Moving article

David Walsh writes movingly about his experience of depression (Perspective, 19 January). Mental illnesses and those suffering from them are often misunderstood and we should applaud his bravery in sharing his experiences in public. There is the temptation to think the sufferer can effect a recovery by pulling themselves together, or by being “cheered” up to take their minds off their condition.

Hopefully this article and others in other recent publications will help to dispel some myths and misconceptions. A further challenge is to appreciate the difficulties partners and close family members face in dealing with mental illnesses in their loved ones.

FIONA GARWOOD Ormidale Terrace, Edinburgh I have been a great follower of the Cognitive Therapies and I have always wondered why journalists have not shown any interest in the talking therapies which are very effective for depression. Is this one example of the taboo David Walsh (“Ending the taboo is vital if battle with depression is to be won”) wrote so movingly about? Cognitive behavioural therapies (CBT) don’t just help with depression, they influences ones’ values as well.

We can change the “black and white” thinking which makes us so fearful of taboos. And we can also avoid taking political ideologies so seri- ously if we work on black and white thinking. We can begin to become less damning towards people who have unfamiliar problems when we work on our black and white thinking. CBT self-help work is one way of working on depression – and is recommended by the BMA. So we should explore lessons to be learned from it more often.

ANDREW VASS Corbiehill Place, Edinburgh