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Showing results for tags 'Depression'.
Found 77 results
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News Article
Post-natal depression in men: 'The darkest time of my life'
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
About 1 in 10 fathers will experience a depressive episode within the first year after a baby is born but no Scottish health board has any specific measures to monitor their mental health, BBC Scotland has learned. Peter Divers, 39, says he hid his feelings of depression for months after his second child was born in November 2016. "It was the darkest time of my life," he says. "I woke up every morning with a knot in my stomach. I felt like there was a big dark cloud following me about." Peter didn't tell anyone what he was experiencing, including his wife, for five months. He did not feel comfortable going to see his GP. His feelings came to a head one day when he arrived to pick his older daughter up from his mother's house, and started crying on her couch. Dr Selena Gleadow-Ware, a consultant psychiatrist who chairs the perinatal faculty at the Royal College of Psychiatrists in Scotland, said research showed about 8-10% of men experience depression in the postnatal period. "Men may be much less likely to talk about or feel comfortable sharing how they're feeling, so it often goes as an under-recognised or hidden problem," she says. Read full story Source: BBC News, 10 February 2022 -
News Article
NHS to give therapy for depression before medication under new guidelines
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
Millions of people with mild depression in England should be offered therapy, exercise, mindfulness or meditation before antidepressants, according to the first new NHS guidelines in more than a decade. Under draft guidance, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) recommends the “menu of treatment options” be offered to patients by health professionals before medication is considered. Currently, those with mild depression are offered antidepressants or a high-intensity psychological intervention, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). The shake-up forms part of the first new recommendations to identify, treat and manage depression in adults since 2009. According to the Office for National Statistics (ONS), about one in six (17%) adults experienced some form of depression this summer. The rate is higher than before the pandemic, when 10% of adults experienced it. Younger adults and women are more likely to be affected, the ONS found. A 2019 review showed 17% of the adult population in England (7.3 million people) had been prescribed antidepressants in the year 2017-18. Dr Paul Chrisp, director of the centre for guidelines at NICE, said: “The Covid-19 pandemic has shown us the impact depression has had on the nation’s mental health. People with depression need these evidence-based guideline recommendations available to the NHS, without delay.” Nav Kapur, professor of psychiatry and population health at the University of Manchester and chair of the guideline committee, said: “As a committee we have drawn up recommendations that we hope will have a real impact on people who are suffering from depression and their carers. In particular we’ve emphasised the role of patient choice – suggesting that practitioners should offer people a choice of evidence-based treatments and understanding that not every treatment will suit every person.” Read full story Source: The Guardian, 23 November 2021 -
News Article
'Dads can get postnatal depression too'
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
Becoming a father can be the happiest time in a man's life, but for some it can bring unexpected feelings of anxiety, stress and guilt. Until recently, mental health concerns for new dads were little understood and, often, went unaired. But some men who have experienced postnatal depression hope telling their stories will encourage others to open up. When Stephen's daughter was born five years ago he knew he was meant to feel happy but instead began to think his wife and newborn child might be better off without him. "You don't get a chance to sit back, take it in, relax and enjoy it," he said. "I'd come home on a weekend after a long week, tired out, and my wife was back at work, working weekends." "It just affects you, you don't see each other, you don't have the chance to enjoy it, and all the stress and anxiety builds up. I got to such a low point I considered my family were better off without me." An international study in 2010 suggested that as many as one in 10 men struggle with postnatal depression (PND). More recently, in 2015, a survey by the National Childbirth Trust (NCT) found one in three new fathers had concerns about their mental health. The NCT has called for more recognition around mental health issues affecting new dads. It has set up Parents in Mind: Partners Project, which offers support to everyone who has an active role raising a child under two. "Becoming a parent is an emotional rollercoaster," said Catherine Briars, who runs the project in St Helens. "Fathers sometimes feel uncomfortable opening up about their feelings but we encourage them to do so if they're struggling. It's often the first step to recovering and regaining good mental health." She said they encourage men to talk to someone they trust or their GP. Read full story Source: BBC News, 19 November 2021 -
News Article
Research confirms impact of COVID-19 on doctors’ mental health
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
