Dealing with depression 'a huge task'

For many people, depression is a daily struggle which sees them contend with anxiety and upset, often without help.

There are several medical treatments available which are designed to alleviate the condition but these cannot eliminate it on their own, according to one specialist.

Sophie Corlett, director of external relations at mental health charity Mind, recently pointed out that not everybody shows the symptoms of depression and it is often a battle they are fighting in private.

She suggested that the mental health issue can be a "hidden problem" for many people and stated that these sufferers are often made to wait up to 18 months for treatment of their disease.

Ms Corbett informed private health cover holders that as depression can affect every part of a person's life, dealing with it is a bigger task than just offering treatments.

"For example, more work needs to be done to ensure that employers support staff with depression to remain in work," she explained.

As the World Health Organization (WHO) is predicting that within 20 years more people will be affected by depression than any other health problem, the expert said it is imperative that measures are put in place to offer support to people in need for help.

WHO believes that depression will be the biggest health burden on society, both economically and sociologically, and Ms Corbett said the government has gone some way to trying to deal with this issue by providing cognitive behavioural therapy and pledging a further £93 million to boost mental health services during the recession.

The specialist concluded that many areas are still suffering from a lack of appropriate care, however, and told those with affordable health insurance that it is "vital" that this problem is addressed.

By James McCann

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