Archives of the Mayor's Press Office

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: Saturday, June 2, 2001
Release #185-01

Contact: Sunny Mindel/ Lynn Rasic
212-788-2958
  Sandy Mullin/ Anne Sommers 212-788-5290/ 212-219-5528


MAYOR GIULIANI LAUNCHES PUBLIC EDUCATION CAMPAIGN ON DEPRESSION IN OLDER ADULTS

"The Golden Years Don't Have To Be Blue"
Campaign Features Radio Ads and Posters in Subways, Buses, Billboards, and Senior Center


Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani today announced a public education campaign to alert older New Yorkers that depression should not be accepted as part of the aging process. The campaign, known as "The Golden Years Don't Have to be Blue," is a joint project of the City Departments of Health, Mental Health, Aging and the Mental Health Association (MHA) of New York City, Inc.

"There's an unfortunate and widespread misperception out there about depression and getting older. Aging and depression are not simultaneous and inevitable events in life," Mayor Giuliani said. "We do all get older, we suffer different kinds of losses, and we occasionally have good reason to be sad. That is a normal part of life. Depression, on the other hand, is a true illness, a treatable medical condition. When senior citizens or anyone else who suffers from depression get help, they can lead much more fulfilled lives."

It is estimated that one out of six Americans over age 65 suffers from depression. Experts believe nine out of 10 depressed seniors do not seek or receive treatment. New medications and therapies have proven to help 90 percent of those who seek treatment.

"We want people to know that depression entails more than sadness," said Health and Mental Health Commissioner Neal L. Cohen, M.D. "Like many other mental health concerns, there are also health impacts. Depression can cause medical problems or make them worse. If you are depressed, for example, you are four times more likely to have heart problems."

To raise awareness in the medical community about the public health concerns related to older adults, the Department of Health recently completed a special issue of City Health Information, a publication regularly distributed to over 60,000 physicians citywide, that dealt exclusively with health and mental health concerns related to older adults.

As part of the public education campaign, posters appear on buses, subways and billboards across the City, and thousands are being distributed to senior centers, health care facilities and other places where older residents congregate. Radio spots featuring Mayor Giuliani are also playing on several radio stations. Brochures will be available in English, Spanish, Chinese, Russian and Korean.

"We welcome this expanded partnership with our sister agencies and MHA," Commissioner Herbert W. Stupp, of the Department for the Aging (DFTA) said. "It's extremely important to the quality of life of thousands of older New Yorkers that they understand the difference between having a bad day and suffering prolonged depression."

Some of the most common symptoms of depression in elders are:

"Often, when older people are depressed, they don't realize how much their behavior has changed," Giselle Stolper, Executive Director of MHA said. "We're hoping that their children or caretakers will also see these materials, recognize the symptoms, and urge their parents to seek treatment."

DFTA operates approximately 350 senior centers. For more information on mental health services for the elderly, New Yorkers can call one of the three numbers in the LifeNet multi-cultural network:

These 24-hour lines are operated by MHA under contract to the Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation, and Alcoholism Services.


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