There are more people on capacity benefits due to mental health problems than the total number of unemployed people on job seekers allowance. By 2030 depression will be the world’s most common illness according to the World Health Organisation.
As evidence suggests that Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is currently the most effective treatment available for a range of mental health problems (in particular depression and anxiety) it is recommended as the treatment of choice by The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) and therefore the government. Over the last 2 years the government have spent £103 million funding the IAPTs programme (Improving Access to Psychological Therapy), the most recent initiate aimed to deliver psychological therapy (in particular Cognitive Behavioural Therapy ( CBT )) to the 6 million people in the UK who currently suffer from common mental health problems. In 2011 an additional £70 million has been ear marked bringing the total to £173 million. However, it is estimated that this will only lead to treatment for 50 per cent of sufferers on the NHS.
For the remaining 3 million, and this can only be an overestimation of the figures as this number is based only on those people who have sought professional help, the prognosis is bleak. Medication, the prescription of which is more often than not trial and error, will only mask symptoms and often is accompanied by unpleasant side effects the main reason that people stop taking antidepressants). ’Talking Therapies’ and the people that offer them are rarely regulated in the private sector, leading often to the exacerbation of symptoms at the hands of someone who is not qualified and lacks the experience to manage what are often life threatening problems: in the UK over 5000 people commit suicide each year; at least 19,000 children attempt suicide – one every half hour; suicide is the number one cause of death for males aged 18-24.
The 2010 Spending Review presented to Parliament on 20.10.10 makes it clear there are going to be difficult times ahead in the UK. This will undoubtedly lead to an increase in the prevalence of distress in the population. Although the NHS is going to be spared the level of cuts that other government departments face the burden on this already overstretched service is going to be considerable.

Author's Bio: 

The British CBT & Counselling Service are Doctors of Clinical Psychology and Counselling Psychologists (MSc) (Richmond, Kingston, Nottingham), specialising in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) for both adults and children experiencing a range of problems including, anxiety, depression, relationship problems, bereavement, eating disorders (including anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa), obsessive compulsive disorder and others distressing emotional problems. We offer Face to Face CBT Counselling, Telephone CBT Counselling, Marriage Counselling and Online CBT Counselling.
All members of The British CBT & Counselling Service (Richmond, Kingston, Nottingham and West Bridgford) are Doctors of Clinical Psychology, Counselling Psychologists (MSc) or CBT Therapists (Postgraduate Diploma) and are accredited to practice by The British Association of Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy and/or hold a practicing certificate with The British Psychological Society. All Psychologists are also registered with The Health Professionals Council which monitors and regulates the practice of Psychologists and some are members of The British Association of Cognitive Psychotherapies South London. Our Psychologists have spent between seven and nine years training to enable people to overcome their emotional difficulties via CBT Counselling and have been qualified practitioners for at least two years. In addition to practicing privately, many hold (or have recently held) senior positions in the NHS.
Dr Gray (Consultant Clinical Psychologist) is the Director of The British CBT & Counselling Service. She is also a Associate Research Fellow at the Institute of Psychiatry, has published widely in the field of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Counselling and speaks regularly at both national and international conferences. She is also co-author of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Patients with Eating Disorders: A Comprehensive Treatment Guide. Cambridge University Press (2007) and the companion guide for patients Beating Your Eating Disorder. Cambridge University Press (2010).