beyond maturityblues

Raising Depression Awareness in Older People

In 2006, beyondblue: the national depression initiative and Council on the Ageing South Australia conducted a pilot program aimed at older people to increase their awareness of depression.

This twelve month pilot project examined the effectiveness of using existing peer support networks to deliver specific depression-awareness education to older people.

Key Messages

Using four key messages, the South Australian Peer Educators delivered 171 sessions to over 3,500 people throughout South Australia.

  1. Depression is not a normal part of ageing

  2. Depression is a health problem, not a weakness

  3. Depression is a treatable illness

  4. Information and support is available

National Program

There has been widespread interest in the project and many organisations involved with older people have been waiting to hear the results of the pilot program.

The program is now being rolled out nationally through COTA in every state and territory in Australia.

Program Reach

beyondblue has agreed to work with all state and territory COTAs to deliver 1200 Peer Education sessions to 24,000 people throughout metropolitan, rural and remote areas of Australia within an 18 month period.

Rationale

Research has shown that older people are less likely to know about depression, less likely to consider it an illness or disability and are less likely to seek treatment than other age groups.

We know that depression in older people is a growing problem and that accurate diagnosis is difficult due to a number of complicating factors including the belief that depression is a normal part of ageing.

Research has also shown that peer education is valued among the older age groups.

Objective

The major goal of the project is to train older people to deliver information about depression to people about the same age, within established community networks.

To book a 'beyond maturityblues - depression and older people' information session for your group, please contact Jane Newsome or Marlene Robins on 93212133

For more information on seniors and depression, visit: http://www.beyondblue.org.au/index.aspx?link_id=101