Mental Health Profile
Northumberland November 2008
Geography and Deprivation
Introduction and Purpose
This community level mental Health Profile is intended to provide a snapshot of
the levels of mental health and wellbeing within the each PCT area and in
comparison to the North East Region. Its purpose is to provide commissioners
and other local government health and social care staff with relevant local
information to address the improvement of mental health and the treatment of
mental health problems. This includes information on prevalence of common
mental health problems as well as including wider factors that have a significant
impact on vulnerability to poor mental health. Supported by regional data and
wider public health information this profile is intended to provide consistent and up
to date information. The profile will not replicate information within and should be
viewed alongside the generic community Health Profiles available at
www.communityhealthprofiles.info
2. Service Provision
Northumberland is served by:
Northumberland Care Trust
Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust
Northumberland Tyne and Wear NHS Trust for people with mental health problems or
learning difficulties
 Seven local authorities including Northumberland County Council and six district
councils as follows: Alnwick District Council , Berwick upon Tweed Borough Council,
Blyth Valley Borough Council, Castle Morpeth Borough Council , Tynedale Council and
Wansbeck District Council
There is currently a local government review and a new unitary authority for Northumberland will
come into effect from April 2009.
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3.
Key Messages
Northumberland is the most northerly and sparsely populated county in England with a population of
just over 300 000 people divided between an urban South East corner and rural areas mainly in the
North and West. The South East areas of Blyth Valley and Wansbeck are characterised by high levels
of deprivation and the problems of poverty and unemployment associated with mental health problems.
In the rural areas there are problems of isolation, pockets of poverty, fuel poverty, and poor access to
services and amenities. There is a very variable distribution of wealth and deprivation in
Northumberland which means that measures taken from across the County can mask geographical
differences. Thus there is a mixed picture regarding health in Northumberland compared to England:
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Life expectancy is significantly lower than for England and death rates from health disease
and stroke are significantly higher, although the gap is narrowing.
The percentage of the Northumberland population on GP mental health registers is lower
than the England average but variations in deprivation in different areas are associated with
mental health problems.
Rates of alcohol related hospital stays and the proportion of people who binge drink are
higher that the England average and this is reflected in both the rural and urban areas
For Northumberland generally, rates of teenage pregnancy are lower than the England
average, but there is a high rate of teenage pregnancy in Wansbeck which, at 61 per 1000, is
more comparable to bigger urban areas in the region.
Also Wansbeck has a higher proportion of Incapacity Benefit claimants who have mental
health problems than the average regional rate
4. Data
The data used is to represent issues which impact on the mental health and well being of
local populations. The data is that currently available at upper tier local authority area.
Proxy measures have been used for some indicators and all episodes/cases will not be
captured by these indicators. Appendix a outlines the methods used to calculate section
6.
Predicted Prevalence of Common Mental Health Problems
The information below represents predicted prevalence only and is not therefore a
reflection of actual rate/numbers. The predictions have been calculated using the
following sources; psychiatric morbidity survey 2000, Heady and Ruddock model for
all neurotic disorders and the 2001 census. A full outlined of the methods used can be
found in Estimating the prevalence of common mental health problems in PCTs in
England NEPHO Mental Health Observatory technical paper number 1 Gyles Glover
February 16th 2008.
Estimated Numbers of Common Mental Health
Problems- Northumberland
Mixed
Anxiety/Depression
Generalised Anxiety
Disorder
Depressive episode
3910
1915
1898
16808
Panic Disorder
6345
OCD
10025
Phobias
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
Northumberland
England
Phobias
OCD
PanicDisorder
Depressive
episode
Generalised
Anxiety
Disorder
North East
Mixed
Anxiety/Depre
ssion
Rate per 1000
population (16-74)
Predicted Rates of Common Mental Health ProblemsNorthumberland
Condition
Predicted Number of Common Mental Health Problems by Sex
SEX
F
M
Total
Rate /1000
(16-74)
Any
Neurotic
17791.5
15631.7
33423.1
Mixed
Anxiety/Depression
9196.83
7610.83
16807.7
Generalised
Anxiety
Disorder
5285.6106
4739.8783
10025.489
Depressive
episode
2563.8908
3780.8473
6344.7382
Panic
Disorder
1066.73
831.165
1897.89
OCD
1235.01
680.228
1915.23
Phobias
1815.416
2094.173
3909.589
107.9
54.2
32.4
20.5
6.4
6.2
12.6