Depression Alliance Scotland Email Newsletter
September 2006
News From Depression Alliance Scotland (DAS)
Lothian Alliance Against Depression
DAS is delighted to be part of the Lothian Alliance Against Depression, (LAAD), an exciting initiative that NHS Lothian along with the University of Edinburgh is spearheading in Scotland. This work is a development of the European Alliance Against Depression, which is a European Commission funded project. The European project involves 18 regions working together to share information and resources, to improve the diagnosis and treatment for people with depression and to reduce stigma. The LAAD will be officially launched on the 11th October 2006.
Integrated Care Pathway Steering Group
An Integrated Care Pathway describes a system in healthcare that aims to offer people with a similar diagnosis or range of symptoms the easiest access to care, led by a person's particular needs. This is currently being explored for people experiencing depression and is being led by NHS Quality Improvement Services in Scotland. Here at DAS, we are part of the meetings and would like to invite interested participants to come along. Let your own experience(s) of the support available shape future services! The meetings will take place every 6 weeks. For further information, contact info@dascot.org or 0131 467 3050. Reasonable travel and other out of pocket expenses will be reimbursed.
Events
Check it Out - Carers Scotland Conference
Glasgow, 4th October
The programme covers benefits and health and there will be pampering and information sessions available throughout the day. For more information contact Carers Scotland, FREEPOST SCO4720, Glasgow G1 3BR Tel: 0141 221 9141 Email: Rhonda.fitzpatrick@carerscotland.org
National Inquiry Conference into Self-harm among Young People. What now for Scotland?
Edinburgh, 6 October
Self-harm among young people is a major public health issue, affecting at least one in 15 young people. The event provides a space to discuss openly the experience of young people and the dilemmas faced by professionals around training; education and policy; harm minimisation and the legal issues when dealing with disclosure. For more information contact Marsha Parsons, Mental Health Foundation, Merchants House, 30 George Square, Glasgow G2 1EG Email: mparsons@mhf.org.uk - Tel: 0141 572 0125 - Fax: 0141 572 0246
Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland Roadshows 2006
Glasgow, 31st October, Perth 7th November, Edinburgh 30th November
October 2005 saw the introduction of the Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act. Since then the Mental Welfare Commission for Scotland has collected statistics and information, visited service users, listened to advocates and had discussions with service providers. They will be sharing these findings and listening to the wishes of the public for the future at the roadshows. To go to a roadshow call 0131 222 6197, email bookings@mwscot.org.uk or visit www.mwcscot.org.uk
The Welfare Reform Bill: The Right Reforms At The Right Time?
Scottish Conference on the UK Welfare Reform Bill
Edinburgh, 30 October
Is the UK Government right to reform the welfare system? What reforms are included in the bill? Are these reforms the right reforms? How will these changes affect you? How might these reforms be improved? These are just some of the questions that will be addressed at this conference.
To book your place on the conference use the online form at http://www.holyrood.com or email welfarereform@holyrood.com. For further information please call 0131 272 2130.
Journey to Recovery
Glasgow 4 October, Dundee 2nd November, Edinburgh 3rd November
The National Programme for Improving Mental Health and Well-being is funding workshops organised by the National Development Team (NDT) to advise people who have or have had a mental illness, a personality disorder or a learning disability, about sections 25-31 of the Mental Health (Care & Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003. Sections 25-31 require local authorities to help people on their journey of recovery and to get the best out of life. To find out more contact office@ndt.org.uk
Healthy Body, Healthy Mind
Glasgow, 14 November
We are constantly learning more about how our mental health affects our physical health and vice versa. The exchange of knowledge and practical information will enable you to leave this conference with a better understanding of what we can do to help achieve and maintain good physical health, as well as good mental health and well being.
For more information contact 0141 201 9353 / 9264 or register online at http://www.gla.ac.uk/developmental/cpd/NewCourses.html
Improving Mental Health Information Programme (IMHIP) Annual Conference 2006
Edinburgh 16th November
The conference programme gives delegates the opportunity to hear about the successes of the Improving Mental Health Information Programme over the last 5 years; to learn what innovative local projects have been doing; and to shape future national work on data and indicators, to allow local benchmarking and national performance management. For more information contact Karen Brown on 0131 275 6885 or email Karen.Brown@isd.csa.scot.nhs.uk
Websites
The Secret Life of the Manic Depressive
The BBC have set up a website to complement the television programme in which Stephen Fry took an open look at his own and other people’s experiences of living with bipolar disorder (manic depression). It contains people's stories of living with the condition and a downloadable booklet about it.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/tv_and_radio/secretlife_index.shtml
Welfare Reform UK
Website opposing the Welfare Reform Bill. It contains information about the Bill and and what you can do if you do not agree with the Government's reforms which will affect people with depression who are not able to work.
http://www.welfare-reform.org.uk
Depression in the News Around the World
International Suicide Awareness Week
Each year 800 Scots take their own lives, many as a result of a serious mental illness or emotional disturbance. The Scottish Executive initiative against suicide, Choose Life, wants ordinary members of the public to take their simple course called Asist (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training) which teaches the warning signs that someone is suicidal.
The campaign to talk more people back from the brink was launched at the start of International Suicide Awareness Week on 4th September. Scotland's suicide rate among men is 50% higher than the UK average and among women it's twice the average. Up to 30 Scots men and 10 women in every 100,000 take their own lives each year. Males aged 15 to 44 and women over 75 are most at risk and death rates are higher in deprived areas.
