GP who considered suicide is urging people with depression to ask for help

A GP whose depression got so severe he couldn’t leave his own house and considered suicide, is urging others with mental health problems to not be afraid to ask for help.

Dr Richard Gorrod, who was a partner at Fakenham Medical Practice for 20 years in North Norfolk, has revealed he didn’t realise just how unwell he had become until he woke one morning and could not get out of bed.

“I didn’t see my illness coming at all. I was fairly capable in various fields and had a supportive family and lots of friends. I had never been mentally ill and my physical health was also pretty good. But then one day, I just literally could not get out of bed.

“With hindsight, I think the illness had been creeping up on me for a couple of years, as I was becoming less tolerant and finding it more and more difficult to concentrate. When I had my crash, I was frightened of anything and everything. We live in a very rural area and every time a car drove past I was paranoid it was someone coming to harm me. I felt pretty worthless and guilty about not working, and my self-esteem was very low.”

Dr Garrod was referred to Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT) and spent several months receiving care within the community and as an inpatient at Great Yarmouth’s Northgate Hospital before he hit rock bottom.

Dr Garrod was admitted to the Priory after confessing his plans to take his own life to his NSFT psychologist. There he took part in talking therapies and cognitive behavioural therapy while also working on his self-esteem, and has made a good recovery as a result.

He has now retired from general practice and said: “Although I am no longer working as a GP, my life has gone on and I’ve used my recovery to get involved with lots of other projects.

“We want society to reach a stage where people who sees signs of mental illness in others feel able to broach the subject and have confidence that they will get a positive response.”

Dr Garrod works to raise awareness of mental ill health, especially among fellow professionals who may not recognise they have a problem. He has shared his story during Mental Health Awareness Week, which runs from 8-14 May.

Organised by the Mental Health Foundation, this year’s event focuses on ‘surviving or thriving’, and looks at the steps people can take to look after their mental health and build resilience to cope with the demands of life.

Anyone who thinks they may be suffering from depression should talk to their GP.

For more information about Mental Health Awareness Week, visit www.mentalhealth.org.uk/MHAW