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08/10/2012
Online Programme Helps Battle Depression
Health Minister Edwin Poots has urged people who feel depressed to access an online programme which is aimed at recognising and tackling the symptoms of depression.
Beating The Blues is targeted towards those who feel stressed, depressed or anxious. The online, interactive tool uses Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, which focuses on helping the patient reconsider how they perceive the world and their surroundings.
It consists of 8 online sessions which last approximately an hour, and around 350 patients a month are already accessing the programme, according to the Executive.
During each session, patients explore problems specific to them and work on skills to help them tackle the things that cause them to feel down.
But Minister Poots believes more people could benefit from the programme, which is delivered free of charge to the patient through their GP.
The Health Minister visited the Mount GP surgery in east Belfast to see the Beating the Blues programme in practice. He said: "Many people in our communities suffer from depression. Beating the Blues offers an effective alternative to medication for the treatment of depression and can be used on its own, or as a complement to other types of therapy.
"The interactive tool enables patients to take control of their treatment and their mental health by changing the way they think about issues affecting their lives."
The Minister continued: "My Department has funded up to 50,000 licences and around 350 patients are logging on to the programme every month which is excellent, but I would like to see many more people accessing this treatment, which is approved by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence."
(IT/GK)
Beating The Blues is targeted towards those who feel stressed, depressed or anxious. The online, interactive tool uses Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, which focuses on helping the patient reconsider how they perceive the world and their surroundings.
It consists of 8 online sessions which last approximately an hour, and around 350 patients a month are already accessing the programme, according to the Executive.
During each session, patients explore problems specific to them and work on skills to help them tackle the things that cause them to feel down.
But Minister Poots believes more people could benefit from the programme, which is delivered free of charge to the patient through their GP.
The Health Minister visited the Mount GP surgery in east Belfast to see the Beating the Blues programme in practice. He said: "Many people in our communities suffer from depression. Beating the Blues offers an effective alternative to medication for the treatment of depression and can be used on its own, or as a complement to other types of therapy.
"The interactive tool enables patients to take control of their treatment and their mental health by changing the way they think about issues affecting their lives."
The Minister continued: "My Department has funded up to 50,000 licences and around 350 patients are logging on to the programme every month which is excellent, but I would like to see many more people accessing this treatment, which is approved by the National Institute for Clinical Excellence."
(IT/GK)
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