Depression: Would you admit to it?

Today I'm going to cover the sensitive subject of depression. Why do we have such problems talking about something that affect so many people.

New research that has been carried out by Turning point shows that around 75% of people will suffer from depression in the UK at some stage in their lifetime. Of these only a 1/3 of them seek professional medical help. With another 1/3 turning to other resources or means of help. That leaves at today's population 15,250,000 people that will suffer from depression at some stage in their life and suffer in silence.

Now maybe you have been one of this 75% already or maybe sometime in the future you might be. Have you or would you seek help?

Is there enough done to raise the awareness of Depression and other mental health problems that cost the country billions a year? But more importantly the cost to the people who suffer is much greater?

Most reports that are done highlight how these illnesses affect the economy etc. But how often do the reports in the news focus on the human cost of them and how it affects the individual?

The effectiveness of treatments for depression vary depending on who you talk to. Some believe that it can be treated with anti depressants while other believe Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) is the best option. These are the ones that are mostly recommended by doctors due to them having their hands tied by both cost and time restraints.

31 million prescriptions for anti depressants are made up every year. Can they really be the best way forward....

While they may work for some people they won't for everyone. Are anti depressants just a short term stop gap. When will the NHS offer more services for the long term treatment for depression and start devoting more time to helping those who suffer. So much is done to raise the awareness of the health risks of smoking and helping people give up smoking why is more not done to help protect peoples mental health.

A good article on depression was recently done for the Guardian by Luiza Sauma

I will be covering more on depression in the following weeks as its a subject that i feel strongly about.

A Smile

Today is a bit of a different one. Its not really a moan just about a suggestion.

A smile such a simple thing. It takes less muscles to smile than it does frown and a smile can change a day.

Its amazing not only smiling make yourself feel better and happier but you can also make other people around you happier. When someone is truly happy and smiling away its hard to walk past them and not want to smile.

It brings a happy feeling inside when someone smiles at you. It can change your whole day in one second.

Now if everyone smiled more wouldn't things just seem a whole lot better in the world.

Also why don't strangers talk to each other as much anymore. People actually avoid conversation with people they don't know now through fear of them being a thug, killer, rapist, thief etc.

A couple of months ago while going through a rough patch and feeling pretty upset and pissed off with the world. I was sitting on a bench on my own thinking. A complete stranger came and sat next to me and started eating some chips. He actually turned round to me and asked if i was OK and if i wanted a chip.

Now i had never met the person i my life before. What made this person think of doing that in this day and age. But it changed my day completely to know that some people out there are still decent and care about other human beings even if they don't know them.

So whats the point of this blog?

Its this just once a week while your out and about think about other people. Hold a door open, buy a big issues, help someone carry their shopping (If you're feeling really helpful), Or just a simple smile

Slacking

OK sorry folks have been a bit slack with the old blogging of late.

Had a busy weekend of rugby rugby and more rugby. Which of course all the right teams won :). Made it another week without smoking now 3 in a row.

Oh and on the smoking note saw an interesting article on how 3rd hand smoke can give you cancer. That's right people 3rd hand smoke.

The new official government line is don't even make eye contact with any one who smokes or you will contract cancer!!!

I will work on a proper blog over the next few days when i have the time.

Not sure what subject to cover this week so any suggestions would be good.

I do have a list of things i wanted to cover but unsurprisingly I have forgotten what they are I have also forgotten where I saved the list.

Post office blog

OK well i spend a lot of time in the post office so i thought i would use this time and write a blog. This has ended up with it going all over the place and not really making sense due to the amount of time i had each day to write it and what mood i was in.

I hope you enjoy the read.

Day 1

You have the young adults picking up the form for their provisional driving licence or travel money for their school trips.
The people posting birthday presents to distant relatives.
The business people sending out people purchases

Day 2
Queue is huge today nearly out the door. Why did they shut the smaller post offices they provided a valuable service to people in small villages specially those with no transport. Cutting cost at the expense to everyone else.
People are too busy to point the finger at the staff who are doing the best they can it's not their fault that they are understaffed and overworked. But people need a scapegoat and like the nhs it's tv staff that get most of the problems when doing the best they can and working harder and longer than others to provide a crucial service to everyone.
Are the youth of today growing up to quickly? Is it the media to blame or societies views an beliefs that they should be more mature all the time. Are the kids These days missing out on their childhood?
When did it stop being safe for them to play outside without the risk of being abducted or a victim of a crime. Is the break down in society due to the fact that generations don't mix anymore and that the developments in technology has created a bigger divide in the lack in common the generations have.

Is it just that they don't understand one another.

Day 3

Had a random night last night made me think a lot about things I need to sort out what I want my life but how many people really know what they want to do with them selves?
Why do our local council spend loads on looking after the town centre when the roads are in such a poor state of repair. What do they do with the council tax I pay?
I understand they have costs to cover but the only thing we seem to have is a giant water feature that doesn't work and will cost tens of thousands to repair.

Day 4

Depression is all around us 1 in 4 will suffer some form in our lives with 1 in 10 suffering the most sever type.
How you deal with if is the key. It is set off by various different things and everyone will have their own ways of coping with it. Most people who haven't suffered don't understand what it's like and can get frustrated by someone never seeming to be happy when they can't Help it and want nothing more than to be happy again. More needs to be done to raise awareness of this illness so it can be spotted earlier and treated before it becomes to bad.

Giving up smoking

Another different blog for me. I've now made it 2 weeks without smoking. Which for me is a good start.

I am hoping that not only will i save some cash but my health will finally start to improve and i won't be so ill all the time.

21% of the current population in the UK smoke. The government are aiming to reduce this by 2020 to 10%. They also quote that 7 out of 10 smokers are looking to quit.

There are various different ways of giving up smoking and plenty of products on the markets to assist you and people to give you advice.

The government has made a real push with the NHS stop smoking service that anyone can now get tailored help to give up smoking. Among this help is their smokefree webiste.

I applaud all they are doing to help improve peoples lives. I feel not only is it someones choice as to if they smoke, but where they smoke. By introducing the smoking ban in public buildings and forcing the smokers outside you are creating a divide between people. You are also making them look as out casts.

Also is life not meant to be about freedom of choices. Could this just be the start of the government telling us what we can do. Will they start banning certain foods or drinks because they are unhealthy.

I agree you shouldn't be allowed to smoke where there is food being served or there are children about. This doesn't mean they couldn't say if you want smoking in your pub, restaurant etc that you have to have a sealed off room with proper ventilation.

Then everyone knows the risks of entering this area. Yes most places wouldn't be able to afford this type of area and would still promote smoking outside instead. But it would mean you could in places like Airports etc.

Also the higher taxes on both Alcohol and cigarettes is understandable because of the health risks to them and the higher cost to the NHS these health risks have. But what about fast food chains. With obesity becoming a bigger risk in this country when will we see the taxes start rising on that.


Last thing just to tickle you a bit.

I saw a very amusing facebook group that also made a very good point as well. The title is If Pubs don't serve you when you're drunk, why do Maccas serve fat people??