Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Adults Mental Health Support

Depression

What is Depression?

Depression is more than simply feeling unhappy or fed up for a few days.

Most people go through periods of feeling down, but when you're depressed you feel persistently sad for weeks or months, rather than just a few days.

Some people think depression is trivial and not a genuine health condition. They're wrong – it is a real illness with real symptoms. Depression isn't a sign of weakness or something you can "snap out of" by "pulling yourself together".

The good news is that with the right treatment and support, most people with depression can make a full recovery.

Depression affects people in different ways and can cause a wide variety of symptoms.

They range from lasting feelings of unhappiness and hopelessness, to losing interest in the things you used to enjoy and feeling very tearful. Many people with depression also have symptoms of anxiety. There can be physical symptoms too, such as feeling constantly tired, sleeping badly, having no appetite or sex drive, and various aches and pains. However, some people may have little to no physical symptoms and are functioning professionals dealing with depression.

The symptoms of depression range from mild to severe. At its mildest, you may simply feel persistently low in spirit, while severe depression can make you feel suicidal, that life is no longer worth living. Most people experience feelings of stress, unhappiness or anxiety during difficult times. A low mood may improve after a short period of time, rather than being a sign of depression.

Who can have depression? +

Anyone can develop depression at any stage in their life, however recovery is possible.

Depression is a very common mental health challenge faced by people of all ages, and is the most common challenge older people experience in their wellbeing. This can develop due to lots of reasons; such as, loss of a loved one or friend, changes in surroundings, physical disabilities, money, relationships, family and many other reasons.

Older adults can experience the same symptoms as younger adults. There are main symptoms (low mood, reduced enjoyment, lack of energy), psychological symptoms (low self-esteem, hopelessness/guilt, suicidal thoughts), and biological symptoms (reduced appetite, weight loss, feeling lower in morning, early wakening, reduced sleep, poor concentration, agitation or slowness). Older adults may experience these symptoms and not recognise this as depression, but you can still seek help and support.

You can manage depression in a number of ways, for example: talking to someone about how you're feeling, being active, attending self-help groups, medication, going to therapy and more. Some support services you can access have been listed further down this page under: 'Who can help?'.

Luckily there are many ways of treating depression, the treatment you may receive will depend on the type of depression you have.

Different Types of Depression and possible treatments:

  • Mild Depression - wait and see, exercise, self-help groups
  • Mild to Moderate Depression - talking treatment, cognitive behavioural therapy, counselling
  • Moderate to Severe Depression – antidepressants, combination therapy, mental health

What are the different methods of treating/managing depression? +

Wait and see: if you're diagnosed with mild depression, it may improve by itself. In this case, you'll be seen again by your GP after two weeks to monitor your progress. This is known as "watchful waiting".

Exercise: there's evidence that exercise can help depression, and it's one of the main treatments for mild depression. You may be referred to a qualified fitness trainer for an exercise scheme. You can also find out more about starting exercise and exercise for depression.

Self-help groups: talking through your feelings can be helpful. You could talk to a friend or relative, or you can ask your GP to suggest a local self-help group. Find out more about depression support groups. Your GP may also recommend self-help books and online cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). 

Antidepressants: antidepressants are tablets that treat the symptoms of depression. There are almost 30 different types of antidepressant. They have to be prescribed by a doctor, usually for depression that's moderate or severe.

Combination therapy: your GP may recommend that you take a course of antidepressants plus talking therapy, particularly if your depression is quite severe. A combination of an antidepressant and CBT usually works better than having just one of these treatments.

Mental health teams: if you have severe depression, you may be referred to a mental health team made up of psychologists, psychiatrists, specialist nurses and occupational therapists. These teams often provide intensive specialist talking treatments as well as prescribed medication. 

Talking therapy: there are different types of talking therapy for depression, including cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and counselling. Your GP can refer you for talking treatment or, in some parts of the country, you might be able to refer yourself. Some talking treatments include; Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), Online CBT, Interpersonal Therapy (IPT), Psychodynamic Psychotherapy and counselling.

Mindfulness: Mindfulness involves paying closer attention to the present moment, and focusing on your thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations and the world around you to improve your mental wellbeing. The aim is to develop a better understanding of your mind and body, and to learn how to live with more appreciation and less anxiety.

Who can help? +

It's important to seek help from your GP if you think you may be depressed. Many people wait a long time before seeking help for depression, but it's best not to delay. The sooner you see a doctor, the sooner you can be on the way to recovery. You can also refer yourself to other services designed to help with depression.
CPFT logo

NHS Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Talking Therapies - (Self-Refer) - Offer support to those aged 17 and over via a range of brief supported self-help and talking therapy options. The service usually helps people with mild to moderate mental health issues, including depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress, panic attacks, phobias or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. You can self-refer to the service by calling 0300 300 0055 or you can self-refer here.

The Primary Care Mental Health Service (PCMHS) is provided by Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust (CPFT). We provide local specialist mental health support for anyone between 17-65 years of age within Cambridgeshire and Peterborough, and to support GPs in the treatment of mental health issues in primary care. For more information check out our leaflet here.

