Anxiety increases by 28% in Derbyshire

An NHS Talking Therapy provider in Derbyshire says referrals linked to anxiety have increased by 28% over the past year. 

As part of Mental Health Awareness Week, a survey asked the public to share their experiences of anxiety including the symptoms they experience, what situations triggered their anxiety, and what treatments and actions help them. 

Common reported symptoms include overthinking, worrying, physical symptoms such as a racing heart, disturbed sleep, and feeling overwhelmed. When asked to recollect a particular instance of anxiety, one in three said that work was the cause of these symptoms – from starting a new job, an important client call, or just feeling out of their depth. This in turn affected their lives outside of work, including sleeping, going out, socialising, and doing everyday activities such as cooking and cleaning. 

Half of the participants said that talking things through helps them manage their anxiety and would recommend anyone who is struggling to do the same. A quarter said that going for a walk or exercising helped them get through an anxious situation. 

In the past 12 months, the people behind the survey – Everyturn – saw a 28% increase in people accessing its talking therapies service in Derbyshire due to anxiety, indicating that a rise in this particular mental health struggle is evident. 

The organisation is using Mental Health Awareness Week to call for anyone who is struggling to get help sooner. NHS Talking Therapies are proven to help manage anxiety with a range of treatment options and support networks designed to help alleviate symptoms and get people back to feeling themselves as soon as possible. 

Virginia Cornwell, Everyturn’s Clinical Lead for Derbyshire said: “Our latest figures show that anxiety is on the rise in our region, and we want people to feel supported in every aspect of their lives. Our service in Derbyshire offers a range of talking therapies, and we have additional resources, guides and support that can help anyone who is feeling anxious. It’s incredibly important that anyone who is struggling gets help as soon as possible.”

Everyturn Derbyshire offers a range of talking therapies including CBT (cognitive behavioural therapy), interpersonal therapy, counselling, and EMDR (eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing). 

Anyone who is struggling can access Everyturn Mental Health’s service by referring themselves to the service on www.everyturn.org, calling 0300 555 5580, or talking to their GP.