Depression Alliance Scotland Email Announcement June 2006
News from Depression Alliance Scotland (DAS)
Need information on depression?
If you need information or support, contact our Information Service by ringing 0131 467 3050 (Mon, Tues, Thurs and Fri), email info@dascot.org or visit our website www.dascot.org.
If you join DAS as a supporter, you'll receive our newsletter 4 times a year. The next newsletter will be out in August. If you would like a sample copy of our newsletter, email us at info@dascot.org or you can view a PDF copy online at http://www.dascot.org/Spring06.pdf. For more information about becoming a supporter visit: http://www.dascot.org/supporter.html
New Glasgow group
A new group has started in Glasgow's East End. It meets fortnightly on Wednesday evenings at 7pm at Shettleston Hall, 150 Wellshot Road, Glasgow G32 7AX. For more information contact Jeanette Wallis on 07914 632338 or jeanette.wallis@glacomen.scot.nhs.uk or ring the DAS office on 0131 467 3050.
Great Scottish Walk
Jeanette Wallis, DAS Glasgow Groups Development Worker, and Lian Hay and Sheraz Ahmed, START Project workers, did the Great Scottish Walk to support DAS last Sunday. It's not too late to sponsor them securely online at https://dascot.workwithus.org/Fundraising/Donate.aspx?page=131
Events and Information
University of Melbourne Australia.
Mental Health First Aid Standards Project: Depression
The University of Melbourne are conducting a study to develop mental health first aid standards for depression. The aim of this project is to use the consensus of expert consumers, carers and clinicians to establish how members of the general public can best help and support someone they know who may be developing depression, before appropriate professional treatment is received. The research is carried out using a questionnaire on the Internet and they estimate the total time commitment to be 1 hour. For more information contact them at robynla@unimelb.edu.au
Train to be a Scotland's Mental Health First Aid Instructor
Closer to home you can train to be an instructor in Scotland's Mental Health First Aid (SMHFA). Developed in Australia and adapted for use in Scotland, SMHFA is a 12 hour programme which aims to teach participants how to recognise the signs and symptoms of someone with mental health problems and provide initial help, deal with a crisis situation and guide someone towards getting help. For more information visit http://www.designworks-web.co.uk/nhs-mentalhealth/index.html
Websites
Scotland's Fantasy World Cup
Against all odds, Scotland has made it to the World Cup final! They are up against Brazil but are 3-0 down with 15 minutes to go… You've managed to get a free kick in front on the goal, the pressure is on, the whole team and indeed the nation are behind you… Can you save the day ? http://www.scotlandfantasyworldcup.com
This game was created to mark the start of Men’s Health Week, (12th to 18th June) which focussed on men and mental well-being. The aim is to encourage men to ‘wear their hearts on their sleeves’ by putting their footie feelings into play off the pitch. The game has been devised and funded by Breathing Space, Choose Life, the Scottish Recovery Network, Communities Scotland and the National Programme for Improving Mental Health and Well-being and was distributed via email to men throughout Scotland.
If you're not a football fan, the creators of the footie game have a website www.wellscotland.info with information for everyone on how to improve your mental health.
Bluebell Day
June 6th was Bluebell Day. Organised by the Postnatal Depression Project the campaign was set up last year to tackle the crucial issues of a lack of awareness of post-natal depression and the deficiency of service provision throughout the country. Melinda Messenger and Denise Welsh acted as patrons and and spoke of their problems with post-natal depression.
Depression in the News
Depression is the modern scourge. But we can cure it
Depression is an epidemic in Britain with one in six people being affected seriously enough to warrant medical treatment. The Centre for Economic Performance at the London School of Economics has published 'The Depression Report', an account of the dire consequences of ignoring the epidemic. Professor Richard Layard, the report's author, recommends that the government should implement guidelines set out by the National Institute for Healthcare and Clinical Excellence, training more professionals in therapeutic techniques which have been proven to alleviate the suffering caused by depression and, in many cases, to cure it.
Cost need not be a barrier. Professor Layard's research shows that savings would be made if the one million sufferers of mental illness currently claiming incapacity benefit, at a cost of £750 each per month, were targeted with the right treatment. The real obstacles to change are lack of public awareness and political cowardice. It is easy to predict the scorn that would be poured on a government plan to train up an army of therapists at taxpayers' expense.
Observer 18/06/06
Depression in Scotland
This article looks at depression and recovery. Ilena Day National Co-ordinator of DAS talks about the stigma of depression and how it is seen as affecting 'other people', whereas in actual fact any one of us can become depressed. "There is nothing to be ashamed about and there is no need to suffer in silence". Dorrie McKenzie, who is on DAS's Board of Directors, tells her story. She has experienced depression several times since her twenties and now understands her mental health. She knows ".. recovery does eventually come." and as she says "I am prone to depression but I still have a happy and healthy life".
No. 1 magazine Issue 6 June 16 - July 6
Soaring child depression alarms GPs
MORE than 1,000 youngsters under the age of 15 were treated for depression last year in Scotland, according to figures published by the Scottish Executive. Some 350 boys and 650 girls aged 14 and under were offered psychotherapy, counselling or prescribed antidepressants. Psychiatrists have blamed the high figures on family break-ups and mounting pressures at school.
