Mental illness will affect 1 in 5 Australians every year (Australian Bureau of Statistics) and its impact can devastate lives and in worst case scenarios lead to death. Non-profit organization Beyond Blue is leading the fight against mood disorders, a common form of mental illness, in Australia. Mood disorders include Anxiety, Bipolar Disorder, Depression and Postnatal Depression and these conditions were diagnosed in over 3.25 million Australians aged between 16 and 85 in 2007 (Australian Bureau of Statistics).
Programs To Raise Awareness of Mood Disorders
Beyond Blue was founded in October 2000, initially as a joint project of the Commonwealth of Australia and the state of Victoria government in order to investigate community responses to depression. The then Victorian Prime Minister, Jeff Kennett, played a critical role in the founding of Beyond Blue and remains today as Chairperson of the organisation.
A variety of health promotion programs are undertaken by Beyond Blue including a workplace program, online symptom checkers and fact sheets, education campaign through community advertising and the use of prominent Australians as Beyond Blue ambassadors. As well as its main website, Beyond Blue has also launched a program to address mood disorders in the under 25 age group. Youth Beyond Blue’s website contains online symptom checkers, forums and fact sheets in easy to understand language.
Beyond Blue also funds research into mood disorders and has established the Beyond Blue Victorian Centre of Excellence in Depression and Related Disorders. Through the Centre, Beyond Blue has funded over 100 research projects which aim to improve the quality of life for people living with mood disorders.
Community awareness and de-stigmatisation together with prevention and early intervention programs are main features of Beyond Blue’s work in the Australian community. The organisation also works with medical practitioners and government authorities in order to coordinate responses to the issues of mood disorders in Australia.
Using Champions to Raise Awareness of Depression, Anxiety, Bipolar Disorder and Postnatal Depression
In health promotion, champions are individuals who are able to influence, appeal to a target audience and assist behaviour change. The use of celebrities has been a strong feature of many health promotion awareness campaigns (Chapman & Leask, 2001). Beyond Blue has enlisted the assistance of a variety of well known Australians from entertainment, sports and political circles who have lived experience of mental illness.
Blue Voices – Empowering People Experiencing Mental Illness
Peer support has been recognised as method that assists individuals experiencing mental health issues to recover (Davidson, Chinman, Sells & Rowe, 2006). The peer support model differs in every setting however its basic premise is benefit will be obtained by building relationships with individuals that have undergone similar situations (Davidson, Chinman, Sells & Rowe, 2006).
For example a person who has recovered from depression may offer guidance, support and a shoulder to cry on for a person who has only recently been diagnosed with depression. As well as being a method that aids recovery, peer support programs also empower the supporter. Beyond Blue offers an online form of peer support through a confidential moderated bulletin board where people experiencing mood disorders are encouraged to share their feelings and gain support from other community members.
Facilitation of Blue Voices is Beyond Blue’s method of obtaining consumer representation. Blue Voices is a collection of email based groups for people experiencing anxiety, bipolar disorder, depression or postnatal depression and people who have experiencing caring for a person experiencing any of the mood disorders. Blue Voices members are able to comment on a variety of mental health issues in Australia and have their feelings heard by government.
Beyond Blue celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2010 and remains committed to decreasing stigmatisation, raising awareness and funding research to assist people experiencing mood disorders.
If you think you or someone you care about could be experiencing a mental illness or is at risk of self harm or suicide, information can be obtained from Beyond Blue’s website. In Australia, you can also contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.
If you or another person is at immediate risk of harm, contact the Emergency Services.
References
Australian Bureau of Statistics (2007) National Survey of Mental Health & Wellbeing: Summary of Results (4326.0)
Chapman, S & Leask, J (2001) “Paid celebrity endorsement in health promotion: a case study from Australia” Health Promotion International Vol 16 Iss 4, pp 333-338
Davidson, L, Chinman, M, Sells, D & Rowe, M (2006) “Peer support among adults with serious mental illness: a report from the field” Schizophrenia Bulletin Vol 32 No 3, pp 443-450
Tracey Lloyd - Based in Australia, Tracey Lloyd is experienced in management & strategic development of community projects and non-profit ...
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