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"As a member of the commissioning team for Croydon PCT I have been responsible for planning and commissioning the Primary Care Psychological Therapy Service that has been provided by Priory Group.
The Priory team has coped well with this situation and waiting times have so far been kept to a manageable level. The team also responded well to the challenge of a separate time limited contract to work through a substantial backlog of referrals."
John Haseler, Assistant Director, Partnership Commissioning (Mental Health & Substance Misuse) Croydon NHS Primary Care Trust
Depression is a medical disorder just like high blood pressure, diabetes or asthma. It's an abnormal mood associated with specific and reversible chemical changes in the brain. Depression is not a sign of weakness, nor is it a state you can just snap out of.
Nobody is immune to depression and it can happen at any age. In fact, around 10% of men and 25% of women will develop depression at some point in their life.
For many people, depression is triggered by a stressful event, alcohol or drug use, or an unresolved long-term difficulty. However, in some people there is no obvious trigger.
You should not confuse depression with sadness and loss, feelings that often pass quickly. These feelings are often understandable and do not normally prevent you from coping with your normal life. The symptoms of depression are different and can affect your usual day to day life. People can have one, many or all of the symptoms:
Depression just like other illnesses comes in different forms and varies in number of occurances, severity and persistence of symptoms. The most common forms of depression include:
Characterised by a combination of the symptoms listed above, including a low mood. This form of depression can significantly interfere with the ability to work, sleep and enjoy once-pleasurable activities.
Dysthymia involves long-term symptoms that do not necessarily disable, but yet prevent the affected person from functioning at 100% or from feeling good. Some sufferers of dysthymia experience episodes of major clinical depression throughout their lives as well.
Bipolar disorder, formly referred to as manic depression involves cycles of clinical depression and periods of excessive excitability. For some sufferers the mood changes are rapid and for others they are more gradual. Bipolar disorder can be a recurring and ongoing condition.
Postnatal depression, often referred to as postpartum depression occurs in the mother in the weeks or months following childbirth. There is often an obvious reason for the depression such as a difficult labour but for many there is none. Often mothers suffering from postnatal depression feel enormous amounts of guilt for feeling the way they do and for some they feel they cannot cope with being a mother at all. The Priory have a dedicated mother and baby unit in the Priory Hospital Brighton and Hove for those suffering from severe postnatal depression. Patients are supported by specialist staff to facilitate the bonding process in a safe and understanding environment.
Priory hospitals have been treating depression for over 30 years. We understand that everyone's situation is different and everyone needs an individual treatment plan to ensure the quickest and safest recovery possible. To talk through any ways in which Priory can help call us on 0845 2 PRIORY (0845 2 774679)
