Prevention is better than a cure!

Reports today that suicide and depression are on the rising is heartbreaking and troubling yet it is not surprising. Nonetheless, it is most unfortunate as the rate of suicide cases had dropped to its lowest for the first time just when the UK economy started to falter. According to NHS Choices, before the economic down turn, rates of suicide in the UK was steadily falling and in 2007 the figures displayed the lowest rate on record. The year before that, 2006, saw 5,554 suicides in adult aged 15 and over – three quarter of which were men. The rate started to rise again as the economy started to bite and at the same time the NHS saw an increase in the number of Mental Health cases and the number of those claiming incapacity benefits.

Even though the UK is not alone – results are still alarming and should not be taken lightly – evidence form across the world shows that the economic down turn has a negative impact on wellbeing of individuals, its also anticipates its improvement to lag behind the economic recovery as we are seeing the highest number of cases in the last year or so.

The Prime Minster’s ‘Wellbeing Measure’, the means by which happiness of the nation is to be measures, and although wellbeing measure is not a cure is very opportune, because it is a good pre-emptive and preventative measure by which risks can be detected, uncovered and hopefully managed and treated in time.