Schizophrenia, a chronic mental health disorder, majorly impacts individuals’ lives, affecting their thoughts, feelings, and behaviours. Characterised by symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, disorganised thinking, and impaired functioning, schizophrenia requires timely and effective treatment for mental health to improve the quality of life for those affected. Recent data from the NHS has shown a decrease in the diagnosis of schizophrenia.
Individuals who have schizophrenia need to attend rehabilitation centres where they undergo treatment for mental health as well. By analysing the data from the NHS, we identify that most of the patients who have schizophrenia are men, which further highlights that men are struggling with bad mental health more than women on average and need treatment for mental health.
Early detection and treatment are crucial in managing schizophrenia effectively. Access to complete care, including medication, mental health treatment centres, psychotherapy, and support services offered by rehab centres, can significantly improve outcomes for individuals living with this condition.
Disproportionate diagnosis in men
Research indicates that men are diagnosed with schizophrenia more frequently than women. According to the NHS, hospital admissions for psychosis, including schizophrenia, are notably higher among men. This disparity is concerning and prompts a closer examination of potential contributing factors. Rehab centres have way more male patients compared to females.
- Biological factors: Biological differences between men and women may play a role in the higher diagnosis rates among men. Studies suggest that hormonal variations, such as higher testosterone levels in men, could influence the development and progression of schizophrenia. Hence, we find more men in the rehab centre compared to women.
- Sociocultural factors: Sociocultural dynamics also contribute significantly to the gender disparity in schizophrenia diagnoses. Traditional gender roles and expectations can pressure men to exhibit emotional stoicism and self-reliance. This cultural backdrop may delay help-seeking behaviours among men, exaggerate symptoms and lead to more severe presentations when they do seek help. The stigma associated with mental health issues further compounds this problem, delaying men from acknowledging and addressing their symptoms. Men often delay or even avoid going to mental health treatment centres altogether, which makes their case worse.
- Environmental factors: Environmental influences, including childhood adversity, substance abuse, and socioeconomic factors, disproportionately affect men. Exposure to trauma and stressful life events can trigger or worsen schizophrenia symptoms. Additionally, men are more likely to engage in substance abuse, which can lead to dual diagnosis scenarios where both schizophrenia and substance use disorders are present, complicating treatment and recovery. Men also never care about their mental health and do not take frequent breaks from work, leading to increased stress.
Men need to address their mental health issues and should start attending mental health treatment centres when they feel like they are under immense stress. This can help in early detection of schizophrenia if they have the symptoms and can be given medical help immediately, preventing the worsening of the condition.
Women are more likely to take care of their mental health when they feel like they are under stress, take regular breaks from work, and also attend therapy a lot more than men, which helps them lower the chances of developing schizophrenia.
Challenges men face in seeking help
Despite the increasing awareness of mental health issues, men continue to face significant barriers in seeking help for schizophrenia. These challenges can hinder early detection and effective management of the disorder, which in turn prevents them from attending rehab centres.
- Reluctance to disclose symptoms: Many men hesitate to disclose their symptoms due to fear of judgement and the belief that expressing mental health concerns signifies weakness. This reluctance often results in delayed diagnosis and treatment, worsening the prognosis and making recovery more challenging.
- Misinterpretation of symptoms: Symptoms of schizophrenia, such as social withdrawal and apathy, can be misinterpreted as personality flaws or behavioural issues rather than signs of a serious mental health condition. This misinterpretation can lead to inadequate support from family, friends, and even healthcare providers, delaying the provision of appropriate care.
- Lack of awareness about mental health resources: Awareness of available mental health resources is crucial for seeking help. Many men may not know about the services offered by mental health treatment centres, rehab clinics, and support groups. This lack of knowledge can prevent them from accessing the comprehensive care needed to manage schizophrenia effectively.
Rehab clinics, like the ones at UKAT, offer tailored programmes that address the specific needs of individuals with schizophrenia. These programmes include Dialectical-behavioural therapy (DBT), family therapy, vocational training, and peer support groups.
Data breakdown
The data provided shows the count of Finished Admission Episodes (FAEs) with a primary diagnosis of schizophrenia, split by age and gender, for the years 2019-2023.
Age group breakdown
- 0-9 years: Very few cases, ranging from 1 to 2 per year.
- 10-19 years: Cases decreased from 130 in 2019-20 to 77 in 2022-23.
- 20-29 years: Cases decreased from 1,539 in 2019-20 to 990 in 2022-23.
- 30-39 years: Cases decreased from 2,421 in 2019-20 to 1,501 in 2022-23.
- 40-49 years: Cases decreased from 2,081 in 2019-20 to 1,288 in 2022-23.
- 50-59 years: Cases decreased from 1,784 in 2019-20 to 1,124 in 2022-23.
- 60-69 years: Cases decreased from 880 in 2019-20 to 658 in 2022-23.
- 70-79 years: Cases decreased from 470 in 2019-20 to 335 in 2022-23.
- 80-89 years: Cases fluctuated slightly, ending at 88 in 2022-23.
- 90+ years: Cases remained low, ending at 15 in 2022-23.
Gender breakdown
- Female: Cases decreased from 3,034 in 2019-20 to 1,939 in 2022-23.
- Male: Cases decreased from 6,475 in 2019-20 to 4,117 in 2022-23.
- Not Known: Cases were minimal, with a notable increase to 78 in 2022-23.
Overall, the data indicates a general decrease in the number of hospital admissions for schizophrenia across all age groups and both genders from 2019-20 to 2022-23.
How UKAT can help
UKAT provides excellent care and treatment to enable all those suffering from addictive disorders to achieve the goal of life-long recovery. Our treatment centres provide comfortable and well-maintained accommodation and have successfully treated hundreds of people affected by the negative impact of addiction.
We treat addiction as an illness, not a life choice, and ensure that all practitioners are highly trained and motivated to enable individuals to embark on a life-changing process.
- Network support: We understand the complexities of mental health disorders like schizophrenia. Our network of rehab clinics offers specialised treatment programmes designed to address the unique challenges faced by individuals with schizophrenia and provide a supportive and therapeutic environment where individuals can receive personalised care and support.
- Experienced professionals: Our team of experienced professionals is dedicated to helping individuals with schizophrenia achieve recovery and improve their quality of life. Through our comprehensive treatment approach, we address not only the symptoms of schizophrenia but also the underlying factors contributing to the disorder and offer dual diagnosis treatment for individuals with co-occurring substance use disorders, ensuring that all aspects of an individual’s mental health are addressed.
If you or a loved one is struggling with schizophrenia, we encourage you to reach out to UKAT. Early intervention and treatment can make a significant difference, and our rehab centres are here to provide the support and care needed for recovery.
Our rehab clinics offer a range of services designed to promote recovery and enhance well-being. If you or someone you know needs help, contact UKAT today to learn more about their programmes and how they can support you on the path to recovery.