Shropshire Council

Depression

What is depression?

We often use the expression ‘I feel depressed’ when we’re feeling sad or miserable about life. Usually, these feelings pass in due course. But, if the feelings are interfering with your life and don't go away after a couple of weeks, or if they come back, over and over again, for a few days at a time, it could be a sign that you're depressed in the medical sense of the term.

There are lots of organisations that offer support for people who suffer from depression, both locally and nationally, to help you overcome it. 

Local organisations

Shropshire CAMHS - children's mental health

The Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) is a multidisciplinary community based service designed to meet the mental health needs of children who are 0 to 18 years of age (including those with learning disability), across Telford and Shropshire.

Contact details

Address: Coral House, 11 Longbow Close, Harlescott Lane, Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY1 3GZ Tel: 01743 450800

With the exception of emergency referrals, requests relating to child and adolescent mental health that would previously have been referred to CAMHS will now be coordinated at Compass (FPOC 03456789021).

For more information about CAMHS, visit the website.

Shropshire Psychological Therapies (IAPT)

Shropshire Primary Care Psychological Therapies Service aims to improve health and wellbeing by offering a range of help, advice, life skills courses, supported self-help, groups and individual therapies for everyone aged 16 and over (who have finished their GCSEs).

Contact details

You can refer yourself to the service or contact your GP to refer you:

Address: Severn Fields Health Village, Sundorne Road, Shrewsbury, Shropshire SY1 4RQ
Tel: 0300 124 0358
Email: iapshropshire@nhs.net

We also offer appointments at various venues across the county of Shropshire.

IASP also offer FLASH clinics

The FLASH (Focused, Learning and Self Help) Clinics are based on guided self-help, which enables you to learn new skills and tools to cope with common mental health problems. The course can help with:

  • Anxiety
  • Stress
  • Depression and low mood
  • Low self-esteem
  • Sleep problems
  • Self harm 

Targeting mental health support - school/service approach

Schools are places of significant influence on children’s growth. They learn about relationships, develop self-esteem and build resilience.

TAMHS provides information on the targeted interventions/strategies that can be delivered by staff working directly with young people on a one-to-one or group basis to support different emotional needs.

Contact details

Not all schools have these programmes in place, so you will need to check with the school.

Contact Naomi O’Hanlon - TAMHS project manager on 01743 360501

Shropshire School Nurse Service

The school nurse service aims to promote and support the health and well being of all school aged children aged 5 to 19 years old. School nurses work together with children, young people, parents, carers and professionals to help keep children healthy throughout their school years.

For more information about the Shropshire school nurse service, visit the website.

Contact details

Shrewsbury Tel: 01743 277673 / 277675
Oswestry Tel: 01691 663610
Wem Tel: 01939 235277
Bridgnorth Tel: 01746 711953
Ludlow Tel: 07896 812 233
Market Drayton Tel: 01630 656974

Shropshire health visitors

Health visitors offer support and advice to families on a variety of topics which include promotion and management of breastfeeding, supporting new mothers with post-natal depression, parenting programmes and putting parents in touch with a variety of specialist services that can support them and their child's healthy development.

Contact details

If you need support and advice and think a health visitor would help, contact:

Oswestry: Tel: 01691 663608
Wem / Whitchurch: Tel: 01939 232981
Shrewsbury Tel: 01743 452300
South East Shropshire Tel: 01746 711958
Market Drayton Tel: 01630 692929
South West Shropshire Tel: 01588 676321

For more information about health visitors in Shropshire, visit the website.

Mind

Mind provides advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem. We campaign to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding. We won't give up until everyone experiencing a mental health problem gets support and respect.

Contact details

To speak to someone at Shropshire Mind for advice and support, contact:

Tel: 01743 368647
Address: 
Shropshire MIND - Observer House, Holywell Street, Shrewsbury SY2 6BL.

For more information, visit MIND.

Inspirational Blue - depression support group

If you're suffering from depression you don't have to be alone. There are many motivational support groups across Shropshire like Inspirational Blue, where you can be open about your depression in a free, safe and discreet environment, so pop along - you don't need to deal with your depression alone. 

Inspirational Blue support group meetings are held every Monday at 10.30am. 

