Depression

Depression

Depression is twice as prevalent in people who are older (20% rather than 10% in the general adult population) and twice as much again for people in nursing and residential homes (40% rather than 20%). It is a debilitating form of mental distress, and research shows that people who are older are much more likely to be offered antidepressant medication alone rather than being referred for psychological therapy. Whatever age or stage of life we believe that ongoing development and change is possible and are passionately committed to the provision of talking treatments as an integral part of the recovery process.

What happens next?

If you would like to arrange to meet please contact us be phone or email to arrange an initial consultation.  This will take place over one or two meetings each lasting an hour and a half with an experienced psychoanalyst or psychotherapist who will think with you about what is happening so that together you can clarify whether psychotherapy or another form of psychological therapy or support would be helpful.

What sort of therapy will help me?

It depends.

If you have undergone a recent trauma, the support of family, friends and your local community is very important in the first instance. If you remain very affected by what has happened then please contact us for an appointment. We will arrange to see you for an extended consultation of 4 sessions spread over some weeks, each lasting an hour and a half. The longer sessions will give you the necessary time and space to think with a therapist about the impact of what has been happening to you at a time when so much may feel overwhelming.

Other time limited treatments include brief psychodynamic psychotherapy and dynamic interpersonal psychotherapy both of which can help people who are older with depression. These usually take place over 16-20 sessions. Each session lasts for 50 minutes. You will meet with the same therapist at the same time each week for the course of your therapy. More intensive longer term treatment includes psychoanalytic psychotherapy or psychoanalysis with experienced analyst or psychotherapists who have undertaken further specialist training in old age, and provides a safe space to understand areas that you may not have had time to focus on previously in your life. This usually involves three to five times weekly sessions over a longer period of time.

My relative is depressed can you help?

We see many people who are concerned about what is happening to a family member, and we can arrange to see them for an assessment if they would like an appointment. It can be helpful as part of the initial assessment to meet with you and other members of the family as well. Alternatively we often see concerned relatives for one or two consultation meetings to talk through what is happening. These sessions provide a breathing space to think through what is needed, not just for your family member but also for yourself in terms of how to keep going in often very difficult circumstances. All of the Age Matters team have worked or are working within the NHS and are experienced in liaising with other health professionals who may be involved with your relative. We can support you in navigating access to services your relative may need within the statutory sector, or can provide this through the Age Matters Clinic.