Cameo (Self-Refer) - Cameo is an early intervention service for psychosis. The service provides support for individuals, families, carers and friends. Cameo is funded and provided by CPFT (Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust). 

Recovery Coach Team - (Self-Refer) - A service available to help offer support for people who have accessed secondary services and about to be discharged back to primary care (GP). Their contact details are RecoveryCoachTeamReferrals@cpft.nhs.uk and their website link.

Recovery College East - The Recovery College East runs courses designed to help you in your Recovery. The details and prospectus can be found on their website.

CPFT (Self-Refer) - Cambridgeshire and Peterborough NHS Foundation Trust - provide several services for people with mental health challenges:



CPSL Mind logo
CPSL MIND - (Self-Refer) - CPSL Mind is a mental health charity which promotes positive wellbeing across our communities and supports people on their road to recovery from a wide range of mental health challenges. They offer online support, community initiatives to connect people, counselling, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, peer support groups, Perinatal services and opportunities to get involved with training, volunteering, campaigning and fundraising. Click here for info on their GoodLife service and here to view their timetable of GoodLife service group programmes.


good life logo

Good Life Service - (Self-Refer) - The Good Life Service focuses on individual strengths and skills. It encourages peer support and community connectivity and is available to adults aged 18 upwards living in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. It has something for everyone, regardless of whether or not you have a diagnosed mental health problem. Click here for info on their GoodLife service and here to view their timetable of GoodLife service group programmes.

University Good Life Project (Self-refer)- CPSL Mind in partnership with Anglia Ruskin University and the University of Cambridge are offering wellbeing support for students in the form of Good Mood Cafes, Open Door calm spaces and mental health information sessions. The project supports students to build connections with other students, learn self-help techniques, connect to personal strengths and get access to further support if needed. Download the leaflet here.



Lifeline plus logo

Lifeline - Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Crisis and Support Helpline, freephone 0808 808 2121 11am-11pm, 365 days a year.


Kooth LogoQwell logo

Kooth.com and Qwell.io are commissioned to provide an online wellbeing platform which along with text based counselling also includes helpful articles, forums, activity centre, daily journal and messaging. We provide British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy accredited services and Kooth is available to young people aged 11-18 (up to 19th birthday)  and Qwell is available from 18+ in Cambridgeshire and Peterborough. 

The service provides a free and non-judgemental place for people to connect with others and they have instant access to self-help materials and moderated discussion forums. People can also contribute written pieces of work reflecting their own experiences, as well as accessing drop-in or booked sessions with professional counsellors, available 365 days a year, 12pm -10pm on weekdays and 6pm-10pm on weekends. Further information about Qwell can be found here and information about Kooth can be found here.  More information is available by watching these videos: Qwell  Kooth


Cogswheel trust logo

The Cogwheel Trust (Self-Refer) - The Cogwheel Trust provides counselling support for adults and young people aged 6-16 years in Cambridge and the surrounding areas. Parents can refer their child into the service which is based in Cambridge. The Cogwheel Trust is a charity and it asks for donations towards appointments based on income. To find out more visit their website or call 01223 464385.


Arts and Minds logo
Arts and Minds - Arts on Prescription is a series of friendly, weekly art workshops for people experiencing depression, anxiety and/or other mental health problems. Led by a professional artist and a qualified counsellor, they offer the chance to experience working with a wide range of materials and techniques, including drawing, printmaking and sculpture. Sessions last for two hours and are open to all abilities – no experience necessary – and offer the opportunity to work on something creative, stimulating and absorbing with the aim of increasing well-being. A ‘hands-on art workshop’ is a good description of Arts on Prescription, it is important to understand that it is not art therapy, although participants find it therapeutic!  The counsellor is there in case anything comes up, which sometimes happens, but generally, the artist and counsellor co-facilitate the workshop by taking part in the creative activities alongside the participants. For more information on how to be referred to the service visit the website.


Make Do and Mend logo
Make Do andMend (Self-Refer) - Make Do and Mend provide workshops for people who experience mental distress. These workshops aim to promote recovery by developing self-esteem through developing skills. Workshops include areas such as candle making, guitar and cookery.


SEW Positive logo
Sew Positive - Sewing, Sewcialise, Mending and Upcycling. We offer a term-time weekly drop in and other creative courses - some on Social Prescription - using sewing for people experiencing depression, anxiety and/or other mental health problems, and people who face social isolation. Led by a creative tutor and volunteers, we offer the chance to learn and work with a wide range of materials and techniques, including sashiko, boro (slow stitching and repair), visible mending, upcycling, basic sewing machine skills, embroidery, making a lampshade from upcycled fabrics, textile art and reducing textile waste. Sessions usually last for two hours and are open to all abilities – no experience necessary – you will work on something creative, stimulating and absorbing to increase well-being. For more information on our services visit our website or Linktree.


