Mindfulness can alleviate depression so why is it so hard to access it?

One in six of us will experience an episode of depression at some time in our lives and many of us will be prescribed medication if we seek treatment or support for this. Last year alone a staggering 20 million antidepressants were prescribed in the UK, that’s a 6% increase on the previous year. The unprecedented need for support to tackle depression comes at a cost to the individual and to the public purse. That’s why NICE (National Institute for Clinical Excellence) has recently published draft guidelines that recommend mindfulness training can be offered by GP’s as a viable alternative to medication.

Research evidence shows that mindfulness training is as effective as a course of anti-depressants for those who have experienced three or more episodes of depression. It is especially effective if depression is related to childhood trauma. It’s more cost effective than prescribing anti-depressants and has less side effects.

So why don’t more people give mindfulness a try? One of the problems is that for busy GP’s it is often easier to prescribe medication and for the patient it can be seen as a relatively quick fix that relieves suffering. Offering mindfulness training isn’t a quick fix and there is a plethora of different delivery methods from apps to individual sessions. GP’s may not know what approach will be best without some guidance. For the person who is depressed and anxious this is the last thing that they need. So it’s really important that mindfulness teachers are able to build valuable links with their communities, their local GP practices and health centres. Easier said than done, but surely local health authorities can provide some assistance here? Local voluntary groups, particularly those that provide infrastructure support can be useful allies in this.

Having spent many years working in the voluntary sector I know that building links between the health service and voluntary sector isn’t easy, but if we are serious about tackling the mental health crisis engulfing this country and want to do this in a sustainable and cost-effective way then we have to try.