support group for people living with someone with depression?

[Freddiecat]

Is there one?

My DP has been on meds for 2.5 years now and frankly seems worse than before. He copes with the school run (he doesn't work) but we barely talk, never have any social time together at all and he has pretty much cut off all his friends.

Frankly I feel pretty lonely.

My partner has a mental illness that he's suffered with for 13 years.

We hardly talk either.

Never go out together, or do anything together to be honest!

I know exactly how you feel because thats how i feel as well.

I'm his carer and having him at home is too much sometimes.

Don't know of any support groups but i can sympathise with you and will be on here for a while longer if you want to chat?

13 years fussymummy. That's forever. You begin to wonder whether it's duty or love sometimes I guess. We do have good moments but so few and far between that I am usually totally unprepared and end up messing it up.

Sympathies. My dh is chronically ill but is also quite depressed (not surprisingly given his illness but even so). Very similar to yours in terms of cutting off from his friends, no social time together.

Have you had a look to see if there is a Carers branch near you? Carers Leeds is fantastic and a real life line, so I'm hoping other local branches are the same. At the very least they may be able to put you in touch with support organisations specifically for those dealing with mental illness, although in my experience the demands on a carer can be pretty similar regardless of what the illness is.

Btw, here's a link to a leaflet Carers produce about mental illness.

I'm doing a great course at the moment called "All About Me" through Carers Leeds, and the Expert Patient Programme has something similar, well worth a look.

The Depression Alliance says it's for people with depression, their family and friends.

By the way, I noticed in Carers Leeds today that Leeds Mental Health Trust runs some courses/groups for carers of people with mental health issues. Worth contacting your local MH trust?