DA Coment On Gene Research (27/03/02)

As the leading UK charity for people affected bydepression, Depression Alliance encourages and welcomes all research into thecauses and treatment of depression. Whilst we applaud this new research whichfocuses on genetic susceptibility to depression, the concern is that at presentas many as 3 in 4 cases of depression are neither recognized nor treated, andoptions for some treatment involve long waiting lists or are simply notavailable.

Depression blights the lives of millions everyyear. It is a treatable condition butit can be fatal. More than 2.9 million people in the UK are diagnosed withhaving depression at any one time. 70% ofrecorded suicides are by people affected by depression. 7,000 lives are tragically lost every yearin the UK and Ireland.

There are a range of treatments for people withdepression. Self-help, counselling,alternative therapies, medication, support, and, crucially the removal ofstigma attached to depression are all elements to achieve recovery.