Health special 2. Why is anxiety and depression increasing in the UK?

The Briefing Room

Surveys suggest that at least one in four of us will suffer from anxiety and depression during our lifetimes. The prevalence of these conditions is one of the reasons given for poor school attendance. And it's estimated that these mental health disorders account for 12.5% of all sickness leave in the UK. So what’s caused such an explosion in mental distress and what, if anything, can be done to bring down the numbers? Join David Aaronovitch and a panel of guests to find out.

Guests: Professor Jennifer Wild, a consultant clinical psychologist and professor of experimental psychology at the University of Oxford Dr Jennifer Dykxhoorn, a psychiatric epidemiologist at University College, London Dr Sharon Neufeld from Cambridge University Medical School and Thalia Eley, professor of developmental behavioural genetics at Kings College, London

Presenter: David Aaronovitch Producers: Rosamund Jones and Sally Abrahams Sound engineers: Rod Farquhar and Neil Churchill Editor: Richard Vadon