AS the Lancashire Telegraph health reporter, BEN BUTLER reports on all matter of issues regarding the NHS and people’s battles with illness. Today, he gives his verdict on his experience of attending Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) sessions and why others struggling should try it out.

HAVING struggled with depression and anxiety throughout my 20s, I’ve always thought about trying out talking therapy to help me cope with my daily struggles.

For several reasons which I will explain, I didn’t decide to do this until last year as I reached a real low where I had to admit myself to A&E at Royal Preston Hospital as I had been feeling suicidal. It saw me have to take four weeks off work .

At this point, I knew I had to do something that had eluded me up until then, mainly because I was scared of opening up and talking and not really believing that the sessions would make any difference.

I think a lot of what I now see as a misguided view was down to existing stigmas in society about mental health, especially as a man who is supposed to be emotionally strong and keep feelings bottled up. How wrong was I?

But attending CBT sessions is the best thing that I have done and it has really helped me to deal with my every day problems. I’m a lot better for it and life is now bearable.

CBT is a talking therapy that can help you manage your problems by changing the way you think and behave. It’s most commonly used to treat anxiety and depression, but can be useful for other mental and physical health problems.

It was in September last year that I was referred, but I didn’t have my first appointment until April.

Now about five months later, having attended 12 sessions with a therapist at various surgeries including Shadsworth and Roman Road in Blackburn, I have completed my therapy.

It has taught me various techniques to deal with negative thoughts I might have about work and life in general - and it has really helped me to think in a different and more positive way.

Local mental health services are stretched and need more money, and waiting times are far too long but the staff in them do the best job they can with the resources they have. I can’t fault their fantastic work.

Don’t get me wrong, CBT is no magic cure and for it to make a difference, you have to want it to work and be willing to engage.

So you need to write down on paper everything you learn and really practise what you’re being taught.

It takes time but with a willingness to try and give it a go, it can make a huge difference.

CBT alone won’t solve everything either, but combined with anti-depressants and changes to your lifestyle such as more exercise and healthy eating, you can get a lot better.

Also support from loved ones is crucial to getting better. It really makes a difference just to be able to talk to someone. My girlfriend has been amazing from the start and is always there for me to talk to her and is a real shoulder to cry on. While my friends and family and work colleagues have all been fantastic and supportive also. So I can’t thank them all enough.

Depression and anxiety are debilitating illnesses that can drive people to suicide.

Too many people, especially young and middle aged men are taking their own lives – 594 people in East Lancashire in the last decade is a shocking statistic – but so many of these deaths could be avoided through talking and with the right support.

Opening up or simply being kind and talking to someone whether it’s a friend or family member or professional, can make a huge difference

So give CBT a try. It may be the best thing you do and it saves lives.