16 October 2007
Sir,
News that people from all backgrounds are consuming alcohol to excess fuels the need for a serious look at why those living in Britain are turning to the bottle.
Alcohol consumption in the UK has doubled in the last fifty years and research shows that 12 million people use drink to cope with feelings of shyness, anxiety or depression. Alcohol is often used to dampen negative feelings and help people temporarily forget their problems. However, while the effects of alcohol on the body are well known, too few people know that drinking hazardous levels of alcohol can actually be damaging to a person’s brain and mental wellbeing.
We call on Government to pay sober attention to the links between alcohol and mental health, educate the population of its effects, and encourage a debate about why so many people - regardless of age or class - are drinking too much.
Dr Andrew McCulloch
Chief Executive
The Mental Health Foundation
Return to Letters 2007
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