AIMS

Research has shown that 62% of people with major depression do not receive appropriate treatment. The aim of the Depression Awareness Research Project (DARP) was to increase the level of knowledge of major depression in the community by developing, implementing and evaluating a community development model to increase awareness about major depression.

Through the DARP training program, 218 people were trained to become educators about major depression and given the skills to speak to groups in their communities. The educators spoke to over 7500 people in the five regions in Victoria in which DARP was conducted.

HIGHLIGHTS

The results of the project show an overall increase of 25% in the knowledge of depression in the groups to whom the educators spoke. As far as we can ascertain this is the best result throughout the world for a public health campaign on major depression. DARP was a major research program conducted by MHRI and funded by beyondblue between 2001 and 2004 in partnership with Prahran Mission Uniting Care, South Yarra; Aspire, Warrnambool; Southern Mental Health Association, Cheltenham; Pathways Rehabilitation Services, Geelong; and the City of Yarra.

In the DARP model, community volunteers from five urban, rural and regional areas were selected to participate in the DARP training program to become educators. After training, each educator returned to her/his local community to disseminate basic messages about the symptoms, impact and treatment of major depression. The Project was attempting to increase mental health literacy about depression in the community, and to empower people to recognise depression and make informed decisions about treatment, thus reducing the stigma associated with the illness.

The strategies that were identified to achieve the aim of the project were:

1. Determine base level of awareness of major depression in the community
Approximately 1000 households from the regions involved with DARP were surveyed before the Project was introduced. This survey, undertaken in conjunction with beyondblue, was to measure the level of knowledge about major depression in these communities. The results allowed the DARP team to develop the training package and model and compare knowledge levels to the groups recruited and educated.

2. Develop model to achieve this aim
Through the health promotion model we developed, 218 local people were trained and supported to become educators about major depression in their communities. The educators were supported by co-ordinators who worked within five community-based organisations which were in partnership with MHRI. The educators spoke to approximately 7500 people in total, of whom 2413 consented to participate in follow-up research.

3. Evaluate project findings
Qualitative and quantitative data was collected at various points during the project. Educators were interviewed pre and post training and at the end of their time with the project. Audience data was collected before the presentations, and, on average, 17 weeks later in a telephone interview for those who consented to participate.

4. Future plans
The DARP model has been demonstrated to be effective in increasing the knowledge and awareness of major depression among the community who attend presentations given by educators trained through the program.

We are concentrating now on obtaining funding to utilise this successful health promotion model to further increase community knowledge of major depression. The success of the program also highlights the potential use of this model in other areas of mental health, such as schizophrenia.

DARP Report
Click here to view or right-click to download the report in PDF format. (246 Kb)