The COVID-19 crisis triggered high levels of anxiety and depression among doctors in the UK, Italy and Spain, a new study has found The research of 5,000 survey responses, across the three countries, found Italian doctors were most likely to have suffered during the crisis last year. The study, published in PLOS ONE, measured the mental wellbeing of doctors in Catalonia (Spain), Italy and the UK during June, November and December 2020. It found that around one in four medical doctors in Italy had experienced symptoms of anxiety in June and December 2020, with around one in five reporting symptoms of depression over the same period. In Catalonia around 16% of doctors reported anxiety and around 17% experienced depression. In the UK around 12% of doctors reported anxiety and around 14% had symptoms of depression. The study is among the first cross-country analysis of mental wellbeing among healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic and the first to focus on medical doctors. Across all countries, female doctors and doctors under 60 were more likely to have anxiety or depression. Professor Quintana-Domeque, professor of economics at the University of Exeter Business School, who carried out the study said: “The COVID-19 pandemic has been classified as a traumatic event, with healthcare workers arguably having the most direct and longest exposure to this disease." “The results of this study suggest that institutional support for healthcare workers, and in particular doctors, is important in protecting and promoting their mental health in the current and in future pandemics.” Read full story Source: The Independent, 3 November 2021 -
News Article
Covid: Depression rises in young and women during second peak
Patient Safety Learning posted a news article in News
Women and younger adults were more likely to feel depressed during the second UK coronavirus peak than men and other age groups, Office for National Statistics (ONS) data suggests. Four in 10 women aged between 16 and 29 were affected, compared to 26% of men. One in five adults experienced depression in early 2021 - more than double pre-pandemic levels. But GPs in England diagnosed fewer cases of depression in adults in 2020 compared with the year before. Many people may not be seeking medical help, the ONS says. Health experts have always warned that the combined effects of ill health, isolation and job losses during the pandemic would have a negative impact on people's mental health and wellbeing. Read full story Source: BBC News, 5 May 2021 -
News ArticleGood quality evidence is urgently needed to inform doctors on how to discontinue antidepressants safely and effectively, a Cochrane review has highlighted. An international team of researchers assessed randomised controlled trials comparing approaches to discontinuation and continuation of antidepressants in patients who had used them for depression or anxiety for at least six months. But the team reached no firm conclusions about the effects and safety of the approaches reviewed because of the low certainty of evidence from the existing studies. Read full story (paywalled) Source: BMJ, 22 April 2021
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News ArticlePregnant women and new mothers are three times as likely to suffer from poor mental health in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, according to a new study. The report, carried out by a coalition of leading maternal mental health organisations, suggested before that the public health crisis up to 20% of women developed a mental illness during pregnancy or within the first year after having a baby. But in lockdown, 6 in 10 mothers had substantial concerns around their mental health, according to researchers who polled more than 5,000 pregnant women and parents. The study warned women were more likely to suffer from anxiety, depression, loneliness and suicidal thoughts during the COVID-19 crisis. The Maternal Mental Health Alliance is one of the organisations behind the research. Luciana Berger, a former Labour MP who is now chair of the group, said: “Today’s report should serve as an ear-splitting warning siren about the dangers to women’s maternal mental health and potential risks to the wellbeing of their babies." Read full story Source: The Independent, 16 March 2021
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News Article
Number of children prescribed antidepressants coincide with lockdowns
Patient-Safety-Learning posted a news article in News
The number of children being prescribed antidepressants has increased over the past 5 years, with analysis from The Pharmaceutical Journal showing peaks have coincided with Covid lockdowns. It was found between April 2015 and April 2020, children from the ages 0-17 who were prescribed antidepressants by a GP increased by 26 per cent with an increase in prescriptions occurring more notably during lockdowns. Furthermore, the analysis found an 8 per cent increase since March 2019 showing 17,902 females and 9,855 males were found to have been prescribed antidepressants when the country was locked down in March 2020. Read full story. Source: The Independent, 24 June 2021 -
Content ArticleDepression is one of the most common mental health issues and GPs often diagnose and treat patients with the condition. In this blog, Dr Ed Beveridge offers his top tips for the assessment, management and treatment of adults with depression in primary care. It provides information on: assessing and screening people with depression for underlying conditions. pharmacological and nonpharmacological treatment options. when to refer to secondary care or seek specialist advice.