Everyturn Mental Health logo - previously called Insight Healthcare
Everyturn Mental Health (previously Insight) - (Self-Refer) Free, confidential NHS Talking Therapies that you can refer yourself to. Call 0300 555 0888 or online www.everyturn.org


lifecraft logo
Lifecraft - Lifecraft is a user-led organisation for adults in the Cambridge area who have experience of mental health difficulties in their lives. Services include creative activities, recovery groups, social activities and employment and volunteering opportunities. Lifecraft also have an Information Hub, a counselling service and Lifeline a Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Crisis and Support Helpline, freephone 0808 808 2121 11am-11pm, 365 days a year.


Cambs consultancy counselling logo
Cambridgeshire Consultancy in Counselling (Self-Refer) - CCC is a mental health charity providing affordable counselling and related services to organisations and to those in the local community who either can't afford to pay market rates or wait for a GP appointment, ensuring a lack of funds is no barrier to getting help. CCC supports people with a wide variety of problems; including anxiety, depression, sexual abuse, critical or chronic illness, disability, life change and many more.


Richmond fellowship logo

Richmond Fellowship (Cambridge Employment Service) - (Self-Refer) - We’re a specialist employment service providing support for people recovering from mental health problems to find paid employment, voluntary work, education and training or to retain their current employment.



Illuminate logo
Illuminate (Self-Refer) - Illuminate is a registered charity, providing coaching and personal development courses throughout the East of England. Based in Cambridge we help people who have experienced a setback including mental ill health, and are unemployed or on a minimal income. Through our work we rebuild self-confidence, enabling sustainable positive changes, improving lives for the better.


Frazzled cafe logo
Frazzled Café (Self-Refer) - Frazzled Cafe is a registered charity that operates with the purpose of providing a safe, anonymous and non-judgemental environment where people who are feeling frazzled can meet on a regular basis to talk and share their personal stories. Frazzled Cafe is for the four-in-four feeling frazzled and overwhelmed by the stresses of modern life. With the support of Marks & Spencer we are currently running fortnightly Frazzled Cafe meetings in Brighton, Cambridge, Leeds, Liverpool, London (Marble Arch, Victoria & Stratford), Newcastle, Norwich and Wolstanton in Staffordshire. Please bear in mind that these meetings are not therapy sessions. If you are currently suffering from serious mental illness it may not be appropriate to attend.


People and animals logo
People & Animals (Self-Refer) - Provides animal and land-based therapeutic interventions, activities, education and skills development opportunities for children, young people and adults to support and enhance the physical, emotional and social well-being of individuals and the wider community.Creating opportunities for excluded and vulnerable people to engage, driving social change, supporting coordinated community action in economically marginalized, isolated communities. We utilize the non-threatening appeal of animals and nature-based activities to overcome barriers faced, regardless of physical or learning disability, mental health challenges, age, culture, economic status or background.


MyHealth Cambridgeshire & Peterborough App - The MyHealth app provides up-to-date information about the locations and opening times of a range of health services in the area, including some mental health services. Search for ‘MyHealth Cambridgeshire & Peterborough’ in the Android or Apple app store to download.


Group Therapy Centre
Group Therapy Centre - The Group Therapy Centre is a long-established, not-for-profit, psychological treatment service, and is unique in providing both short and long-term group therapy. We treat a wide variety of conditions ranging from Depression and Anxiety to more serious conditions such as Bipolar and Personality Disorders. We offer CBT, Schema and Long term open ended group therapy. CBT services are free, other services incur a fee based on ability to pay.                                                                                                                                                         


Head 2 Toe logo

Head To Toe Charity - With your support, Head to Toe can help our amazing NHS staff to provide even better care and treatment, while raising public understanding of the challenges experienced by the people that CPFT serve. Every penny you give will enhance the services that CPFT provides and support people of all ages receiving mental health, community and social care across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.



AMC Logo
#ANDYSMANCLUB - (Self-refer) - ANDYSMANCLUB are real, non judgmental, talking groups for men. We are the creators of the viral #ITSOKAYTOTALK movement, and hold meetings every week, that we are open every Monday 7-9pm except bank holidays in over 150 locations across the UK. Email at info@andysmanclub.co.uk 


HAY logo

How Are You Cambridgeshire and Peterborough - is a website that brings together everything in the local Peterborough community that is good for mental wellbeing. It includes activities from yoga to singing, sports clubs to arts groups, places to talk or get a cup of tea, plus information about local professional mental health support.



YANA: You Are Not Alone – Rural Mental Health Support

YANAhelp for those involved in farming and other rural businesses affected by stress and depression.

YANA offers specific help for those involved with farming or other rural businesses in East Anglia and Worcestershire through our work:

Wherever you live and work, we hope you find YANA useful.



PoetsIN logo
PoetsIN is an award-winning charity with one simple goal – to help those in need heal, learn, and grow with the power of words delivered through a UK-wide programme of online and in-person creative writing workshops, mentorship programs, and listening programs.


*Some information gathered from www.nhs.uk and the services listed.

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