Prince Harry speaks out.

Absolutely agree, Chewbacca.

I'm sure it's possible for some people suffering from clinical depression to feel hope that they'll eventually be free from this awful illness, but for some there is no feeling of hope or optimism, just greyness.

After reading all the posts on this subject, I'm still of the opinion that Harry did a good thing in opening up about his depression and that he had sought professional help. As a pp said, if it helps just one person to seek help, that's a good thing, not a negative course of action. Maybe, just maybe, his disclosure will help to provide more assistance being given to those who need it. But I'm an optimistic kind of person, not a negative one.

No. I am talking about clinical depression cases diagnosed by a GP.
Are there stages of depression beyond that? Is depression measured in stages? I guess it is though thankfully have never had occasion to find out before now.

Hmm...doesn't sound like acute depression - possibly feeling a bit down?

I understand depression but not maybe acute depression[is there such a term and thing?].
I have to say that the people I know who have had depression have had hope. Which did see them through[along with other things like pills].

When there is depression there is no hope, just the dark night of the soul

Abonet If you really understood acute depression, you'd know that hope doesn't see you through. It's irrational, so can't be hoped away. There is no hope in a depressed person's experience. There's a complete nothingness.

Sorry Ana,i replied before reading your second post

That's OK Ana. From my experience, the waiting list for assessment is currently about nine months, then there will be a further wait, even if therapy is offered.

I agree with you to an extent, radicalnan, but only to an extent.

Most people who haven't suffered depression do think that a person with depression just needs a good friend. That really isn't my experience at all. I agree that the counselling industry is full of people who really don't have a deep understanding of mental illness, there is a poor match between client and counsellor and the services offered by the NHS - online "courses" and group CBT" - are cut price and ineffective. Private therapy costs about £70 per hour or more.

Counsellors assume that depression can be avoided by taking the right actions and run courses such "Avoiding loneliness" or "Healthy eating = healthy" mind. Talk about stating the bleeding obvious! Then they offer soothing and patronising words and tick their boxes.

Clients then feel they've failed, because they didn't go for their healthy walk or didn't use CBT techniques. I'm afraid it really doesn't work like that - at least, it doesn't for me. Episodes of acute depression and suicidal thoughts sometimes hit me out of the blue for no apparent reason. Most people only ever see me with what I call my "Eleanor Rigby face" and there's no way I want to open up about depression.

Some people don't have good friends. One of the classic symptoms of depression is to withdraw from social interaction. People push people away and gradually become isolated.

Yes - I acknowledged that in my last post, Annie.

Ana, it means help is there if you can pay for it, if you can't keep taking the tablets and wait many months for help.

Actually, I have to agree with you there daphne and thought twice about my post when it was too late. Waiting times for any sort of counselling on the NHS are ludicrous.

Our GP optimistically estimated 3 months but according to the specialist assessor it's more like 9-12 months if you're lucky - not much help if someone's suicidal, is it? (not me, I hasten to add)

But there isn't help out there, Ana. That's the point. As a long term user of mental health services. I've seen the slashing of care over the last six years.

Well done to Harry for speaking out, but I doubt very much that he had to rely on an NHS counsellor.

Exactly! If somebody like Prince Harry, who appears to 'have it all' needs counselling, then that can only be a good thing ( in the eyes of others who may be suffering.)

If one is depressed, has problems such as poor housing, unemployed etc , a very wealthy man telling everyone to talk to a shrink will make kne even more depressed.

Why? Surely it would only demonstrate that depression and grief can cause terrible emotional problems for people of all walks of life, and that there is help out there>

Cry good for Harry, England and St George! ( slight paraphrasing there.)

No wonder people across all spectrums suffer from mental issues going by some posters on here, we are all accidents of birth !!no one gets to choose who they are!, some rich people are kind & giving some not just as average people & poor people are, but this thread has shown up a lot of reverse spiteful snobbery! If what Harry said helps one person who is suffering with mental issues then thats a good thing surely ?

extensive research
done in which countries and by whom?

the match
I would probably agree with that. Makes sense.

good friends can do it just as easily.
Highly doubt this. There are friends and friends. Also, some of them can barely cope with their own lives never mind someone elses'.

Counsellors act on one side of the picture and if you work in the field as I did, you see the broken results of failed counselling and CAMHS teams and many people with long term mental health issues are re cycled through depts for years and years.
I dont doubt that. But are the alternatives better?

Just my opinions.

There is also the thing of hope. Hope can see people through some dark times.

Nelliemoser Charles and Camilla were at the bottom of this all along. He didn't give a thought to how his 'affair' would affect his children then, why should he now? Harry probably could not talk to him about his Mother so kept it hidden inside of him. Maybe his girlfriend has helped him more than his father?

It isn't my 'view' there is extensive research that shows counselling can be ineffective even damaging, and that regardless of training, the 'match' between the client and counsellor, as human beings is often the best indicator of success, which leads me to suppose that good friends can do the work just as easily. We are encouraging people to turn normal human interactions and support mechanisms into something medical.

Counsellors act on one side of the picture and if you work in the field as I did, you see the broken results of failed counselling and CAMHS teams and many people with long term mental health issues are re cycled through depts for years and years.

A chat with someone outside the family can be cathartic......in the real wor ld those people are friends. The benefits from CBT and all mental health therapies are questionable, even psychiatrists and psychologist disagree.

Everyone is jumping on the mentl health bandwagon now and making life an illness issue, it is blooody painful but it is just life.

We will never know what help was available to Harry , I believe Charles to be a man who would make sure help was available.

Sorry to hear your view that counselling can do more harm than good radicalnan.
I agree with OP that funding and resources are totally and cynically inadequate especially for under 18's.
If the political will is not there then charities are overwhelmed picking up the "under the threshold" cases and NHS staff struggle to deliver services in time rationed sessions to the detriment of their own mental health.
I despair of politicians saying one thing and not delivering the resources where they're needed.

Great comments as always. I think that almost any publicity for the need to improve mental health services can only be a good idea. I do wonder why Harry was not given more help when he was growing up. Surely someone should have thought about the effects on the two sons? When you look back and think about William and Harry at the funeral, walking along with their father - and under the full media glare - it is amazing that they have turned out as well as they have. Full marks to Harry as far as I am concerned - I found it hard to admit that I needed help when my life began to swirl out of my control, so I cannot begin to imagine the courage it took for Harry to make such a public statement. Let's be positive and believe that our mental health services will improve, now that awareness is increasing.

If one is depressed, has problems such as poor housing, unemployed etc , a very wealthy man telling everyone to talk to a shrink will make kne even more depressed.