AS a psychotherapist working with depression, here's my pennyworth in answer to Max Nottingham's question (Down our way, letters, November 22).

One bank has some advertising which I find disturbing. "I want it now", it says, tempting people to spend money they don't have on things they don't need. Want, maybe, but not need.

How often do we see and hear people who profess to have everything they want, but don't understand why they are unhappy.

It is because they don't have everything they need. This includes young people surrounded by material goods, but with increasing mental health problems.

This is what we need as human beings to enable us to thrive: to feel secure in home, work and environment; to give and receive attention; to feel a sense of control; to be part of a wider community; a time for privacy; a close friend; to be physically and emotionally accepted and loved by one other person; to be acknowledged and valued at work, socially and at home; to be competent in one major area; enjoy good nutrition and exercise; to be physically and mentally stretched.

This list refers to any age, sex, gender, creed. Anyone with mental health problems will have missing needs or needs being met unhealthily.

I would guess that the older men mentioned in the letter are missing a few on that list.

I would add that levels of emotional immaturity are rising. Far too many adults lose control, behaving childishly with sulks, tantrums and plain infantile behaviour. They hope someone else will make things better for them.

We need to grow up and take personal responsibility for getting our human needs met and not spend time and money chasing empty promises.

Rita Leaman, The York Human Givens Centre, St Saviours Place, York.

(www.yorkhumangivens.co.uk)