Depression Alliance - the leading charity for people affected by depression - launches National Depression Week 2004 this week.

Forum Response: Depression Alliance

Jim Thomson, Depression Alliance's chief executive,said: "Depression is often seen as the Cinderella of illnesses.  Nobody pays much attention to it, it's an embarrassment and something not to be spoken about, and as a result it never gets invited to the Ball with the more glamorous and politically motivating issues.

"Indeed, as depression accounts for 30 to 40 per cent of the work burden of primary care - yet qualifies for only four per cent of the 'mental health' quality points in the new GP contract - it's highly unlikely that depression could afford a ticket to the ball, let alone a gilded coach."

Forum Response: Stroke Association

A spokesperson for the Stroke Association told ePolitix.com: "Each year over 130,000 people in England and Wales have a stroke, and the condition has a greater disability impact than any other medical condition.

"Therefore the effects of a stroke are often devastating and many people develop depression as they come to terms with how their life has been affected.

"However, most people are not routinely assessed for depression after they have had a stroke, and only a minority are diagnosed and treated.

"It is vital that medical professionals recognise that depression can often result after a stroke and that it is promptly diagnosed and treated, as people with the condition appear to recover less well from their strokes compared to those who are unaffected. It is also important to encourage people to ask for help, either from health professionals or loved ones.

"The Stroke Association therefore supports National Depression Week, hopes that it helps to address the stigma that is often attached to the condition and that it improves the support that people receive."