THE stigma of mental illness and a misplaced fear of addiction to antidepressants are preventing many people from seeking help. According to a MORI survey published last week, attitudes towards depression have generally improved, but the stigma and myths surrounding depression and its treatment persist.
The survey was commissioned by the Defeat Depression Campaign, a joint venture by the Royal College of Psychiatrists and the Royal College of General Practitioners. It aimed to find out how attitudes had changed since the last poll in 1991.
Of more than 2000 adults interviewed, 79 per cent considered depression to be a 鈥渕edical illness鈥� (up from 73 per cent in 1991). Despite this, 51 per cent were afraid that their family doctor would think they were 鈥渦nbalanced or neurotic鈥� if they went to the surgery complaining of depression. Even so, 84 per cent said they would consult their GP, an increase of 5 per cent since 1991. A worrying 4 per cent said they would not seek any help at all.
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The Defeat Depression Campaign aims to raise awareness that depression is a common, treatable condition that can afflict anyone, regardless of age, sex or class. The message seems to be sinking in: MORI found that more people now realise that children can become depressed, while a greater number of younger people and more men admit that they have had some contact with depression. Overall, one in five said they had suffered from disabling depression at some point in their lives.
Most people believe that a supportive network of family and friends coupled with more formal counselling are the best sources of help. However, myths about medication still put people off seeking professional help. Only 51 per cent have any faith in antidepressants.
According to Robin Priest, chairman of the campaign, most doctors believe their patients give up on tablets because of side effects, but the survey suggests that the real reason is that they fear becoming addicted. 鈥淎ntidepressants are not addictive,鈥� he says. 鈥淧eople are probably confusing them with tranquillisers, which certainly can be.鈥� Convincing people that they need not fear antidepressants may be an uphill struggle: 18 per cent of those surveyed also thought aspirin was addictive. The campaign鈥檚 next challenge will be to shift public perception about therapy.
Stress at work, financial worries and redundancy are increasingly recognised as risk factors for depression. Richard Maxwell, Stress Fellow at the Royal College of General Practitioners, suggests employers have a duty to look after their employees. 鈥淭hey can鈥檛 expect to work their employees into the ground,鈥� he says.
Maxwell says people should learn 鈥渟tress-proofing鈥� skills such as how to say 鈥渘o鈥�, and how to be more assertive. Other tips on how to avoid 鈥渂urnout鈥� at work include regular meditation, yoga, physical exercise and 鈥渙ccasionally agreeing with somebody鈥� (see Diagram).
