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In January 2006, the Mental Health Foundation (MHF) issued a new report linking mental ill-health to changing diets. It said that poor-quality food can have an immediate effect upon someone’s behaviour and mental health—and that there can be lasting effects if the diet isn’t changed to a healthy one.

One finding is that the rate of depression in the UK has not only increased, but the age of onset has decreased. The MHF went on to say that complementary health services which focus on diet and nutrition are showing promising results, but that they need more funding to conduct full-scale trials.

They spoke of a clear link between the rate of depression and the sort of diet followed: those eating ‘convenience’ foods rather than freshly prepared ones. In other words—people eating junk food are more likely to suffer from depression. The lack of fish oils and micronutrients was highlighted.

Changing Diets, Changing Minds, published by Sustain, an organization that campaigns for better food, warns that the British National Health Service’s bill for mental illness will keep rising unless the Government focuses on diet and the brain in its policies on education, farming and food.

For the full report and others, visit www.mentalhealth.org.uk.