Experts believe those seeking help from GPs represent the tip of an iceberg, with many more going undiagnosed and untreated, threatening even more severe mental health problems in later life. They are particularly concerned about the far higher rate of depression among adolescent girls, dozens of whom are turning to cosmetic surgery and succumbing to eating disorders because an obsession with celebrities is making them increasingly anxious about their body image.
Sunday Times 11/06/06
Patients to give training on care to psychiatrists
Young people with mental health problems in Scotland are to train psychiatrists in delivering services in a pilot project from this autumn. The Glasgow-based pilot, a joint venture between the Royal College of Psychiatrists and mental health charity Penumbra, will involve groups of three 12- to 25-year-olds holding training sessions for psychiatrists to help them make their services more youth-friendly.
Young People Now 07/06/06
Prozac approved for eight-year-olds
Children as young as eight can be given Prozac to help tackle depression Europe's medicine watchdog has announced. Despite controversy over giving antidepressants to adolescents, the European Medicines Agency said the benefits outweighed the risks in children with moderate to severe depression who failed to respond to psychological therapy.
Children's welfare groups have criticised the move. A spokesman for the educational trust Family and Youth concern said: "It is disastrous to start children on powerful drugs as early as eight - they will become dependent".
Daily Mail 08/06/06
Pioneering crisis centre wins city go-ahead
A centre where people experiencing mental health difficulties can go in times of crisis is set to open in Edinburgh despite a wrangle with planning authorities. The 24-hour support service, the first of its kind in Scotland, will be available every day of the year and will eventually offer overnight accommodation for those in desperate need.
The helpline and counselling service will open in August. Penumbra, the charity that will be operating the service, are currently appealing a planning decision not to allow them to install a lift for disabled clients. Once this dispute is resolved, the centre will offer overnight accommodation.
Evening News 10/06/06
Women's Doc Visits for Blues
Women aged 25 to 50 are more concerned about their mental health than breast cancer or fertility problems, a survey by Red magazine claims. More than 40 per cent of women have seen their GP for depression or anxiety, the study has revealed. Over half were automatically prescribed anti-depressants.
The Mirror 16/06/06
UK firms 'fail' on mental health
Companies have been underestimating the importance of their workers' mental health, a report by disability charity the Shaw Trust has said. A quarter of workers "will" experience mental ill health, the report said, but 80% of firms had no specific mental health policy.
Mental health problems cost firms £9bn last year in sick pay, the study found. Moreover, workers with mental health issues who make it known face "widespread discrimination". Other issues surrounding employees' sex, age and race had all been largely addressed by firms, but mental health remained ignored, the charity said.
BBC News 05/06/06
Verbal abuse causes adult depression
People who are verbally abused as children grow up to be self-critical adults prone to depression and anxiety, a study suggests.
Florida State University researchers studied data on 5,614 people aged between 15 and 54. They found that people who were verbally abused had 1.6 times as many symptoms of depression and anxiety as those who had not been verbally abused and were twice as likely to have suffered a mood or anxiety disorder over their lifetime.
999 Today 23/05/06
Botox Into Frown Lines Can Help Patients With Major Depression
A trial carried out by Dr. Eric Finzi and Dr. Erika Wasserman found that treating clinically depressed patients with botox on the frown lines of their faces actually got rid of their depression.
In their abstract report, found in the journal Dermatologic Surgery, the researchers selected ten patients who had ongoing major depression despite drug and psychotherapeutic treatment. They were evaluated with the Beck Depression Inventory II (BDI-II) before receiving botox treatment on their frown lines.
Two months after the botox treatment, all ten patients were re-evaluated clinically and with the BDI-II. Nine patients were no longer depressed two months after botox treatment on their frown lines. One patient experienced no improvement in mood.
Medical News Today 21/05/06
Walking away from a depressive illness
Pamela Cox found joining a walking group helped her depression and end her isolation after her husband died. According to Depression Alliance Scotland the value of exercise cannot be underestimated when it comes to helping people out of depression. Other studies have also shown that walking in particular, with friends or in a group, can improve your mental health and quality of life.
Helen Ryall, health improvement programme manager for physical health, from NHS Health Scotland said.
"Being active keeps you physically fit. But less well reported are the benefits that physical activity has on mental health and well-being. There is consistently strong evidence to show that physical activity makes people of all ages both feel better about themselves and more satisfied with life".
Software better than drugs for moderate depression, says NICE
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Evidence (NICE) has issued guidance on five programs used in the treatment of depression and anxiety. It recommends the use of two of them and says that software is now a more effective treatment for moderate forms of depression than anti-depressive drugs.
Each of the software packages employs a psychotherapy approach known as cognitive behavioural therapy or CBT. The two recommended programs are Beating the Blues and FireFighter. Beating the Blues is recommended as a CBT treatment for mild and moderate depression. FireFighter is recommended for the management of panic attacks and phobias.
British Journal of Healthcare Computing and Information Management May 2006
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Depression Alliance Scotland. Registered Office: 3 Grosvenor Gardens Edinburgh EH12 5JU. Charity Number: SC 034740. Registered Company Number: 255656.