1. Give yourself an MOT!
People rarely take the time to go along to the doctor for a general wellbeing check-up. There is no such thing as good health without mental health so why not make that visit? It is good to rule out any other health issues which may be adding to low mood and to discuss what support is on offer through your local GP surgery. Read more about speaking to your GP.
on October 18th, 2010 at 2:36 AM
Visiting a GP is the last I’d do – nearly ended up dead when I tried it. I am so tired of hearing this advice. The GP who can actually provide appropriate help to someone suffering from depression is rare. Unfortunately, this can be the only gateway to treatment. Though GPs tend not to be as mad as psychiatrists – whose arrogance, inability to listen, difficulty remembering patients names and half-baked diagnoses have contributed to my conclusion(shared with others) that they generally do more harm than good. But of course, they’ve got the racket stitched up with the old catch 22…
on October 18th, 2010 at 11:28 AM
Thanks for your comment. I’m sorry you had such a bad time with your GP. Not all GPs are as good as we would hope, but awareness is improving. What we are trying to do with Mood Matters is to encourage people to do is to reach out for help when they start to notice they are feeling low to prevent depression from occurring. This can be their GP or someone else they know and trust – just talking about it is the first step.
We provide support for people who are currently affected by depression through our main site, http://www.dascot.org, and young adults’ site, http://www.lookokfeelcrap.org. It sounds like you’ve had a difficult time – if you want to talk in confidence, you can email our helpline at info@dascot.org.
Best wishes
Trish @ DAS
on February 2nd, 2011 at 3:37 PM
I have been to my GP several times over the years. they just give me pills which never work. i have asked to be referred for counciling and was fobed of many times. one doctor did eventually refer me, and about 3 months later i got a letter from the mental health department saying that as they hadn’t heard from me they had discharged me! I’m sick of hearing “go to your GP” i wish i could go straight into a psychiatrists office and make my own appointment. It is very difficult to motivate yourself to do anything when you feel this way, so going to your GP when you know it will be a waste of time is not something that i would recommend.
on February 2nd, 2011 at 5:35 PM
Hi
Thanks for your comment. Sorry to hear you have had trouble trying to access support and this has been so frustrating for you. Your GP is often the first port of call for accessing mental health services so for this reason we encourage people to take the first step towards getting help by making an appointment. Sorry you have had a bad experience with your GP. It is worth remembering that it is within your rights to see a different GP if you are not happy with your current one.
It may be worthwhile getting back in contact with your mental health team if you think they have made an error. You can explain to them that you heard nothing from them and are keen to see a counsellor.
Another option is accessing counselling without referral from your GP. There are low-cost counselling schemes in most areas that you can phone up and arrange an appointment yourself. These sometimes charge on a sliding scale according to what you can afford. If you email us at info@dascot.org with the area in which you live we can search for what may be available to you.
Unfortunately sometimes there are long waiting lists on the NHS and some GPs are better than others at referring patients with depression for counselling etc. I hope that despite this you are able to persist in accessing support through your GP or outwith the NHS.
You can read more ideas for things you can do to treat your depression on our website at http://www.dascot.org/depression/treatment/
Best Wishes
Mark
on April 11th, 2011 at 4:20 PM
I was very lucky to have a GP who was informed and inclusive in finding the best treatment for me, and have kept well for the past two years. I think it’s really important to try the GP even if there is a feeling that nothing will work, because feeling that nothing will work is sometimes part of being depressed.
on May 10th, 2011 at 4:53 PM
It is totally luck of the draw whether you get a GP to actually listen to what you are telling them – and if you are feeling vulnerable in the first place, this uncertainty is not a good start.
on June 8th, 2011 at 4:52 PM
Stepping Stones Organisation (Mental Health) offer free counselling to individuals who live in the West Dunbartonshire area. You can self refer, although there may be a short waiting time before you are seen. Check our website out at http://www.stepstones.org.uk.
on June 9th, 2011 at 11:26 AM
I’d be very careful about seeking professional help as it’s not unusual for job application forms to ask if you have ever had professional help for mental health issues.
on June 9th, 2011 at 12:04 PM
It’s now against the law for companies to ask health questions on application forms. They can only ask the questions listed on this page: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/DisabledPeople/Employmentsupport/LookingForWork/DG_4000219
They can ask more questions when they offer you a job but they can’t discriminate against you by law. I know it’s not always as clear-cut as that but hope it puts your mind at rest a bit.
As for seeing your GP it’s a matter of personal choice – there are bad GPs and there are good ones, but if you don’t want to see a GP, there are alternatives available and it doesn’t mean you won’t be able to recover from depression.
Email us at info@dascot.org if you want to know more about the alternatives or keep an eye out for new website which is launching next Wednesday has more information about seeing your GP and about other options for treating depression.
I’ll post the links when the website has launched next week.
on June 22nd, 2011 at 3:50 PM
I sought professional help when I became severely depressed and in addition to the admin comment, when I have had to declare it in a job interview and a uni interview, it has never held me back and I was accepted for both. If they want you, the main reason they’ll ask you is so they can provide necessary support if required.