beyondblue the national depression initiative www.beyondblue.org.au

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beyondblue the national depression initiative
Presentation to Alzheimers Australia National
Conference Living with Dementia Positive
Solutions Leonie Young Chief Executive
Officer www.beyondblue.org.au
May 2005

beyondblue the national depression
initiative www.beyondblue.org.au
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What is beyondblue?

• beyondblue is a national, independent,
  not-for-profit organisation working to address
  issues associated with depression, anxiety and
  related substance-use disorders in Australia.
• Endorsed by AHMAC, established in 2000 by the
  Commonwealth and Victorian Governments,
  beyondblue is now supported by other State and
  Territory Governments, private companies and
  community-based organisations.
• beyondblue works in partnership with health
  services, schools, workplaces, universities,
  media and community organisations, as well as
  people living with depression, to bring together
  their expertise around depression health
  promotion in action.

beyondblue the national depression
initiative www.beyondblue.org.au
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beyondblues 5 priorities
1 Increasing community awareness of depression,
anxiety and related substance-use disorders and
addressing stigma 2 Working with people
living with depression and promoting their needs
and lived experiences of depression with policy
makers in the healthcare system 3 Developing
prevention and early intervention programs around
depression 4 Improving training and support for
GPs and other healthcare professionals around
depression 5 Initiating and supporting
depression-related research
beyondblue the national depression
initiative www.beyondblue.org.au
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beyondblues approach
A snapshot of beyondblue programs across the
lifespan
Research
Practice
Post Natal Depression Project beyondbabyblues Ybb
lue campaign and Ybblue Crew National Schools
Research Initiative Every Family
Initiative National Depression in the Workplace
Program Beyond Ageing Project Maturityblues
Antenatal postnatal Youth Schools Parents Workp
lace Older people

beyondblue the national depression
initiative www.beyondblue.org.au
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Report highlights growing dementia cases
Source Mathers, Vos Stevenson (1999)


beyondblue the national depression
initiative www.beyondblue.org.au
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How common is depression in the Australian
community?
Depression is common affecting 1 in 5
Australians 1 million people at any one time
Twelve-month prevalence of mental disorders in
Australian adults
FEMALES
MALES
Population Population estimate estimate
Any depressive disorder 4.2 275,300 7.4 503,300 A
ny anxiety disorder 7.1 470,400 12.0 829,600 Any
substance use disorder 11.1 734,300 4.5 307,500 A
ny mental disorder 17.4 1,151,600 18.0 1,231,500
Source Andrews G, Hall W, Teesson M, Henderson
S. The mental health of Australians. Mental
Health Branch, Commonwealth Department of Health
and Aged Care, 1999.
beyondblue the national depression
initiative www.beyondblue.org.au
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Who gets depressed?
Prevalence of depression by age and sex
(community cases)

1 in 6 males 1 in 4 females

Source Andrews G, Hall W, Teesson M, Henderson
S. The mental health of Australians. Mental
Health Branch, Commonwealth Department of Health
and Aged Care, 1999.
beyondblue the national depression
initiative www.beyondblue.org.au
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Depression in the elderly

• However
• Major depression rates among older people with
  comorbid conditions up to 25-36
• Prevalence rates of major depression among older
  people living in residential care have been
  reported as high as 26, with rates of depressive
  symptoms reported as high as 40
• High suicide rates identified among older men
• Ageing population number of depressed older
  Australians expected to double by 2021

beyondblue the national depression
initiative www.beyondblue.org.au
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beyondblue Depression Monitor
beyondblue the national depression
initiative www.beyondblue.org.au
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beyondblue Depression Monitor

• Older respondents (aged 65 and over) were less
  likely to assign highest ratings of disability to
  depression when compared with younger age groups
• 19.4 perceived depression affects 1 in 5
• 25.9 perceived depression affects 1 in 20
• 25 perceived depression affects 1 in 50

beyondblue the national depression
initiative www.beyondblue.org.au
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Prevalence of depression among elderly people in
residential care
(Centre for Health Risk Behaviours Mental
Health, Deakin University 2004)


beyondblue the national depression
initiative www.beyondblue.org.au
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Screening for depression among older people

• Currently no routine screening for depression in
  residential care
• ACAT mini-mental instrument not adequate
• Research found that depression instruments are
  valid indicators of major depression, including
  where moderate dementia is present
• Need for research into whether the routine use of
  depression instruments can result in improved
  outcomes for residents with depression

beyondblue the national depression
initiative www.beyondblue.org.au
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Satisfaction with health services for depression

• General satisfaction with health service
  providerbut poor engagement around non-physical
  symptoms
• He (GP) is a very nice gentleman, but hes too
  busy to spend much time with people
• more interested in the physical parts of me
• Poor understanding of illness and low awareness
  of treatment
• Poor perception of improvements in mental state
  following treatment

beyondblue the national depression
initiative www.beyondblue.org.au
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The need for action

• Low level of literacy in the general population
  and among health care professionals and older
  people
• Chronic under-treatment of depression older
  people the most vulnerable
• Failure to recognise and diagnose depressive
  symptoms
• Major depression often untreated or wrongly
  treated
• Nihilistic belief that depression is to be
  expected in old age

beyondblue the national depression
initiative www.beyondblue.org.au
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Potential interventions

• Prevention methods proposed
• Increasing literacy about depression in old age
• Improving recognition/diagnosis in primary care
• Promotion of physical exercise to alleviate
  symptoms of mild to moderate depression
• Nutritional supplements
• Partnerships Better Outcomes in Mental Health
  Care -increased training for GPs

beyondblue the national depression
initiative www.beyondblue.org.au
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Beyond Ageing Project

• Largest research project into depression and the
  elderly
• Will examine whether vitamin supplements,
  exercise and improving knowledge of depression
  can prevent depression in older people

beyondblue the national depression
initiative www.beyondblue.org.au
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Other beyondblue research into depression and the
elderly

• Caring for depressed older people in the
  emergency department
• Using physical activity to promote wellbeing in
  older people in the primary care setting
• An interdisciplinary approach to recognising and
  treating depression among older Australians
  living in residential care
• MAP Project sector module for aged care workers

beyondblue the national depression
initiative www.beyondblue.org.au
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Where to now?

• Beyond Ageing project
• Maturityblues/blueVoices

- Training program on depression for staff in
aged care settings - Research with elderly
consumers and carers - Increase community
awareness and improve literacy

• Partnership with Alzheimers Australia and
  Baptist Community Care

beyondblue the national depression
initiative www.beyondblue.org.au
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