health?

Anyone can suffer from a mental health condition. They affect around one in four people in Britain each year, and range from common mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety, to more rare problems such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.

How common are specific mental health conditions?

A study in England in June 2020 reported the following figures.

• Generalised anxiety disorder – 6 in 100 people
• Depression – 3 in 100 people
• Phobias – 2 in 100 people
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD) – 1 in 100 people
• Panic disorders – 0.6 in 100 people
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) – 4.4 in 100 people
• Mixed anxiety and depression – 8 in 100 people
• Personality disorders – approx 2-3 in 100 people (in their lifetime)
• Psychotic disorder – 0.7 in 100 people
• Bipolar disorder – 2.0 in 100 people
• Suicidal thoughts – 1 in 5 people
• Suicide attempts – 1 in 15 people
• Self-harm – 1 in 14 people

What causes mental health conditions?

Mental health conditions are thought to be caused by a combination of physiological and psychosocial factors rather than just one reason. These factors can be wide-ranging.

Below are some examples of circumstances that may trigger a period of poor mental health.

• Physical causes e.g. head injury, epilepsy
• Genetic factors
• Childhood or adult trauma, neglect or abuse
• Long-term physical health issue
• Long-term stress
• Discrimination or stigma
• Isolation or loneliness
• Bereavement
• Loss of a job
• Caring for a family member
• Drug or alcohol misuse
• Debt or poverty

Mental health issues treated at Nightingale Hospital

We treat the following mental health conditions at Nightingale Hospital, in central London:

• Addictions (Including behavioural, alcohol, substances and more)
• Adult ADHD
• Anger problems
• Anorexia nervosa
• Anxiety
• Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
• Bereavement
• Bipolar disorder
• Binge eating disorder (BED)
• Body dysmorphic disorder (BDD)
• Bulimia nervosa
• Depression
• Eating disorders
• Medically unexplained symptoms (MUS)
• Memory problems
• Mood disorders
• Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
• Panic attacks
• Personality disorders
• Phobias
• Postnatal depression
• Psychosexual difficulties
• Psychosis
• Relationship and interpersonal difficulties
• Schizophrenia
• Self-harm
• Sleep disorders
• Stress
• Suicidal feelings
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Work-related stress disorder 

All of our treatment is tailored to our patient’s needs based on the understanding that every person is unique and has their own challenge.

Treatment for mental health conditions

Treatment for all mental health conditions can be offered as outpatient therapy, day-patient therapy, or inpatient therapy.

Our specialists provide evidence-based treatments and therapies, including:

Acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), art therapy, clinical psychology, cognitive analytic therapy (CAT), cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), counselling, dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT), drama therapy, eating disorder treatment, eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR), family therapy,  interpersonal therapy (IPT), mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT), occupational therapy, psychotherapy, sleep therapy, specialist therapies (including for addiction and eating disorders), schema therapy, and well-being therapies.  We also offer repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and a nasal spray treatment for those with treatment-resistant depression.

Medication may also be prescribed by your consultant psychiatrist and can be obtained through the hospital’s on-site pharmacy.

Choosing the right medication, medication dose, and treatment plans are based on a person’s individual needs and medical situation, and under a consultant psychiatrist’s care.

We provide ongoing support with weekly free aftercare groups for inpatients and day therapy patients for one year after treatment. These can be invaluable in helping you consolidate your recovery.