Contact details

Inspirational Blue support group meetings are held at:

Betty's Bazaar & Tea Room, 11 English Walls, Oswestry, SY11 2PA

For more information about Inspirational Blue and their meetings call 0759318902 or visit the website

Rethink Shrewsbury Carers Support Group

Rethink Shrewsbury Carers Support Group offers information and support relating to mental health through publications, shared experiences and occasional speakers.

If you have depression or if you think you might have post-natal depression, the group gives information on the symptoms and causes of depression, as well as the treatments the NHS may offer you. It can also help you if you’re a carer, friend or relative of someone with post-natal depression. 

Contact details

If you'd like to speak to someone about the Rethink Shrewsbury Carers Support Group, contact:

Tel: Ann Williams - 07966 445555 
Email: shrewsburycarersgroup@rethink.org 
Address: Oasis Room, Ground Floor of the Wenlock Building, Redwoods Centre Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY3 8DN

Number Five Cafe

In partnership with the Shrewsbury Psychology Centre and Mind Shropshire, The Hive is offering a drop-in cafe for young people aged 16-21 to provide a safe place to seek support and share experiences. So if you feel like you need support or someone to talk to, this is an ideal and safe place for you to do so. The sessions run every Wednesday at 3:30pm.

Contact details

For more information about the drop-in cafe, contact:

Tel: 01743 234970
Address: The Hive, 5 Belmont, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY1 1TE 

Shropshire Young Health Champions

Shropshire Young Health Champions are young people who are interested in supporting healthy and happy lives in Shropshire.

Contact details

If you're interested in becoming a Shropshire Young Health Champion, contact:

Tel: 01743 277593
Email: younghealthchampions@shropshireccg.nhs.uk
Address: William Farr House, Shrewsbury, SY3 8AS

To learn more about the great work Shropshire Young Health Champions have done to date, visit the Facebook page. 

Local Counselling Services

For more details about local counselling services across Shropshire, visit the online directory.

National

National Depression UK

Depression UK promotes mutual support between individuals affected by or at risk from depression, with the aim of encouraging self-help, recovery and personal growth. Depression UK tries to help members by enabling them to share their thoughts and problems with fellow sufferers because they know better than any non-depressed professional or carer what it really feels like to suffer from depression.

Contact details

If you'd like more information about the support and advice Depression UK offers, contact:

Tel: Information Line - 0870 774 4320 (this is not a Helpline)
Email: info@depressionuk.org
Website: http://www.depressionuk.org/index.shtml

Samaritans

If you're under 18!

Anyone can contact Samaritans and all information stays completely between us, no matter how old you are. Samaritans' primary responsibility is to you, not your parents or guardian. We’re there for people when they need us, which could be any time of day or night. Talk to us any time you like, in your own way, and off the record – about whatever’s getting to you. You don’t have to be suicidal.

Contact details

If you'd like to speak to someone at Samaritans or just need more information:

Tel: 08457 90 90 90 or take a look at the website.

Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust

Childline

Many young people feel down when life seems really hard or it feels like no one understands you. It’s normal to feel like this sometimes. If sad thoughts and feelings are stopping you from enjoying life, or you feel that life isn’t worth living, then it might help to talk to someone who can listen to you and understand what you're going through.

Visit the Childline website for more information about the advice and support that is available to you or call 0800 1111.

Young Minds

Young Minds is the UK’s leading charity committed to improving the emotional well being and mental health of children and young people. Driven by the experiences of the people we help and support, we campaign, research and influence policy and practice.

Visit the Young Minds website for more information.

Together

Together is a national charity working alongside people with mental health issues on their journey towards independent and fulfilling lives.

NHS Choices

Depression is more than simply feeling unhappy or fed up for a few days. We all go through spells of feeling down, but when you're depressed you feel persistently sad for weeks or months at a time, rather than just a few days. The following links offer you information about depression and advice on the help and support that is available:

Patient information and practical advice

Self-help advice from the NHS.

Living Life to the Full

Living Life to The Full offers online support to help you help yourself. You can contact their team by email at: enquiries@livinglifetothefull.com 

Bipolar UK

Bipolar UK gives practical information, support and advice through its website and free downloadable leaflets. 

Contact details

For practical bipolar advice you can contact Bipolar UK on 020 7931 6480, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

The telephone lines can get very busy, so you may prefer to email them on info@bipolaruk.org.uk.