6th March 2011, 11:51 AM
About 12-13 years ago I had a serious bout of depression - mostly triggered by unemployment; I got over it/through it by combination of prescription drugs and some really good counselling - which I got through the college I was studying part time at, the waiting lists for NHS counselling were really long and of course being skint through unemployment meant I couldn't afford to pay for any. (Most of) my chums were really supportive and that was a greta help. If possible, keeping busy by doing voluntary work can help, though it can be quite depressing carrying out work that you feel is worth being paid for (especially while paid colleagues whine about their jobs in front of you!) So it's a good idea to do voluntary work from which you can gain transferable skills, but is not exactly the job you've been doing before.
I really look forward to a time when mental health issues can be discussed as freely as any other illnesses and think that the attitude in the UK towards mental health (a combination of secrecy and pull your socks up) really doesn't help. I live in Finland now, where it seems it's discussed more openly, and without prejudice, this is a really positive thing.
Good luck!
I really look forward to a time when mental health issues can be discussed as freely as any other illnesses and think that the attitude in the UK towards mental health (a combination of secrecy and pull your socks up) really doesn't help. I live in Finland now, where it seems it's discussed more openly, and without prejudice, this is a really positive thing.
Good luck!