BBC News - Carers and depression - POLL

[ellcee]

I'm pretty sure that I've suffered from depression at times. I knew WHY I was depressed - it was obvious, 24/7 caring, isolation etc etc. I didn't see any point in the doctor giving me a load of pills because that wouldn't get to the root of the problem - more support, less stress, a break, etc etc - all those things that we are well aware of. Luckily in my case finances were OK but I know that for others this is a huge issue.

Someone I know was depressed due to problems at work. The Dr prescribed antidepressants. They did help, but the problem never actually went away until they changed jobs.

So, my view is that it's all very well diagnosing all this depression but prescribing a few tablets won't help much - it's the root causes that are the real problem. And at the moment, these just seem to be getting worse.

[JohnT]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-22478706


About time they gave us some thought.Normally we are the forgotten few, the unsung heros left to get on with it regardless.

[JohnT]

About time they gave us some thought.Normally we are the forgotten few, the unsung heros left to get on with it regardless.

[ladybird17]

Nobody ever asked how I was, from the medical profession. When hubby came out of hospital (twice last year for instance), nobody asked me whether I'd be able to cope and look after him with his newly found deteriorations on both occasions.
Friend's hubby comes home today after his hip operation on Wednesday, nobody has asked her if she'll be all right helping him or has given her guidance on HOW to look after him. In fact, when we both visited yesterday, it was me showing her how to lift his leg into the bed and slide it across. The most the physios did was ask her to measure the height of the lounge chair he'd be sitting in at home, that's all! How will she be able to help him up the stairs to bed, when he is on 2 crutches for instance?
I felt so upset when nobody asked about my coping - and we? have an easy living bungalow.

Ha - of course nobody will ask if you're able to cope - you might say no - and that's the last thing they want to hear. And then when everything goes pear shaped they can say "well, they never said they couldn't cope". And you know what, even though we know we're not coping at times, wouldn't it be nice if someone - anyone - just asked us how we were doing

[tracie]

I am registered as a carer at the doctors and does not make any difference at all they just log it on computer and mean entitled to a flu jab

[susieq]

John, I've merged your post with another topic that had already been started on the very same subject

[rosemary]

These links are from today.....

Carers should be routinely screened for signs of depression by their GP to ensure their health needs are not neglected, doctors' leaders say.

The Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) estimates one in every 20 patients registered with a GP practice is providing unpaid care.

About 40% of carers are thought to be at risk of depression or stress because of their caring role.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-22478706

"If carers fall ill you lose two patients. You lose the person they are caring for and also the carer so it makes financial sense to keep carers well."

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/ho ... 12048.html

............. yet nothing new to us.

2010 http://www.nhs.uk/CarersDirect/carersli ... octor.aspx

2008

But does that caring come at a cost?
The physical and financial toll can be huge. A quarter of carers have been looking after their charges for 10 years or more, and a sixth spend 50 hours a week caring - a burden which makes them more likely to be ill themselves. The Leeds study found more than three-quarters of carers (77%) believed their own health had suffered as a result of their responsibilities. A study by Carers UK found that three-quarters of people were worse off due to caring responsibilities

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/ ... rers.qanda

2008 again

Another 65% said their own health problems had affected their ability to care and 96% said they were "very concerned" about who would take over if they fell ill.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2008/jun/09/carers

June 2006

A checklist for GPs and Primary Health Care Teams

http://professionals.carers.org/health/ ... 09,PR.html

[g.herschel]

aint life funny just a couple of years ago i was told not to use the term "burden" and we care out of love not for money ..

[bowlingbun]

Hi George, what is, and is not politically correct changes constantly!

[Lazydaisy]

I don't find caring itself a burden, I find some of the stuff which comes WITH it a burden eg hospital appointments and sorting out transport to and from appointments as both of my carees need to be taken to their appointments.(When you care for one person it is difficult enough, when you care for more than one,then who takes priority of the Carers time?)
The form filling has become a lot more stressful and looking at the future and worry about possible Governmnent plans all contribute towards being a burden in my MIND.
Looking after my husband and son, the actual caring bit is a doddle, I can do that in my sleep,it is the demands of penpushers who are getting me down.
Two years ago I didn't have the amount of worry, now I go to sleep and wake up worrying about the future.