1. Working with people experiencing depression and anxiety disorders
MHBiz
10 February 2016
Working with people experiencing depression and anxiety disorders
Dr. Leanne Craze,
Sydney, Australia

2. What we will cover today
What are depressive and anxiety
Common types
How many Australians?
Some important facts
Care, support & treatment
Relevance to working with customers
Skills & strategies for Hume staff
Helpful resources

3. What is depression?
Short-term depressed mood – short term and often recovery without professional assistance
Major depressive disorder – lasts longer than two weeks and significantly affects a person’s daily life
Symptoms are physical, psychological and behavioural

4. Depression – physical symptoms
Key symptoms include: Fatigue Lack of energy Sleep disturbance Change in appetite Weight change Headaches and unexplained aches and pains Loss of sexual drive Low immunity and string of sickness

5. Depression – psychological
Sadness
Anxiety
Anger and irritability
Mood swings
Feelings of guilt, hopelessness and helplessness
Self criticism and self blame
Loss of sense of pleasure
Difficulty in concentrating and making decisions
Thoughts of suicide and self harm

6. Depression – behavioural changes
Crying
Withdrawal
Loss of interest in appearance and self care
Loss of motivation
Slow
Using alcohol ad drugs
Absenteeism

7. Depression - checklist
For more than two weeks:
Felt sad, down or miserable for most of the time?
Lost interest or pleasure in usual activities?
If yes to either…

8. Depression check list continued
Lost or gained a lot of weight or had increased or decreased appetite?
Sleep disturbance?
Felt slowed down, restless or excessively busy?
Felt tire or had not energy
Felt worthless? Guilty?
Had poor concentration, thinking difficulties or indecisive
Recurrent thoughts of death

9. Depression checklist cont.
4 or less items – unlikely to have a depressive illness 5 or more – likely to have a depressive illness

10. Common types of depressive disorders?
Major depressive disorder
Perinatal depression
Bi-polar
Seasonal affective disorder
Often occurs with anxiety disorders and other mental disorders
Depression can accompany physical conditions

11. How many Australians? 6.2% of people aged 18-85 in any one year
More woman than men
Median age of onset is 25 years

12. Group Exercise 1
What do you think might be some of the major risk factors for depression?
What do you think might be some of the toughest aspects of living with depression?

13. What helps
Psychological therapies – CBT, mindfulness, interpersonal therapy, psychodynamic therapy, problem solving therapy, behavioural activation
Counselling support
Medical treatments – antidepressants, anti- psychotic medication, mood stabilisers, ECT
Lifestyle – exercise, diet/nutrition, managing stress

14. Anxiety disorders
One in four Australians aged experience an anxiety disorder at some stage of their lives
14.4% of Australians each year
Anxiety disorders frequently commence in childhood

15. Anxiety disorders are tricky
People can’t figure out what’s going
Most distressing symptoms are physical
People think they are about to die
Because its so physical, people think the answer comes in the form of a tablet

16. Some common types of anxiety disorders
Generalised anxiety disorder
Phobia e.g. social phobia, agoraphobia, specific phobias
Obsessive compulsive disorder
Post traumatic stress disorder
Panic disorder
Hoarding disorder

17. What helps with anxiety disorders
Psychological therapies e.g. CBT, behaviour or exposure therapy
Stress management and relaxation training
Lifestyle changes
Medical treatments – antidepressant medication and other medications

18. Group Exercise 2: Understanding the impact of anxiety
Film: Fight or flight?
What types of things do Sharon and Wayne experience?
What did they find most difficult?
What would you find most difficult?

19. Group Exercise 3: Understanding how anxiety can be overcome
Film: Fight or flight?
What does CBT aim to help people do? Why is it important?
Information and self-monitoring – what info, monitoring what and why?
Why is learning how to control one’s breathing important?
What does realistic thinking aim to help people do and why is it important?
Internal and external exposure – what are they?

20. Discussion: so what for Hume?
If a customer has depression what aspects of their tenancy and their interactions with Hume might they find most difficult?
If a customer has anxiety disorder what aspects of tenancy and their interactions with Hume might they find difficult?

21. Discussion: skills and strategies for Hume
Could any of the strategies outlined in the film be drawn upon to help customers?
What skills would be using?
How might staff as well as the organisation assist customers with depression and anxiety disorder?

22. Getting help – getting started
Better Access
One to one therapy
Group-based therapy
Self-management

23. Helpful e-resources for depression and anxiety
Beyondblue -
Mind Health Connect -
eCentreClinic -
E-couch –
MoodGym -
Blue pages -
Mindspot -
Mental Health online -

24. Helpful e-resources for depression and anxiety cont.
My Compass -
This way up -
Blackdog Institute -
CRUfAD -

25. Helpful books & films for depression and anxiety
Me depressed? Don’t make me laugh!
Fight or Flight
I think they think
Books
Beating the Blues – Tanner & Ball
Taming the Black Dog – Aisbett
Living with it – Aisbett
Letting it go - Aisbett