Staying free of depression

Minds at ease ... Professor Kavanagh

For many Australians living in the country, getting treatment for depression can be difficult, particularly when the drive to the nearest counselling facilities can take hours. But some rural Australians who have lived with depression have been able to find solace in a unique program provided by UQ researchers.

The program, called “On Track”, is delivered by mail and helps people who have previously been depressed to get their lives on course and become more healthy and active. Professor David Kavanagh, from the School of Medicine, said the program was ideal for people in rural areas where treatment facilities were scarce. “The big advantage is that it uses a series of letters – this means that people can get some help, no matter where they live”, he said. He said that without counselling or support, for many people, depression could be like a “roundabout” they felt they could not get off.

“We know that more than half the people who suffer from depression will have another episode in the next five years,” he said. “Over time, they are also more likely to get physical illnesses, or use alcohol or other drugs.” He said the program was an ideal way of communicating with people with depression, as there was “something personal” about receiving a letter.

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