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Depression Alliance Services
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Depression Alliance Services
Depression Alliance's services aim to enable people to understand, work with and recover from symptoms associated with depression. Many of our services are designed to minimise the isolation people experience when depressed, offering them opportunities to share experiences and coping strategies with others in similar situations.
Other services are aimed at increasing awareness and understanding of the condition. As well as providing direct support, we also work to empower people to discover and explore specific treatments.
Depression Alliance recognises that everyone has their own unique, individual experience of depression. In response to this, we are developing our services so that they involve a variety of options and choices. To ensure that we develop these responses with regard to quality and acceptable professional standards we have a dedicated services team of staff and volunteers who are responsible for all service provision.
Our current services include:
Telephone Helpline
Our telephone helpline was launched in April 2001 and whilst open was inundated with calls. Sadly we could not secure enough funding to keep this vital service open and there is no other dedicated helpline to which those affected by depression can turn.
Self-Help Groups
There are currently 150 self help groups run by volunteers in different parts of the country. The groups vary in size and activity. The main role of the groups is to provide an opportunity for people with experience of depression to meet together for mutual support. Some groups make use of visiting speakers, alternative therapies and also access other services in their area. Other groups emphasise social and informal activities.
Correspondence Service
Our network of correspondence secretaries - each with personal experience of depression - correspond with people who write to the main office seeking support and information. This service is useful for people who want to take the first step towards reaching out and perhaps sharing their experiences for the first time. It is also a useful gateway to other services. This service is able to respond to people from all backgrounds and experiences including prisoners, young people, people overseas, or refugees.
Pen-Friend Service
This practical link-up service provides opportunities for people form all walks of life to engage in regular correspondence with someone who is also seeking mutual support and understanding. This service provides people who are isolated for whatever reason with an opportunity for social and supportive contact.
Medical Advisory Service
Medical and therapeutic practitioners provide this service. It responds to written requests for information relating to specific depression related conditions, diagnoses, medications and treatments.
Training
A variety of in-house and external training events are made available throughout the year. Our programme of training events is published each spring. We are also able to provide training and consultancy on a 'tailor made' basis to other organisations and services in the statutory, voluntary and corporate sectors.
Publications
Our wide range of publications on various aspects of depression offer the information and guidance so desperately needed by people affected by depression. These resources, including 'Everything You Need to Know about Depression', 'Depression and Antidepressants', and 'Cognitive Therapy' are freely available to individuals.
For more information about any of our services please email information@depressionalliance.org
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