Patients with anger problems need more help

People who cannot control their anger are not getting the help they need, according to a report published by a leading UK charity.

The Mental Health Foundation findings show that 'problem anger' is left untackled in the UK, despite widespread concern about aggression, family breakdown and physical and mental health problems.

Problem anger goes largely untackled unless someone commits an aggressive criminal act, when a court may refer them to anger management training. The charity claims interventions are currently too late and many lives could be saved from being damaged if we tackled it earlier.

Andrew McCulloch, chief executive of the Mental Health Foundation, said: 'In a society where people can get help for depression and anxiety, panic, phobia, eating disorders and a range of other psychological and emotional problems, it seems extraordinary that we are left to fend for ourselves when it comes to an emotion as powerful as anger.

'We need to be able to recognise when anger is damaging our lives, ask for help and receive it. Tackling it won't be simple or straightforward, but the benefits could be enormous,' he said.