Depression Awareness Week 11th - 17th April 2011

[TrueBlueTerrier]

LTB369/11 Depression Awareness Week 11th – 17th April 2011
To view this download, please click here


No. 369/11
Ref P1/11
Date: 12 April 2011





To: All Branches



Dear Colleagues
Depression Awareness Week 11th - 17th April 2011

Held every year in April, Depression Awareness Week is organised by the Depression Alliance and is the annual opportunity to raise awareness and try to end the stigma associated with depression. This year's Depression Awareness Week is 11th - 17th April 2011. You can help us by raising awareness and joining Depression Alliance.
Depression


The word 'depression' is used to describe everyday feelings of low mood which can affect us all from time to time. Feeling sad or fed up is a normal reaction to experiences that are upsetting, stressful or difficult; those feelings will usually pass. If you are affected by depression, you are not 'just' sad or upset. You have an illness which means that intense feeling of persistent sadness, helplessness and hopelessness are accompanied by physical effects such as sleeplessness, a loss of energy, or physical aches and pains. Sometimes people may not realise how depressed they are, especially if they have been feeling the same for a long time, if they have been trying to cope with their depression by keeping themselves busy, or if their depressive symptoms are more physical than emotional. Here is a list of the most common symptoms of depression. As a general rule, if you have experienced four or more of the below listed symptoms, for most of the day nearly every day, for over two weeks, then you should seek help.



Depression Symptoms
· Tiredness and loss of energy
· Persistent sadness
· Loss of self-confidence and self-esteem
· Difficulty concentrating
· Not being able to enjoy things that are usually pleasurable or interesting
· Undue feelings of guilt or worthlessness
· Feelings of helplessness and hopelessness
· Sleeping problems - difficulties in getting off to sleep or waking up much earlier than usual
· Avoiding other people, sometimes even your close friends
· Finding it hard to function at work/college/school
· Loss of appetite
· Loss of sex drive and/ or sexual problems
· Physical aches and pains
· Thinking about suicide and death
· Self-harm
Depression Statistics



1 in 5 people will have depression at some point in their lives.

More than 2.9 million people in the UK are diagnosed as having depression at any one time.

As many as three in four cases of depression are neither recognised nor treated, so the actual figure is much higher.

More than 70% of recorded suicide is committed by people with depression.

The World Health Organisation estimates that by the year 2020, major depression will be second only to chronic heart disease as an international health burden.

More than 80% of people with depression can be helped with the appropriate treatment.


Depression Alliance is the leading UK charity for people affected by depression. They provide information and support services to anyone affected by this debilitating illness. They also campaign to reduce the stigma associated with depression so that no one is left to suffer in silence.



Depression Alliance Services include:

Information in publications

Information online through the Depression Alliance website http://www.depressionalliance.org" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; & free online resource http://www.whatyoushouldknowaboutdepression.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Self-Help Groups around the country

Access to DA Talk, an online forum

Access to our Penfriend scheme

Quarterly magazine A Single Step



For more information or to join Depression Alliance go to the Charity's website http://www.depressionalliance.org" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; or email info@depressionalliance.org or telephone:
0845 123 2320



For details of supporting us during Depression Awareness Week, see attached information pack. You can also help raise awareness by displaying the poster attached.
You can also join Depression Alliance. Membership Application Form attached.



Yours Sincerely





Dave Joyce
National Health, Safety & Environment Officer

[clashcityrocker]

Teebs - have you sent this as a pm to Indy and pants123?

[brothermagrew]

Teebs also thought as a Dave Joyce LTB surely it should have went under H & Safety Forum

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Teebs also thought as a Dave Joyce LTB surely it should have went under H & Safety Forum

quite right sorry

[DGP1]

More than 70% of recorded suicide is committed by people with depression.

I don't want to make light of a serious issue but people who are happy don't commit suicide, it's only depressed people.

[DirtyHarry]

Working for Royal Mail would make anybody depresssed.
And without sounding flippant, I really do think it's becoming quite a problem in Royal Mail.

[HelsBels]

I got diagnosed with clinical depression just over 3 years ago now, took a year to get diagnosed due to the effects of the depression, was throwing up every week, lost a lot of weight, panic attacks, migranes, almost took my own life 6 months before I was due to get married

9 years of bullying on and off at work, person found guilty twice when taken through the procedure but also was caught out when I had nasty txts and voice msgs on phone which I took to my shift manager.
I ended up changing shifts and moving out of the area and cut off from all friends who was connected to him/spoke to him/friends with him etc, thought that stopped it until a year ago when he decided to have another go, this time managed to contact my husband thro a social networking site. Police got involved this time.
Now I've moved office near where I live and touch wood no problems, got better friends who are a great support network when I'm feeling down.

I have known people in the company to commit suicide due to bullying and harassment.

I agree the illness needs to be highlighted, as I to thought it was silly when they told me I had depression.
With the right care and medication and support it makes things so much better.
Not heard anything at work as to the awareness week tho
To busy with world class drawing and colouring boards and health and safety, banning staff from using scissors
Rant over.

[Danelectro]

Yip not all people can 'grow some'.

[andy2007]

More than 70% of recorded suicide is committed by people with depression.

I don't want to make light of a serious issue but people who are happy don't commit suicide, it's only depressed people.

The other 30% are probably people with terminal illnesses who decide to take their own lives, rather than suffer. They won't neccessarily be depressed. Then again, I'm only guessing.