Nurses ‘failing depression patients’
Those people suffering from depression are being let down by nurses due to a lack of training, it has been claimed.
Nurses at primary health care level do not have sufficient training to effectively deal with people with mental health issues, according to new research by the University of Ulster.
Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph, Dr Carole McIlrath said primary care nurses are often the "first point of call" for most people contacting the health service.
"There is a need for more adequate funding and increased staffing levels to train nurses to deal with this particular mental health issue," she said.
She added that more needs to be done to address the training gap, given that the condition affects around 120 million people across the globe.
Elsewhere, a recent study published in the Archives of General Psychiatry indicated that children with low birth weights could be more prone to depression in later life.
The Insurance Helpline specialises in obtaining cover for people living with depression
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