Experts working in North East Lincolnshire want to highlight the fact that depression and anxiety problems are more prevalent than people might think and can affect any person at any time – and are more apparent in areas of social deprivation.
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| DON'T SUFFER ALONE: Ready to give you a warm welcome at Open Minds are co-ordinator Michelle Hardy (left) and service manager Kristina Fletcher. Buy this photo at www.thisis photosales .co.uk/grimsby or by contacting 08444 060910 |
One in four people suffer with a mental health problem and health professionals at Open Minds, an organisation working with people who have depression and anxiety, are keen to get people talking more openly.
The service on Osborne Street, Grimsby, operates a drop-in centre as well as appointments, courses and therapy sessions to help people cope with their mental health problems.
Service manager Kristina Fletcher said: "Nationally and indeed, world wide, depression and anxiety is very common. Most people at some point in their lives can expect to have some form of mental health problem.
"We all get anxious and stressed and have things going on in our lives that affect how we feel. Obviously there are things that people can do to help themselves, and we encourage people to do that.
"The main one is for people to talk about how they feel."
Although people's understanding of mental health is greater now than a decade ago, the stigma attached to conditions, such as depression, is still a worry for people who are suffering.
Gill, 51, of Grimsby – who did not want to supply her full name – has suffered with depression on and off for 20 years, but is managing to control it thanks to Open Minds.
She said: "I have got a lovely family, a nice house and no financial difficulties. I felt guilty and selfish for feeling so low. I understand now that it shows depression can happen to anyone."
Gill found the courage to walk into Open Doors and admit she needed help – a decision she says changed her life.
She continued: "There is always someone there to talk to and because you don't know them, it is easier to open up to them. I just felt so comforted by knowing there was someone there for me to talk to.
"The first step for anyone is accepting that you have depression and it is not something that will go away on its own. They need to look at their life when they were happy and realise that can come back if they open up and talk."
Another user of Open Minds, who did not want to be named, turned to the organisation after years of taking anti-depressant medication. He had a life-saving heart bypass 12 years ago but afterwards, he became frightened of being diagnosed with a long-term illness.
He said: "I wanted to go to sleep and not wake up again. I became afraid of silly things that shouldn't have bothered me. I lost my appetite and felt generally terrible.
"I went to Open Minds for the first time last year and found it fantastic. There was nothing embarrassing about it at all. After about six weeks I started reducing my tablets.
"People need to know that there is help out there and it isn't always a matter of popping pills. I am so grateful to Open Minds."
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