Dr Sarah Jarvis
My Weekly’s favourite GP from TV and radio writes for you
I’ve always been a fan of the Royal Family, but the youngsters are really stepping up a notch. They’re supporting the Heads Together campaign, aiming to raise awareness of, and break the stigma around, mental health issues among young people. It’s a brave move – and a much needed one.
Depression is amazingly common, affecting 60% of us at some point. For 1 in 10 men and 1 in 5 women, the “black dog” has a major impact on life.
To tease out depression, your doctor will ask two screening questions. In the last month, have you been bothered by feeling down, depressed or hopeless; or by not enjoying things you’d normally look forward to? If the answer is “yes, at least half the time” to either of these questions, they’ll probe further. Have you had problems with sleep, appetite, concentration, feeling unduly guilty? Have you ever thought you’d be better off dead? These questions will give an idea of whether you’re depressed and if so, how seriously. The options for treatment will depend on your circumstances, but talking therapy is likely to be high up the list. Everyone in the UK can get a free NHS assessment through the IAPT service (Improving Access to Psychological Therapies) – refer yourself to your local service at HTTPS://SLAM-IAPT.NHS. UK/SELF-REFERRAL/ That assessment will help decide which form of counselling will suit you best. Antidepressant medication tends to be reserved for more
IF YOU’RE CONCERNED ABOUT A LOVED ONE, OFFER TO GO WITH THEM TO SEE THE GP – YOU CAN GO IN WITH THEM OR JUST WAIT OUTSIDE FOR MORAL SUPPORT
severe cases. It can help enormously, but needs to be taken for some months for best effect.
Depression is often triggered by a single major life event but someone can also be tipped over into depression by just too many minor stresses with every new demand seeming overwhelming.
Even more people are affected if we include other mental health problems such as anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder or schizophrenia.
Around 1 in 6 adults has a “common mental disorder”, a figure that has stayed stable among men for the last 20 years but gone up among women. Of people affected, 1 in 3 women now receives help for their mental health problems, up from 1 in 4 just a decade ago.
People with mental health disorders are also more likely to be using community services, and to discuss their problems with a GP, than they were a decade ago. Inequalities do still exist – people who live alone, are out of work or have physical health issues, too are more likely to suffer from mental health problems.
There is much you can do yourself if you’re prone to depression. Many people drink alcohol to try and forget their troubles – but alcohol is actually a depressant, and can make your mood worse. There’s lots of help available on the NHS if you’re concerned about your drinking.
Regular exercise helps your body make natural “feelgood” hormones. Making simple relaxation techniques part of your day can help counter the stresses of modern life that can lead to depression. And techniques like mindfulness – focussing on the here and now – can quickly become a protective part of your daily routine. Next Week: How Is Your Pelvic Floor?
MORE AND MORE PEOPLE WITH SEVERE MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS ARE BEING OFFERED CARE AT HOME, WITH SPECIALIST SERVICES COMING TO VISIT THEM