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Content ArticleAsk anyone with tattoos and they’ll tell you every bit of body art means something. But it’s fair to say Graeme Holdsworth’s short script of ink means more than most. The single word, Anicca - Sanskrit for ‘impermanence’ - hides beneath the watchband on his left wrist. “I look at it whenever I need reminding that what’s happening now won’t be happening in a minute’s time.” For the retired architect and project manager who spent most of his life planning the future of multi-million dollar developments, a one-word reminder to live in the moment seems an odd choice. But to someone who was a habitual high achiever, it’s an important reality check. In this blog for Movember, Graeme talks about living with depression.
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Content ArticleThe COVID-19 pandemic is a traumatic event for many, particularly those in the caring professions. Experts are predicting a significant “second curve” of mental health problems among both healthcare workers and the public related to prolonged social isolation, loss of economic opportunity, grief from losing loved ones, among other causes. While there has been no shortage of resources and recommendations designed to help healthcare workers manage stress during the pandemic, there’s a tendency to place the burden on the individual. At a minimum, it is important that remedies acknowledge the shared responsibility of the healthcare system for creating the conditions for fear, anxiety, and burnout in the first place. In an effort to streamline, provide sensemaking, and support care teams during this critical time, the Institute for Healthcare Improvement (IHI) synthesised themes from several key publications, expert interviews, and five years of experience gained by partnering with health systems around the world to address staff well-being and joy in work. Three key areas to focus on have emerged, along with specific actions healthcare leaders can take to support their workforce and address the more immediate and longer-term effects of the pandemic.
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Content ArticleThe goal of this US-based study, published in Psychiatric Services, was to characterise racial-ethnic differences in mental health care utilisation associated with postpartum depression in a multi-ethnic cohort of Medicaid recipients. Medicaid in the United States is a federal and state program that helps with medical costs for some people with limited income and resources. Findings of the study presents evidence of low rates of postpartum depression treatment initiation and continuation, indicating barriers to care among low-income mothers; racial-ethnic disparities imply additional challenges for black women and Latinas. The presence of such disparities points to the need for clinical and institutional policies and programs to address the particular barriers to mental health care faced by black women and Latinas in the months after delivery.
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Content ArticleNHS England awarded 'Improving Access to Psychological Therapies' (IAPT) services in the Oxford AHSN region ‘Early Implementer’ funding to lead the way in setting up integrated treatments for patients with long-term conditions (LTCs) alongside mental illness. Four of the first 22 services selected nationally were in the Oxford AHSN region. This study was carried out by health economist Professor David Stuckler, formerly of the University of Oxford, now based at the University of Bocconi, Italy, supported by NHS South, Central West Commissioning Support Unit. It focused on one of the first groups of patients (more than 450 people) who started receiving new integrated IAPT-LTC treatments in 2017.
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Content ArticleSimon Fleming discusses in BMJ Opinion why he launched an anti-bullying campaign. Simon is a trainee orthopaedic surgeon and PhD Candidate at Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry.
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Content ArticleIn this blog, Adele Doherty, Head of Dementia Voice at Alzheimer's Society, highlights the difficulties and fears for dementia patients and their families and carers during the coronavirus pandemic.
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Content ArticleThis resource from Best Beginnings provides information about many national and local charities offering remote support for pregnant families and new paretns during COVID-19. The list includes organisations offering support and advice around: Pregnancy and birth Health conditions in pregnancy Parents of twins, triplets and more Premature Unwell babies Babies with disabilities or health conditions Breastfeeding and infant nutrition Mental health Bereavement Birth trauma.
