Embargoed:Monday 2nd April 2001, 00:01hours
The results of a survey released today by the charity
Depression Alliance clearly show that many people
with depression, who have attempted suicide, blame
their GPs for not doing enough to help them in their hourof need.
Theresults, launched at the start of National Depression Week (2nd 7th April, which this year is concentrating on suicide, and backedby the actress SarahLancashire)shows that we can no longer ignore a condition that is as dangerous as cancerand heart disease.
TheUK now has one of the highest attempted suicide rates in Europe, with a massive50% increase since 1990. At least three-quarters ofsuicides are the result of depression, with more than 7,000 people taking theirown lives each year in the UK and Ireland.
Oneof the most striking results from the survey of 176 people was the number whohad not told their GP about their most recent suicide attempt. Worryingly, more than two-fifths (41%) hadnot informed their GP about their last attempt; this has serious implicationsfor the treatment of their depression and for their future safety.
However,it is hardly surprising that patients did not tell their GP when just over two-fifths(41%) state that their GP could have done more to prevent them from wantingto take their own life in the first place.
Furthermore,there are great concerns about GPs abilities to recognise the pressurethat people with depression are under.Worryingly, most people had been to see their GP over the weeks leadingup to their suicide attempt. More thanhalf (53%) of all those questioned had visited their GP in the month prior totheir attempt, and of those more than a quarter (27%) had seen their GP in theseven days before their attempt.
Inanother blow to GPs, when asked what the Government could do to preventsuicide, the largest number more than a third (37%) cited a need forbetter training for GPs and health professionals.
Oneof the most important things about failed suicide attempts is that the patientreceives immediate medical attention after the attempt, and follow-up care andsupport in the following weeks and months.For a variety of reasons this is not happening. In fact, just under a third (31%) had notreceived critical medical attention after their attempt and even more (39%)received no form of follow-up care.
Unfortunately,GPs werent the only ones cited as having not done enough to help. Just under half (49%) of respondents saidthat more support from their family could have prevented them attemptingsuicide, along with just over a third (35%) asking for more support from friends. In fact, a massive 45% had decided not totell their family about their last attempt, and just over half (51%) hadavoided telling their friends.
Otherthings cited that could have been done to prevent them attempting suicide
werebetter medications (34%); less stigma about depression (59%); more public
discussionabout suicide (60%) and depression (59%); and more information
aboutdepression (43%).
Whenasked why they decided to attempt suicide, just under a fifth (18%) cited lonelinessas the number one reason, followed closely by stress (15%), and family(14%).
Themessage behind this years National Depression Week is that depression can bejust as fatal as other medical conditions like heart disease or cancer. What is tragically different is the way thatit is viewed and the way that GPs and indeed the Government treat it.
Aswell as the need to provide better training for GPs and other healthprofessionals, respondents felt the Government could do more by offering bettereducation about depression (17%) and doing more to reduce the stigma associatedwith it (15%).
Manypeople with experience of depression will recall suicidal thoughts, or feelingthat the future is hopeless. Thankfullyfor most people these negative views eventually pass as the depression lifts. If appropriate support and information ismade available to people with depression, we can drastically cut the numberresorting to suicide.
Inresponse to the concerns raised by the survey, Depression Alliance today launcha new hotline to provide preventative information and support to peoplewith depression. Callers to the linewill receive a special Depression Information Pack as well as details of crisissupport lines. The line 0870 240 2822(calls charged at national rate) is open 24 hours a day.
Finally,the results clearly confirm that depression and suicide can affect anyone atany age. One of the respondents firstattempted suicide at the age of 8, whilst another had been 65. Furthermore, it is clear that attemptingsuicide is not an isolated event; in fact the average respondent has attemptedsuicide more than 3 times. Of thosequestioned just under two-thirds knew someone personally who had taken theirown life, with one in ten having a family member who had committed suicide.
SarahLancashire, actress, said:
As someone who has suffered from depression, I thinkNational Depression Week is vital. Itis so important that we raise more awareness of depression and in turn stoppeople committing suicide. Suicide isso unnecessary - it doesnt have to happen.I cannot sit by and watch this happen.Most suicides are the result of depression. Lets not wait until people are at their wits end and feel thattaking their life is the only option.Lets raise awareness, lets get the ball rolling.
AntonyTiernan, Communications Manager for Depression Alliance said:
Itis a disgrace that in 2001 more than 7,000 people in the UK and Ireland taketheir own life each year. This is morethan the number that die on our roads.We cannot ignore the results of this survey. They are as plain as day.Suicide does not have to happen.