ONE in three British women have used antidepressants at some point in their lives, some staying on them for as long as 10 years, according to researchers.

That research was conducted by the women’s campaign group Platform 51 in 2011 when the figures were said to “pose worrying questions about the appropriateness of prescriptions”.

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But Lancashire Women’s Centres – there are branches in Accrington, Blackburn, Blackpool, Burnley and Preston with Community Wellbeing Centres (services also available to men) in Blackburn and soon to be Nelson – have launched a programme which may offer GPs support when it comes to mental health problems.

The Mind Fit programme offers eight FREE five-week courses designed to improve women’s self-esteem, improve confidence, control emotions and learn ways to cope with depression and anxiety.

Training co-ordinator Moya O’Hagan, who is based at the Accrington centre, says the programme is open to women of all ages. They have had women of 18 and 80 taking part.

She says: “Sustained mental health is better achieved through a staged approach ensuring that an individual has healthy self esteem, feels at ease and can identify the direction in which they are moving. So we’ve developed a carefully designed progression package which leads individuals to improved wellbeing.

“The voyage of self discovery travels carefully through a series of five-week long courses starting with: The Planner – the first steps to feeling happier, welcome and at ease in a small group.

This passes through to The Journey which leads to the participant feeling stronger, more confident and assertive.

The programme concludes with The Prize which adds the final touches and polishes new skills to achieve lasting positive changes.

“We also offer four further Mind Fit courses designed to offer targeted support where needed, including The Transformer to help individuals living with depression and anxiety. The Manager offers techniques to manage emotions, thoughts and feelings related to stress and anger. The Creator uses expression through arts and crafts to build confidence.

There’s also a three-week early evening Mindfullness course for those who can’t make the daytime courses.

The Now programme is aimed at enabling the overworked to beat burnout or exhaustion by learning to let go and leave the day’s work behind.”

The NHS funded courses are currently available at Accrington, Blackburn and Burnley with the possibility of being extended to Blackpool and Preston in the near future.

The course tutors are all qualified and trained in counselling and most people can be accommodated in a couple of weeks.

“Women don’t have to be on benefits to take part in our courses. We are a support to the statutory services. We work with people’s triggers and give them coping techniques and one to one therapy. It’s good for a lot of people to know that they are not alone. When a problem or issue is shared it normalises it.”

The courses accommodate around 10 clients at a time and, according to Moya: “We really get to know that person, which is important.”

“So whether they’re a single mum struggling on her own with kids, or an older lady whose children have grown up and left and they’re trying to assess their life these courses are valuable to all.”

The centres also work with the criminal justice system to help prevent women re-offending. They will also be providing a Work Fit programme designed to support the unemployed and a Body Fit programme to promote wellbeing.

“It can be very daunting when someone has lost their confidence,” says Moya. “They don’t know where to start to try and change things.”

Lancashire Women’s Centres would be an ideal starting point.