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Content ArticleThis article is written by Ryan Van Lieshout, Canada Research Chair in the Perinatal Programming of Mental Disorder. He looks at the mental health challenges new mums are facing during the coronavirus pandemic and highlights the importance of self-care, with particular reference to 'NEST-S' (nutrition, exercise, sleep, time for self, supports).
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Content ArticleAn estimated 1.3 billion people—16% of the global population—experience a significant disability today. People with disabilities have the right to the highest standard of health, however, this report by the World Health Organization (WHO) demonstrates that while some progress has been made in recent years, many people with disabilities continue to die earlier and have poorer health than others. The report demonstrates how these poor health outcomes are due to unfair conditions faced by people with disabilities in all areas of life, including in the health system itself.
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Content ArticleThis article in The Lancet aimed to review published work about the efficacy and safety of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) with simulated ECT, ECT versus pharmacotherapy and different forms of ECT for patients with depressive illness. The authors designed a systematic overview and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials and observational studies. They concluded that: ECT is an effective short-term treatment for depression, and is probably more effective than drug therapy. bilateral ECT is moderately more effective than unilateral ECT. high dose ECT is more effective than low dose.
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Content ArticleIn this article, Rachel Star Withers shares her account of receiving electroconvulsive therapy to treat her severe depression and schizophrenia while in her final year at college. She describes how the treatment robbed her of her memory, reading and writing abilities, but saved her life. Without ECT, Rachel believe she would have committed suicide. She talks about the need to educate people about the realities of ECT and undo unhelpful 'horror-story' stereotypes.
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Content ArticleIn this blog for the Citizens Commission on Human Rights, Jane London shares her account of how electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) has affected her life since early adulthood, resulting in severe memory loss and heart problems. Jane shares how her physical medical problems including appendicitis and a severe heart attack were put down to depression, and how she was nearly forced to have ECT against her will in England in 1966. When her abusive marriage ended in 1968 and Jane returned to Australia her mother insisted she have ECT, despite her depression being temporary and related to her marriage ending. After 14 treatments, Jane left the treatment facility and received talking therapy to help her recover. Jane talks about the dramatic adverse effect ECT has had on the rest of her adult life.
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Content ArticleIn this article for The Guardian, psychiatrist Rebecca Thomas talks about the benefits and problems related to electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) treatments, which are used in cases of severe depression. Having had 70 individual ECT treatments for depression herself, Rebecca highlights that although the therapy can be very effective, doctors need to acknowledge the issues it can cause for patients. She talks about the memory issues ECT can cause, and highlights that as a therapy it has been stigmatised, which spreads fear about a treatment that can be necessary and life-saving. Concluding that decisions around ECT therapy should be clinical and not moral, she urges doctors not to be complacent about the risks, and patients to be careful about stigmatising an effective treatment.
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Content ArticlePoor mental health is an important and increasingly prevalent issue facing farmers and the farming industry. This article in the journal Sociologia Ruralis seeks to understand the factors that influence the adaptability of support systems for farmers facing mental health issues, especially at a time of crisis. The authors undertook a literature review as well as conducting interviews with 22 mental health support providers and an online survey of people working within support systems and farmers themselves. The study found that support-giving organisations adapted during the pandemic using a range of interventions, but that implementation was affected by organisational and operational challenges such as limited digital training, funding shortfalls, staff trauma, lack of capacity, the rural digital divide, tension between providers and stigma. The authors discuss how landscapes of support for farming mental health can be made more sustainable to deal with future shocks.
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Content ArticleThe Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) programme began in 2008 and has transformed the treatment of adult anxiety disorders and depression in England. IAPT services offer: talking therapies, such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), counselling, other therapies, and guided self-help help for common mental health problems, like anxiety and depression.
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Content ArticleThese online resources are designed to help healthcare professionals improve conversations with their patients about suicidal ideation, self-harm and other common mental health problems. The resources are based on a field of research known as Conversation Analysis, which micro-analyses verbal and non-verbal communication to study the consequences of different ways of communicating. Resources include research findings and real examples from video-recorded psychosocial assessments with mental health nurses, social workers and other healthcare professionals. To access the resources, you need to be a healthcare professional and will need to create an account.
