This
article appeared in Aging Today, January/February 1998, copyright American
Society on Aging, 1998. It appeared in the newspaper's Research Today section,
aupported by a grant from the AARP Andrus
Foundation.
MENTAL HEALTH CAMPAIGNS SPREAD TRUTHS ABOUT DEPRESSION
"I was so embarrassed to see a psychotherapist that I would go around the block first before going into their office. I didn't tell anyone I was seeing a therapist except my wife and nurse," said Bradley Brownson, a retired physician who had difficulties recognizing depression in his patients, including one who committed suicide, partly because of his own struggles with and denial of the illness.
Brownson made his comments as part of a panel of once clinically depressed elders who spoke in San Francisco last October during "Moving Beyond Depression--Living Smarter: Keeping Emotionally Fit," a conference for older adults, their families and healthcare providers. Hosted by the Mental Health Association of San Francisco, with cosponsorship by the American Society on Aging's (ASA) Mental Health and Aging Network and other groups.
With presentations from researchers, psychologists, pharmacists, public health workers and formerly depressed elders, the conference was a rare opportunity for professionals and elders to exchange information and personal experiences related to depression. Another speaker told the audience about his feelings of depression and helplessness triggered by physical decline related to aging. "I got depressed once while doing handyman work. I had used the wrong screwdriver because of my failing vision," said Ed Mingoia.
CAMPAIGN NETWORK
The San Francisco conference was part of a nationwide campaign to change fearful attitudes about depression among elders. Organized by the National Mental Health Association (NMHA), based in Alexandria, Va., the Campaign on Clinical Depression involves more than 160 national organizations, 38 local campaign directors and numerous groups participating in local and regional events.
To help elders such as Brownson and Mingoia, the NMHA is providing free referrals to local mental health associations and confidential depression screening sites around the nation, in addition to recorded and printed information about symptoms of and treatment for depression. For any of these resources, call NMHA at (800) 228-1114.
GERIATRIC PSYCHIATRY
A second campaign on late-life depression has been created by the American Association of Geriatric Psychiatry (AAGP). Targeted to both physicians and consumers, it is presenting regional symposia to teach primary care physicians how to diagnose and treat depression. In addition, AAGP is using regional and national media tours to promote continuing consumer education.
An outgrowth of AAGP's campaign is the Geriatric Psychiatry Alliance (GPA), a separate educational foundation affiliated with the organization. Information on depression available through GPA includes "Depression in Late Life: Not a Natural Part of Aging," a brochure for caregivers, and "Diagnosis and Treatment of Late-Life Depression: Making a Difference," a professional monograph and slide set. The organization also has put together a series of seminars entitled "The Diagnosis and Management of Late-Life Depression: An Opportunity for the Primary Care Physician to Help."
The alliance is pressing policy makers to increase research funding at the National Institute of Mental Health (nimh) and to expand Medicare coverage for late-life depression. Testifying before the Senate Select Committee on Aging, Ira R. Katz, co-chair of the GPA Initiative on Late Life Depression and professor of psychiatry at the University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, said, "We urge that you consider both increased federal support for nimh research to further increase our knowledge of depression and suicide in the elderly, and legislation to ensure that Medicare coverage for the treatment of late-life depression receives parity with that for other serious and life threatening disease." Contact GPA at (888) 463-6472.