WARRINGTON Council is highlighting its support services for people suffering from mental health issues at the start of national Depression Awareness Week, which starts today, Saturday (April 26).
In Depression Awareness Week, which runs until May 3 individuals and organisations across the country will be working to increase public understanding of depression and to highlight the range of self-help techniques and support services available.
Warrington has its own mental health awareness site, www.happyoksad.org.uk, which has links to information about all the above services as well as details of many other local support services, plus links to information about depression, self-help techniques and national charities which offer information or support.
In Warrington, the council provides a range of support services for people experiencing depression:
•Therapeutic groups and one-to-one sessions are offered through the council’s Mental Health Outreach Team (contact Phil Redmond, Donna Holman or Sue Hogan on 01925 573489).
•Arts-based therapeutic sessions, to help people increase their confidence and reduce isolation, are provided by Creative Remedies (contact Phil Redmond, Donna Holman or Sue Hogan on 01925 573489).
•The Mental Health Forum offers peer support and the opportunity to share experiences and coping strategies (contact Sarah Brittlebank on 07824 509471 or [email protected]).
The council also supports Mood Swings Network Warrington, a monthly self-help group for people experiencing mental distress (contact Sarah Brittlebank on 07824 509471 or [email protected]).
Warrington’s director of public health, Dr Rita Robertson, said: “If you think that you or someone you know might be experiencing depression then it’s important to ask for help. The first step towards getting support or treatment would usually be to visit your GP. Your GP will discuss your symptoms with you and explain the range of treatment or support options they can offer.
“Remember that depression is common – it can affect a tenth of the population in any one year (1) – and it’s okay to ask for help.
“We all experience unhappiness now and again, but depression is different from feeling low or sad. People experiencing depression often have intense emotions of anxiety, hopelessness and negativity, and these feelings will stay with them over time, rather than fading.”
Depression can affect anyone, of any age, says the council. Some of the common symptoms of depression (2) are:
•being low-spirited for much of the time, every day
•feeling restless and agitated
•feeling tearful and helpless
•feeling numb, empty and full of despair
•feeling isolated and unable to relate to other people
•feeling irritable or impatient
•loss of pleasure in life, or things you usually enjoy
•difficulty concentrating or remembering things
•feeling guilty
•low self-confidence or self-esteem
•thinking about suicide
•having no energy
•changes in sleep pattern, appetite and weight
