Priory Group consultant discusses depression on Good Morning Britain

Dr Claudia Bernat, Consultant Psychiatrist at Priory Hospital North London appeared on ITV’s ‘Good Morning Britain’ breakfast news programme this week. She was invited to speak about depression and how hiding the condition can be damaging.

Nobody is immune to depression; it can develop at any age and at any time. In fact, approximately 10% of men and 25% of women will experience depression at some point in their life.

Although feeling sad and upset are common emotions in everyday life, depressive illness is an ongoing condition and can have difficult symptoms to deal with, such as a sense of hopelessness, a decrease in motivation and processing abilities, and an increase in irritability.

As discussed by Dr Bernat, hiding the condition can be damaging. In some cases, untreated depression can lead to more severe mental health conditions, so seeking help early is crucial. In recent Priory Group research, 71% of those polled would worry about telling their employer if they had a mental health condition, for fear of getting a negative response. For many, the desire to keep their condition hidden has led to making up physical illnesses in order to disguise their mental health condition, rather than admit the reality.

No one should face depression alone - timely help and counselling can make a big difference. The first step is admitting that you have a problem and then seeking help.