Deputy health minister Lewis Macdonald joined football pundits Charlie Nicholas and Scott Booth to encourage men to talk.
Mr Macdonald said: "Most people have a relative, friend, colleague or neighbour who has taken his or her own life or has attempted to do so. The robust culture of Scottish men is not to discuss problems but I hope (International Suicide Awareness Week) will encourage more men to speak up."
Evening Times 04/09/06
www.chooselife.net
Mental health crisis centre opens in city
A centre offering support for people with mental health problems in times of crisis has officially opened. Edinburgh Crisis Centre will provide a 24-hour support telephone helpline, 365 days of the year, to people or carers of people in Edinburgh experiencing a mental health crises. The phone number is 0808 801 0414.
Evening News 04/09/06
Doctors prescribe self-help books
Self-help books are being made available on prescription in an attempt to tackle depression, eating disorders and other mental-health issues. The scheme allows patients to borrow the books anonymously from local libraries for up to six weeks. The initiative has been introduced in Fife and Glasgow, and if successful it is likely to be extended to other health authorities across Scotland.
Three quarters of people with depression in Scotland do not visit their GP. Experts believe part of the problem is that many people - especially young men - are too embarrassed to ask for help. They hope prescribing the books will allow many people with mental-health problems to treat themselves in privacy, without the need for attending therapy sessions.
Scotsman 06/09/06
Chronic depression can run in families
Close relatives of patients diagnosed with chronic major depression have an increased chance of having it too, says a U.S. study. Dr. James B. Potash of Johns Hopkins University says that siblings, parents or children of people diagnosed with chronic major depression before the age of 31 have a 2.52-to-1 chance of also having the disorder.
Potash said that their ".. finding that this aspect of the illness runs in families suggests the value of searching for contributory genes." However, he points out the results also could point to environmental factors, such as loss of a parent at an early age or physical and sexual abuse.
United Press International (USA) 08/09/06
Sertraline may prevent recurring depression in diabetics
One of every four patients with diabetes experiences clinical depression. Now research in America has found that the antidepressant Sertraline (Lustral) may reduce the risk of recurrent depression and increase the period of time between episodes of depression in patients with diabetes.
152 people who had recovered from depression using Sertraline were randomly assigned to either continue taking it or to take a placebo. The study found that participants taking Sertraline were significantly less likely to develop an additional episode of depression. After one year, 65.8 percent of the patients taking Sertraline remained in remission from their depression, compared with 47.9 percent of those taking the placebo. The amount of time that passed before depression recurred in one-third of the patients increased from 57 days among patients receiving placebo to 226 days among those taking Sertraline.
Source: Archives of General Psychiatry, 2006
Xagena (Italy) September 2006
Surviving battles with the blackest of moods
Ruth Lang, Information and Support Officer at DAS, tells her story of recovery from suicidal depression. The article was for International Suicide Prevention Week and highlights the importance of people talking to others if they feel suicidal or hopeless. In Ruth's case she struggled until she became able to talk to others.
Evening News 11/09/06
The trouble with childhood
More than 100 academics, teachers, psychologists, children's authors and other experts yesterday called for a major public debate on child-rearing in the 21st century. The escalating incidence of childhood depression is caused, they suggested, by a lack of understanding, by both politicians and public, of the realities and subtleties of child development. They expressed concern in a letter to the Daily Telegraph newspaper that the fast pace of modern life, sedentary entertainment, early academic pressure and junk food have a detrimental effect on today's children.
Scotsman 13/09/06
New mental health fear over popular acne drug
New research shows the drug Roaccutane prescribed for acne produces depressive behaviour in mice when given to the rodents.
Dr Sarah Bailey, of Bath University, who worked on the study, said: "Without more research, it is difficult to say for sure whether the same link applies to people taking the drug."
Isotretinoin, marketed as Roaccutane in the UK, is given to adolescents and sometimes adults suffering from severe acne.
Evening Times 19/09/06
Depression is not a good reason to die
Ludwig Minelli, who runs the Swiss euthanasia clinic Dignitas, speaking at the Liberal Democrat conference in Brighton said he wants to offer the 'marvellous possibility' of assisted suicide not only to the terminally ill but to people with mental illnesses, including clinical depression. Professor Lewis Wolpert who was suicidal when he had depression, argues that depression is not a terminal illness.
He says "it can hit you when you are young and healthy, with the whole of your life ahead of you. It is utterly devastating while you are in it, and you can be convinced that it will never end, but evidence shows that almost every case of depression is self-limiting, and it is curable.
"I now want to live as ardently as I once wanted to die. Suicide, assisted or otherwise, would have been the wrong path to take."
Daily Telegraph 22/09/06
Sleep breathing holds depression clues
People who have breathing problems during sleep may be more likely to develop depression, compared with sleepers who breathe easily says new research published in the Archives of Internal Medicine USA.
The researchers studied about 1,400 adults for up to 16 years. They found that even slight cases of sleep-related breathing disorder predicted depression risk and compared with participants without breathing problems during sleep, those with moderate or worse sleep breathing problems were 2.6 times more likely to become depressed during the study.
CBS News (USA) 21/09/06
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