Age Concern And Help The Aged Comment On Updated NICE Guidance For The Treatment And Management Of Depression

Main Category: Depression
Also Included In: Mental Health;  Psychology / Psychiatry;  Seniors / Aging
Article Date: 29 Oct 2009 - 1:00 PDT

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Andrew Harrop, Head of Public Policy for Age Concern and Help the Aged, said:

'We welcome the updated NICE guidance on depression and the range of treatments it recommends; however we know that in practice health professionals are not using them when diagnosing and treating older patients with symptoms of depression.

'Depression is the most common mental health problem in later life, affecting one in four older people, yet it is often overlooked by GPs and health professionals and wrongly seen as part of growing old. For many older people it's a serious illness that if left unidentified and untreated, can lead to a life of misery.

'Our national 'Down, but not out' campaign uncovered that eight out of ten older people1 with clinical depression don't get any treatment because of ageist attitudes and rules in the NHS. Currently, most mental health services for depression exclude people aged 65 and older, despite the risk of depression increasing with age.

'Ageist attitudes and practice in NHS services must be stamped out once and for all, which is why we welcome last week's announcement from the Health Minister, Andy Burnham, MP about tackling age discrimination in health and social care. In the mean time, health professionals need to be more aware about the impact depression has on older people's quality of life and do more to improve early detection and diagnosis of the illness. The neglect of older people's mental health ruins lives and must no longer be ignored.'

Notes

1. Out of 1 million people over 65 who have clinical depression, only around 150,000 receive treatment.

Age Concern England and Help the Aged have joined together to form a single charity dedicated to improving the lives of older people.

To access the charity's 'Take the Challenge' online interactive programme to help improve the treatment and diagnosis of depression in later life, please visit www.takethechallenge.org.uk.

Age Concern and Help the Aged has produced four new FREE information leaflets to raise awareness of depression in later life. They are:

- Spotting the signs of depression
- Discussing depression with your GP
- Coping with depression
- Supporting a loved one with depression

Source
Help the Aged