GINGIN and Yanchep residents have been encouraged to start a conversation with Depression: Let’s Talk, an initiative representing this year’s theme of the World Health Organisation’s World Health Day.
In Australia, one in five women and one in eight men will experience depression in their lifetimes.
In the past 12 months, about one in 13 Western Australians reported that their family GP had diagnosed them with depression, with more cases reported among women.
To coincide with Depression: Let’s Talk day, which was on Friday, April 7 the Mental Health Commission has released a video to explain the importance of asking for help from your GP.
Mental Health Minister Roger Cook said it was important for people to continue to talk about depression, and to encourage sufferers to feel supported in asking for help.
“Depression can affect anyone at any time, lasting for weeks or even years, and can have serious consequences for a person’s mental and physical wellbeing,’’ he said.
“It is important to know there is help available for people struggling with depression and by sending a message that it is OK to talk about the illness, we hope to encourage people to reach out and get in touch with the many support services available.
“With the right help, depression can be prevented and treated but it is still a subject that many people struggle to talk about, even with close family and friends, which is why Depression: Let’s Talk is a great way to kick off this important conversation.
“The State Government is committed to supporting mental health services and it will be our priority to ensure more Western Australians are able to access the help they need.”
Learn more about depression at https://www.mhc.wa.gov.au/gettinghelp, http://www.beyondblue.org.au or https://www.sane.org/
