By Karen Williams BSc (Hons) MSc : Department of Public Health, Mental Health and Social Wellbeing, Wrexham University
This study aims to explore the perceptions of third-sector mental health practitioners of the anxiety experienced by the individuals they work with when going somewhere new or unfamiliar.
The Mental Health Foundation (2023) states that anxiety disorders,
including generalised anxiety disorders, agoraphobia, social anxiety disorders and
panic disorders, are prevalent in the UK. In a survey conducted by the Mental Health Foundation (2023) with 6,000 participants, 73% of the UK population occasionally experiences anxiety, with 20% of the UK population feeling anxious most or all the time. In the two weeks leading up to the survey, 86% of individuals aged 18-24 had experienced anxiety, with over half of those participants feeling unable to manage daily activities (Mental Health Foundation, 2023). These statistics may be considered unrepresentative as anxiety is not always diagnosed, this survey relied on self-reporting, and various forms of anxiety may be classified differently (MIND, 2020).
Social anxiety disorder is the fear of being negatively judged or evaluated by others and the exaggerated way individuals pay attention to themselves (Shin et al., 2020; Miralles et al., 2020). Agoraphobia is defined as the avoidance of situations where, in the event of panic, no escape or help is available (Miralles et al., 2020). Both conditions cause a decline in functionality (Miralles et al., 2020). Generalised Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is the disproportionate worry and apprehension of circumstances and
situations. GAD is a long-term condition that impacts daily life, sleep and concentration (NHS, 2021). Anxiety focuses on negative elements of life events, affecting an individual’s social and occupational functioning (Robinson et al., 2013). GAD can coexist with other depressive or anxiety disorders (National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health, 2022).
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