Council task group calls for more recognition of depression
More should be done to highlight depression and remove stigma of the condition, says Devon County Council.
A review, published this week by a Council task group, examines the scale and impact of depression in older people in Devon, and looks at the services and strategies to help people affected.
While there is quite rightly considerable focus on dementia, depression is reported to be twice as prevalent.
The World Health Organisation projections indicate that depression will be the highest ranked cause of disease burden in developed countries by the year 2020.
Councillor Philip Sanders, Chairman of the People Scrutiny Task Group said:
“The undoubted success of the nationwide drive for early intervention, better diagnosis and public recognition of dementia provide clear pointers to the possibility of achieving similar success in dealing with mental health whether simply low mood or high grade clinical depression.”
The task group is concerned about the extent to which issues surrounding depression often go unnoticed.
It also says that society has been slow to recognise that growing older does not have to result in low mood, lack of self esteem and poor self confidence.
The report highlights depression in older people as a broad social issue, not just health related.
It is clear that where depression is dealt with well, says the report, physical conditions will improve as a result, and vice versa as the two are inextricably linked.
The task group recommends that health and social care agencies need to work more closely along with the voluntary sector to increase support to older people and reduce the isolation that can lead to depression.
Other recommendations include:
• Improved training in the identification of older people with depression linked in with a Public Health campaign for low level depression
• Reviewing existing provision and develop a range of interventions as a model for wider use to address social isolation and depression in Devon.
• GP identification and treatment of depression focusing on a holistic approach to older people’s needs to include social interaction.
• Reviewing the role of the County Council in coordinating and enabling voluntary groups including financial support.
The report will be presented to the People’s Scrutiny Committee this morning at 10am (Thursday 7 March 2013). Members of the public are welcome to attend or the meeting can be watched live, or at any future time, online
http://www.devoncc.public-i.tv/core/
Click here to download the Task Group's final report.
