Feeling down and understanding depression
| Published date | 03 January 2017 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/AMHID-12-2016-0044 |
| Pages | 2-7 |
| Date | 03 January 2017 |
| Author | Peter Cronin,Liam Peyton,Eddie Chaplin |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Learning & intellectual disabilities |
Feeling down and
understanding depression
Peter Cronin, Liam Peyton and Eddie Chaplin
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper is to offer a perspective on depression and self-help from two experts
with lived experience of learning disabilites.
Design/methodology/approach –This paper outlines the authors’presentation and experiences at the
recent Learning Disability Today conference.
Findings –The paper shares some things we can do to help our mental wellbeing.
Originality/value –This paper offers the view of two people with learning disabilities lived experience of
depression. The paper also offers and insight into some of the strategies they use to manage and encourage
positive mental health.
Keywords Self-help, Lived experience, Mental health, Depression, Anxiety, Experts by experience
Paper type Viewpoint
We are two people with learning disabilities who are lifelong friends. Recently, we were asked to take
part in Learning Disability Today (LD Today) with other members of the Tuesday Group to talk about
depression, our experiences of mental health and things you can do to help you stay well.
This paper is about the day and some of the things we took part in. We wanted to go to the LD Today
event to meet other people with learning disabilities, their families and friends as well as staff who
support them. It also gives us a chance to talk about our work in the Tuesday Group. The Tuesday
Group is made up of people with learning disabilities and others without learning disabilities who
come together to work together to support us and make people more aware and campaign.
During the day, we took part in several activities. The first was to record a video where
we answered questions on our mental health. This is to go on YouTube and help people who
were not at the conference to understand about depression. The second activity we did
was to talk to people in the health zone about depression and what we can do to help ourselves
in this situation. This was like a chat where people talked about their experiences and what helps
them. Our final activity was to do a talk about feeling down in front of a lot of people with our
colleagues at the Tuesday Group Eddie and Christine, and with Steve also supporting us at the
front of the audience.
Our talk started with Eddie telling people all about depression and mental health problems and
how we can recognise them. We joined in, and after we spoke Christine finished the talk. Here is
what we said.
Depression and mental health problems
Not everyone who has depression experiences the same things. Some may find it hard
to sleep but others might not want to get out of bed. What everyone has though is
feeling sad andcannot enjoy themselves. It also lastsfor a long time over weeks. For some people
with learningdisabilities it can be hard to describe theirfeelings. Some people may not understand
the words orknow something is wrong with themthat they can need help with.Sometimes people
supporting them do not understand about mental health and say the problems are due to the
person’s learning disabilities or they are just upset and should just learn to cope.
Received 15 December 2016
Revised 23 March 2017
Accepted 3 April 2017
Peter Cronin and Liam Peyton
are both based at Tuesday
Group, London, UK.
Eddie Chaplin is an Associate
Professor at the Department of
Mental Health and Learning
Disabilities, London South
Bank University, London, UK.
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ADVANCESIN MENTAL HEALTH AND INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES
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VOL. 11 NO. 1 2017, pp.2-7, © Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 2044-1282 DOI 10.1108/AMHID-12-2016-0044
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