Better Help for Health Professionals Means Better Help for Treating Mental Health Problems
Health professionals will have access to new clinical practice guidelines to help them identify and treat mental health problems following National Health and Medical Research Council’s approval of guidelines developed by beyondblue: the national depression initiative.
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17 March 2011
Health professionals will have access to new clinical practice guidelines to help them identify and treat mental health problems following National Health and Medical Research Council’s approval of guidelines developed by beyondblue: the national depression initiative.
Minister for Mental Health and Ageing Mark Butler today welcomed the release of the two clinical practice guidelines addressing depression and related issues, and said that the Gillard Government has a strong commitment to making sure that people who are dealing with mental health issues receive the best possible care and treatment.
“These Guidelines will assist health professionals across Australia to identify and respond to depression and mental health risks for young people and mothers.
“One guideline will provide guidance in the effective treatment of depression amongst the traditionally hard to target group of adolescents and young adults aged 13 to 24 years. The second will assist primary and maternity care health professionals provide care to those in the perinatal (around birth) period to improve quality of life for mothers and their babies.
“We must not underestimate the effect of depression on people living with the condition and their families. These new guidelines will ensure that people seeking help can be confident that their health professional has the best available evidence to identify depression and to make the best possible decisions for treatment.
“Guidelines support experience and good clinical judgment. Today, health practitioners and families have a valuable addition to their treatment tool kit. I urge all health professionals who work with young people and new mothers to get a copy of the guidelines and take full advantage of the important information that they contain,” Mr Butler said.
The beyondblue Clinical Practice Guideline: Depression in Adolescents and Young Adults and Clinical Practice Guidelines for depression and related disorders – anxiety, bipolar disorder and puerperal psychosis – in the perinatal period were partly funded by the Australian Government.
Copies of the Guidelines are available from beyondblue or through the National Health and Medical Research Council’s Clinical Guidelines Portal and can be accessed through the National Health and Medical Research Council's website www.nhmrc.gov.au
For more information, contact the Minister’s Office on 02 6277 7220
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