Aviva Community Fund provided £1,275 of match funding
Mental Health Therapy for Anxiety and Depression
United Kingdom
Aim
When untreated, Anxiety and Depression destroys lives. We are raising money to fund our FREE CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) Helpline.
People often think that Parkinson’s only affects you physically. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Parkinson’s can have a big impact on one’s mental wellbeing and Anxiety and Depression are common non-motor symptoms of people living with the condition. 50% of people with Parkinson’s will suffer from Anxiety or Depression during their illness.
CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) is one of the most effective therapies for anxiety and depression. It is very effective at helping people change negative thinking patterns and behaviours to solve their problems and engage in life.
Unfortunately, NHS referrals for CBT can take several months. This means that the overall physical and mental wellbeing of someone with Parkinson’s can decline simultaneously and rapidly without quick intervention. People with Parkinson’s and Anxiety or Depression can also experience: worsening of tremors, reduced mobility due to tension and rigidity, sleep disturbances such as insomnia which can result in further cognitive decline and hallucinations and an inability to exercise due to lack of motivation and extreme fatigue.
Not all NHS Therapists have experience of providing psychotherapy for people with Neurological conditions such as Parkinson’s. Neurological Psychotherapy integrates neurobiology and psychotherapy. It is scientific and is based on the brain, its structure, the neurons and how it all wires together. All of our therapists are particularly experienced in this area resulting in a better understanding of Parkinson’s and how to successfully treat people with the condition.
As part of the launch of the Parkinson’s Mental Health Support Hub, we have developed the first ever Parkinson’s CBT service specifically to help people with Parkinson’s who suffer from Anxiety or Depression. The service will be launching on World Parkinson's Day- 11th April 2021.
Parkinson’s Care and Support UK are the only UK charity that offers FREE CBT to people with Parkinson’s who are living with Anxiety or Depression. The service can be accessed following a successful referral from a GP. CBT encourages patients to develop more positive thoughts about themselves, the environment around them and their future: in this case the outcome related to their illness. The goal is to help a person understand how their thoughts affect their emotions and behaviour and to replace those reactions with positive or constructive alternatives.
Medications do not always work for anxiety and depression and can lead to dependence and severe side effects. Sadly, some people never stop taking antidepressants. CBT is the leading and most successful approach to treat anxiety and depression.
Our aim of the Helpline is to reduce isolation, cure anxiety and depression amongst people with Parkinson’s, reduce the suicide rate amongst people with Parkinson’s and to improve quality of life. Funding this Helpline would literally be providing a lifeline to people who are suffering tremendously with their mental health and help them to live better for longer with Parkinson’s.
www.parkinsonscare.org.uk/cbt
This project successfully funded on 23rd March 2021