Estimates drawn from a sample of general practices in Scotland indicates that 23,000 patients over age 65 consulted their GP or practice nurse in 2006-07 because of depression. This figure captures those in the range from mild, short-lived depression to severe, chronic depression.

Those presenting to and supported by specialist services in primary care and services out primary care are not included in this estimate.

The Scottish Government and local partners continue campaigns to end stigma and discrimination of mental ill health and to encourage those in need of help to seek help. We are also investing £3 million in new innovative approaches, with a focus on self help, to better reach and support those with anxiety or depression.

The 2003-06 Scottish Government Doing Well by People with Depression initiative which is now carried forward in local areas did show improvement in some patients from presentation to discharge across all the pilot sites. The difficulty with definitive data extends here also however with some patients for example declining to continue contact with the initiative as they did not wish to recall or revisit that period of their depression.

The Scottish Government are investing £3 million in new innovative approaches, with a focus on self help, to better reach and support those with anxiety or depression. Attention also continues on reducing anti-depressant prescribing and offering alternatives to medication and on campaigns to encourage those in need of help to seek help.

To address this the Scottish Government and local partners continue campaigns to end stigma and discrimination of mental ill health and to encourage those in need of help to seek help. We are also investing £3 million in new innovative approaches, with a focus on self help, to better reach and support those with anxiety or depression.

Estimates drawn from a sample of general practices in Scotland indicates that 23,000 patients over age 65 were recorded with depression by GPs or practice nurses in 2006-07. This figure of course does not capture those with depression who do not seek help from the support agencies.

Learning needs are also highlighted and discussed at the contractually required GP annual appraisals. Other parts of the GP practice contract also assist in the learning process such as significant event analyses.

GPs are supported in addressing their training needs by their NHS board, through protected learning time initiatives. Other help and support is offered through directors of GP post graduate education; NHS Education; Royal College of General Practitioners; NHS elibrary services; special colleagues, and others.

Our published standards for Integrated approaches to the treatment of depression will also inform all practitioners on expectations. We have also published a short summary sheet on the overall attention underway and planned on raising awareness and responding better on depression, including £3 million investment in new innovative approaches for service users.

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2003/11/18496/28823.

School age is defined in section 31 of the same act as a person who has attained the age of five years and has not attained the age of 16 years and the Schools General (Scotland) Regulations 1975 require local authority schools to be open for 190 days each school year.

The regulations do not define the precise length of the school day or week, which are matters left to the discretion of education authorities. A Scottish Executive Circular (No 4/2002) indicated that the widely accepted norm was a 25 hour week for primary schools and a 27.5 hours week for secondary schools.

The Scottish Government collects national statistics on exclusion from school which includes information on the type of alternative provision made. These statistics are available from:

2004-05:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2006/01/30144545/28.

2005-06:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2007/01/30100624/31.

2006-07:

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2008/01/28122247.

http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Publications/2003/11/18496/28823.