Fearne’s right ... pills can help depression

HER latest bestselling book may be called Happy, but last week Fearne Cotton, left – TV and radio presenter turned lifestyle guru – admitted that, in fact, she once battled depression and had taken medication for it. Considering her beauty, bubbly persona, huge success, gorgeous family and seemingly shatter-proof confidence, it was a surprise. Of course we know many of the intimacies of her enviable life from pictures she shares on social media. But I guess they told only one side of the story. Antidepressants – and GPs’ supposed over-willingness to dish them out – get a lot of negative press, so I’m pleased that Fearne gave a realistic view. Yes, there are various ways to successfully treat depression, such as therapy, but drugs can be so helpful at the outset. We often prescribe a short course of pills. Medication can allow people a window to see clearly and get the right help they need. Fearne also talked about another essential factor for anyone suffering a mental health issue – family support – which can be absolutely crucial for a strong and sustained recovery. LAST week, a parent called the emergency doctor in my practice because their child had an itch for an hour. On another occasion a dad was forced to phone us after his teenager had a trivial bump at school that the school insisted must be seen by a doctor. The NHS is in crisis whatever way you look at it. It’s clear to me that colleagues within my profession and also midwives, paramedics, nurses and clerical staff are suffering very low morale. There seems constantly to be someone else to blame: most recently it’s been so-called health tourists. But the perennial problem I see week in, week out in general practice is the lack of health literacy in the UK, causing patients to be at the doctor unnecessarily. This wrong use of the NHS won’t account for the massive deficits… but it stresses an already over-burdened system.