Depression: Would you spot it?

Part 2 on my blogs about depression. I aim to cover the symptoms of depression.

Depression is not always easy to spot in people so cover it up as best they can while they are with people. Some people just don't read the signs. Once again this is a case of people not knowing enough about it to spot them.

It is my belief that everyone should at least know the symptoms and look out for signs of it. But specially people who are in a position of power i.e. Boss, Teacher, Youth Worker Etc. Are these people given enough training to be able to help.

Its not just up to these people to spot it everyone should know the symptoms. Not everyone will show them but for those who do you might just save someone.

As with most illnesses some of the symptoms are easy to spot and some are very difficult. All the more so with psychological illnesses.

A few of the most obvious ones are: Slowed or slurred Speech, Fatigue, Lack of motivation to do anything and a drop in performance at work or school.

There are various list of symptoms on the Internet along with a short survey you can take.

So who ever you are take a few minutes out and have a quick flick through and learn some. You never know you might be able to help someone you know. But remember there is a difference between someone being in a bad mood and depression.

I am going to mix it up next week and touch on a different subject. Feel free to leave me any suggestions

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.