Depression is one of those terrible illnesses we 
handle so badly.
Mental illness is sadly still tabooed, and it is only when we hear about those who can no longer live with their tortured minds and commit suicide, like Germany’s famous goalkeeper Robert Enke, or the beautiful Korean model Daul Kim, that this difficult issue is publicly debated.
But what can be done to help those suffering from depression, those poor, helpless souls who would rather be anywhere instead of plummeting deeper their dark abyss?
These were two young and talented people who seemingly had it all with their successful careers. But they couldn’t cope with their depression, like countless others. Their fame and fortune couldn’t save them.
Tragically, even when you work in the profession, it seems little help is at hand, as this poignant letter in today’s Times describes, written by the bereaved father of a man who was severely depressed:
Sir, Your leading article (“Working mindsâ€, Nov 23) about the need for depression to be accepted in the workplace has particular resonance for my wife and me because we lost our son to a severe depressive illness in 2005. He was a clinical psychologist, but as his illness developed he was desperate to keep it secret from all the mental health professionals who knew him or might have contact with him in the future. He insisted that his career depended on this because there was a strong prejudice in the profession against anyone who had suffered from mental illness: they were perceived as not “tough enough†for the job.
We found this hard to believe — the mental health profession seemed the last place on earth where such attitudes were likely to be found — but we were assured by others that it was so. Not only did this worry add to the burden of an already terrifying illness, whose features are so accurately and movingly described by Giles Andreae in times2, but it made our son reluctant to seek treatment and, when he did seek it, prevented him from making use of good local facilities that might have helped him. The treatment which he did accept was unsatisfactory and, in the end, unavailing.
Surely it is clear that someone who survives a depressive illness is enhanced rather than diminished by the experience, and that the insight which results may be of advantage, particularly in the field of mental health.
Richard Oerton
Bridgwater, Somerset
I suffer regular bouts of depression; just getting over the latest one – seems to be the time of year causing us depressives to come crawling out of the woodwork lol…
Seriously though, there is a stigma attached to mental illness in the mental health profession. I experienced it first hand when I worked as an Activity Worker in an acute adult ward in 2005/6. I was coming down with depression and though my ward manager was one in a million and was supportive (indeed, it was he who noticed my slide first and suggested I take some leave) there was not such support from nursing colleagues and others. Thankfully I managed to leave the NHS as I was starting to recover, despite their concerns about someone resigning whilst on sick leave. It was a decision that I sometimes regret, but didn’t really know then how I could reconcile working in mental health whilst also suffering from depressive bouts in addition to generally being a rather sensitive soul.
One other time I encountered the prejudice was with a patient who was on her way to recovery. She was amazing in helping me in the Activity Room and wanted to return to the ward every now and then as a volunteer to help engage the patients in meaningful activity. It was made clear, though not to her, that she could only do this after showing no signs of mental illness for 2 years at least. My arguments that someone who can walk the walk as well as talk the talk was best placed to engage others fell on deaf ears.
Mike, thank you for sharing your personal experiences. I hope you continue to stay well. This is obviously an issue that workplaces need to review, including the NHS, so they can support their staff.
I lost my sister through depression, in 2007 when she took her own life..my son also suffers from some form, but we don’t know what, and the years we have had to fight to get him help is beyond a joke. At the moment it looks like things are stable, but he had to leave his family home and live on his own, and he split up with his partner with two little children. No-one to help him or them. He has been given a job, which is excellent, lets hope he can cope.
Anne, I’m so sorry to hear about your sister and son. I wish him well; all he can do is take one day at a time.
Anne, what a sad story: it seems that as we lose more mental health resources, those that are left are reserved for people whom not being treated would be likely to lead to a court-case.
I’ve only ever experienced prejudice in one setting – when I was in one of the two psychiatric wards to which I was admitted, before my diagnosis of manic depression. It was as if a psychiatric nurse seeking treatment for a mental health disorder smacked of hubris. Thank you, Ellee, for giving this issue, which society often seeks to turn its face away from, a much-needed airing.
Frugal Dougal, Manic depression is a terrible illness,and I am sorry to hear about your experiences.
I very much hope Anne’s son is being helped and supported through this very difficult time.
So sad that even sucessful people suffer from depression.
Great post. Small things always add up and make a big effect
Ellee: While a Psychology major in college, I completed my Fieldwork Practicum at a 24-hour Suicide and Crisis Intervention hotline. Your post is no doubt increasing awareness of depression and the need for each of us to reach out to those in crisis. Many lives can be saved. I’m glad you have cared enough to take this topic on with courage and compassion!
And remember, the wonderful Samaritans are there to help people who feel depressed and suicidal.
http://www.samaritans.org/
It always amazed me how even people in the health professions cannot get their head around the fact that depression is a an illness in some ways like a broken leg. Something is broken but you can’t see it and no one can fix their own broken leg so why expect people to pull out of a depression without help. Fortunately though, in many cases, it is self limiting and time can take care of it for some but we all need to be very supportive of people who are suffering just as much as with any physical illness.
What a heartbreaking letter. Sadly, people in the “caring professions” can be very unsympathetic when dealing with one of their own.