National Survey Emphasizes Women Need More Comprehensive Approach to Managing Depression
18 April 2006 - 11:03PM
PR Newswire (US)
New Ages & Stages Program Provides Helpful Insights and Tools
INDIANAPOLIS, April 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- While half of
young women aged 20-29 felt they would "just get over" depression
and relied heavily on support of friends and family, the vast
majority of women aged 60-69 reported taking medication and not
seeking support, according to a new national survey. Overall,
findings show that most women are neither aware of the
age-dependent circumstances that can put them at risk for
depression, nor do they adopt a comprehensive treatment approach
that can increase the chances of becoming well. To help women of
all ages better recognize and manage depression, Eli Lilly and
Company and the National Women's Health Resource Center (NWHRC) are
launching a new educational program called Ages & Stages. As
part of this program, a survey(i) of more than 1,200 women with
depression revealed that their views of, and experiences with, the
illness varied considerably depending on their age, often leading
to misunderstanding of the illness, misdiagnosis and lack of proper
care. "The results of the survey highlight the need for
age-specific information to ensure that all women are seeking
proper treatment for their depression," said Dr. Vivien Burt,
professor of psychiatry, David Geffen School of Medicine, UCLA.
"Younger women need to understand that depression is a real illness
that requires treatment, while older women need to know that
support is a key component of a successful treatment program. Ages
& Stages covers all aspects of depression and tailors the
information to the specific needs of women at different points in
their lives." The Ages & Stages program, an extension of
Support Partners, provides women with a comprehensive guide that
leads them through different life stages and situations that could
trigger depression. Special emphasis is placed on the changing role
of supportive networks, as well as tips on whom women can turn to
at each stage of their lives. The guide is accessible by visiting
http://www.supportpartnersprogram.com/, and clicking on the Ages
& Stages icon. "The Ages & Stages program sheds light on
how women are affected by depression throughout their lives, and
provides important information for women coping with depression,"
said Elizabeth Battaglino Cahill, RN, executive director of the
National Women's Health Resource Center. The Ages & Stages
guidebook incorporates various important topics into the following
chapters: Young Women and Depression (20s-early 40s) Younger women
tend to misunderstand depression and underestimate the seriousness
of the illness. In fact, nearly 60 percent of women under age 29
thought that they would just "get over" their depression. In this
section of the guidebook, women will learn that, while depression
can occur at any age, the first episode of major depression is most
likely to happen in early adulthood. It also discusses situations
when the risk for developing depression may be increased as a
result of life events including a new job, failed relationship and
pregnancy. Women in this age group may turn to friends and family
members for support. The Menopause Transition (mid-40s-50s) The
mid-40s through 50s are a time of tremendous physical change as the
reproductive years come to an end. The survey revealed that some
women in their 40s and 50s (12 percent) mistakenly attribute the
symptoms of depression to menopause, which may result in these
women being undiagnosed and untreated. In this section, women will
learn how to identify the symptoms of depression and the importance
of working with a healthcare professional. It also focuses on other
common causes of depression during this time, including "empty nest
syndrome," divorce and aging parents. Additionally, the guide
offers suggestions for ways women can approach someone for support,
and discusses the importance of talking about their depression with
their spouse or partner. Older Women and Depression (60-69) Older
women are often times forced to manage their depression alone. Less
than 20 percent of women 60-69 surveyed included "talk to family
and friends" as a way to manage their depression. Women in this age
group are also most likely to be dealing with the loss of a spouse,
which can add to their solitude. This section of the guidebook
incorporates the understanding that finding support in a woman's
later years may be more challenging, as family members may have
moved away and spouses may no longer be present. The guidebook
offers insights into how these women can find the support they need
and encourages them to seek help from a healthcare professional.
About the Support Partners Program Support Partners is an
educational program that offers a step-by-step approach to building
partnerships between people living with depression and those who
want to help them. A Support Partner is someone who is committed to
helping a friend or loved one with depression. He or she provides
assistance as needed, builds on the strengths of the person living
with depression, and encourages actions that allow recovery to
happen. Anyone can be a Support Partner, including family, friends,
co-workers, neighbors and religious/spiritual leaders. Eli Lilly
and Company and the National Women's Health Resource Center
launched the Support Partners campaign in March of 2005. The
program offers three guidebooks, which should be shared between a
person with depression and his/her Support Partner. A copy of the
guidebooks can be obtained by visiting
http://www.supportpartnersprogram.com/. About Depression Up to 19
million Americans have depressive disorders, including major
depression, with women twice as likely to be living with the
illness. Although it is one of the most frequently seen psychiatric
disorders in the primary care setting, it often goes undiagnosed or
is under-treated.(ii) This may be because depressed patients often
present with physical symptoms rather than emotional complaints. In
one study, nearly 70 percent of patients (both men and women)
diagnosed with depression reported physical symptoms as their chief
reason for seeking help.(iii) The goal of treatment is to help
people with depression feel more like themselves, so they can move
forward with their lives. Depression symptoms that don't go away
completely can prevent people with depression from getting fully
well, and may increase the risk of symptoms coming back. Nobody
should settle for feeling only slightly better. With the right
treatment and support, recovering from depression is possible.
About the National Women's Health Resource Center The National
Women's Health Resource Center (NWHRC) is the nation's leading
independent, nonprofit health information source for women. NWHRC
addresses a broad range of women's health concerns and issues and
develops comprehensive and objective health information based on
the latest advances in health research. NWHRC focuses on disease
prevention and wellness, and connects women with reliable health
information sources. Its programs include the development of
national health campaigns, its bimonthly newsletter, The National
Women's Health Report, development and distribution of consumer
educational materials, and its Web site,
http://www.healthywomen.org/. About Lilly Lilly, a leading
innovation-driven corporation, is developing a growing portfolio of
first-in-class and best-in-class pharmaceutical products by
applying the latest research from its own worldwide laboratories
and from collaborations with eminent scientific organizations.
Headquartered in Indianapolis, Ind., Lilly provides answers --
through medicines and information -- for some of the world's most
urgent medical needs. Additional information about Lilly is
available at http://www.lilly.com/. (i) Results are based on a
survey funded by Eli Lilly and Company, and conducted by Greenberg
Quinlan Rosner Research from January 17 - - January 26, 2006. In
total, 1,439 women, ages 21-69 years, who have been diagnosed with
depression were surveyed. In addition, 217 women, ages 21-69 years,
who helped support someone with depression were also interviewed.
(ii) Kroenke K, et al. Am J Med. 1997; 103(5):339-347. (iii) Simon
GE, et al. N Engl J Med. 1999; 341(18):1329-1335. (Logo:
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20031219/LLYLOGO
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060418/NWHRCLOGO )
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20031219/LLYLOGO
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060418/NWHRCLOGO DATASOURCE:
Eli Lilly and Company; National Women's Health Resource Center
CONTACT: Lisa Wolfington, Communications Director of National
Women's Health Resource Center, +1-888-406-9472; or Tammy Hull,
Global Product Communications of Eli Lilly and Company,
+1-317-651-9116 voice, +1-888-359-7102 pager,
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