DEPRESSION NEWS and ACTION

Hi,


Just thought I'd try to start the ball rolling on an extremely important and difficult issue to many. This post is from an expat, as it's an expat forum, and there are problems facing expats which locals do not encounter. However, this post is also for anyone in HK who suffers depression. Also this post is relevant for men as well as women and the partners and families/friends of those who have depression, and for those who suffer from the various kinds of depression/anxiety etc.


Depression is far more common than most people realize, but depression sufferers need to hide it so well that we often don't tell friends and family because of insensitive comments born often out of pure lack of knowledge (eg You shouldn't be on those MEDS, and other comments which have been noted on other depression posts) - we just suffer in silence and maybe go to see a professional. Professionals can be just what we need often, but it is the support of society we need equally, starting with our closest 'society' - friends, family.


Although we need to fight stigma, intolerance and discrimination linked to depression all over the world, WE NEED TO BATTLE THROUGH THESE IN OUR OWN BACK YARD IN HONG KONG TOO. Who can you talk to besides professionals ? We can be isolated and that loneliness can keep us inside depression.


Please follow the internet LINK below. You're not alone - Winston Churchill, Abraham Lincoln, Florence Nightingale, Charles Darwin, and Marie Curie (only person to have received TWO nobel prizes) :


http://www.time-to-change.org.uk/system/files/World+Without+report_0.pdf



Many experts feel that the stigma and discrimination seem to be even worse now than years ago - it's getting worse rather than better. We need to do something in Hong Kong similar to the above action in the UK.


RUBY WAX, STEPHEN FRY (like their humor or not) are working with the above campaign and are among the celebrities who suffer from crushing depression, and yet can be productive members of society and actually make people laugh !!! Look on the web and see lists and lists of celebrities with depression.


Alastair Campbell (like his politics or not - not relevant here) is former Communications Director for 10 Downing Street, an author and journalist. He has experienced recurring episodes of depression since 1986. He is co-author of ‘A World Without’, on behalf of Time to Change. He told Tony Blair about his depression and alcohol problems and Blair accepted him for who he is, not what he suffers from. Again, politics not relevant. It's stigma, discrimination and loneliness that's relevant. It's about time maybe that depression sufferers were allowed to 'come out' of the closet.


I don't know why but there are few groups in HK for expat depression sufferers. Some say it is because HK is small and people don't want to bump into each other after a 'session'. There are groups, but few and far between for expats. (Groups may have their drawbacks sometimes too, but do address the isolation somewhat) So you're left one-on-one with a professional, whereas a support network would perhaps be more beneficial. We need to be very brave and start some groups. What would be even better, would be for us to be able to talk about these things openly with friends and family without anyone thinking we were crazy. But for that to happen we need to take some action.


I would be delighted for any replies/support.


Ruby

Hello Ruby,


Yes its a problem, however many people feel that its something dealt with 'under cover" so to speak, and of course the assumption that you are not able to cope is associated with a weakness which "God forbid" is a worse sin that not having the latest mobile.


Hong Kong is not a place for weakness and few people will openly admit to any problems ,be it jealousy or poverty.


However you will be surprised at how many people there are suffering from some form of depression or other( I've written a lot ablout it) and you can check it out.


I've worked for over twenty years in different countries dealing with associated problems which cause derpression.............its a long prosess and by the time you realise its arrived its almost too late.


In my opnion it has a lot to do with self acceptance and forgiveness, and there are ways in which to help.


I run an alternative therapy group which teaches the basics of these , usually the last Saturday at the end of each month,its free and and available to anyone with a problem.


If you feel this is something I can help with then contact me,I will not work "one to one "anymore but if you have five or more people I will help.


Saturday the 7th Nov we had 11 people attending.


You need to look for 'basic alternative therapy" under meet up groups,then contact me and I will help from there.


best,


lee du ploy.




ps. Ed I hope this ok,? I don't work for money anymore but hopefully my years of experience can be of help to these people

Shifting this to announcements