Better treatment needed for depression sufferers
65% of doctors have said they are unable to frequently offer the option of psychological therapy to depressed patients within two months of referral.
The survey which the above findings come from is all part of a campaign by mental health charity Mind which is calling for better access to therapies for those suffering with depression.
The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) is also backing the campaign and believes talking therapies to be the best for of treatment for those suffering with mild to moderate depression. NICE has challenged parties to make guarantees in their election manifestos to offer evidence-based therapies to all those who need them within 28 days of requesting referral.
The government is already working hard to boost the number of cognitive behavioural therapists available on the NHS and in 2007 they pledged £173m to the cause.
The Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) programme aims to treat 900,000 extra people in England by 2010/11, hoping to reduce the number of sufferers on sick pay and benefits by 25,000.
A spokesperson from the Department of Health has said that the scheme has already benefited more than 230,000 and almost three quarters of primary care trusts now offer this service.
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