Depression affects one in every five people at some time in their lives

NHS Lothian has teamed up with Edinburgh University and mental health charity Depression Alliance Scotland at the start of Mental Health Week.

It aims to raise awareness and broaden options for people living in Edinburgh and the Lothians with depression.

The Lothian Alliance Against Depression (LAAD) group will be officially launched on Wednesday.

'Sadness and despair'

The key message of the campaign entitled "Mother, father, son, daughter..." is that depression can affect anyone at any time.

Posters with this message can be seen on buses and in community settings.

There will also be presentations and examples of community-based approaches to the management of depression in the Lothians.

Depression in Scotland is a common medical condition, which often leads to intense feelings of sadness and despair, and affects one in every five people at some time in their lives.

Depression is a very common illness, but unlike other common illnesses, such as asthma or diabetes, depression has a stigma attached to it which prevents many people with depression from seeking help Ilena Day Depression Alliance Scotland

In Edinburgh and the Lothians it is one of the most common reasons for people to visit their GP, but it is estimated that as many as 75% of people with depression do not seek help from their doctor.

Linda Irvine, NHS Lothian mental health strategic programme manager, said: "I am very excited about NHS Lothian becoming part of this European-wide project.

"I believe this awareness-raising campaign will attempt to change ingrained attitudes to depression, which is a common and generally treatable illness but is often under reported due to the stigma attached to it."

Ilena Day, chief executive for Depression Alliance Scotland, said: "Depression is a very common illness, but unlike other common illnesses, such as asthma or diabetes, depression has a stigma attached to it which prevents many people with depression from seeking help."