Canberra, Monday 25 March 2002

An innovative new depression website

The Minister for Health and Ageing, Kay Patterson will tomorrow launch BluePages, a website (http://bluepages.anu.edu.au) dedicated to providing information about depression.

Developed by The Australian National University’s (ANU) Centre for Mental Health Research and the CSIRO, the website aims to provide users with comprehensive information about depression – symptoms, treatments and where and how to get help.

Dr Kathy Griffiths, Fellow at the Centre for Mental Health Research, said. The BluePages website is a resource-rich information source for sufferers and carers. “We are very proud of BluePages because it enables sufferers and carers to easily access relevant and high-quality information about an illness which is the leading cause of disability in Australia,” she said.

The Centre for Mental Health Research decided to develop a website because it can be used anywhere at any time. It also provides anonymity that is particularly important due to the unfortunate stigma attached to mental illness.

“People who are depressed deserve help, and they need to understand that there are treatments that work and people who can help them,” Dr Griffiths said.

The website, which includes a screening test for depression and anxiety, provides information on what works and what doesn’t work for the treatment of depression. “Sufferers and carers who access our web site can do so with confidence because the information is of the highest quality,” Dr Griffiths said.

Director of the Centre for Mental Health Research, Professor Tony Jorm, says the University places a high priority on important national projects like the BluePages depression website. “The Centre for Mental Health Research is unique in Australia because it is the only national resource for population-based research into mental health problems,” Professor Jorm said.

The ANU’s Centre for Mental Health Research is recognised as a leader in the emerging field of e-mental health.

Media please note:
Launch: 1.30pm, 26th March 2002, Ground Floor, Chancelry, East Road, ANU

For more information contact:
Dr Kathy Griffiths, ANU Centre for Mental Health Research, on (02) 6125 9723 or (02) 6247 3501
Professor Tony Jorm, ANU Centre for Mental Health Research, (02) 6125 8414
Genevieve Turville, ANU Public Affairs, on (02) 6125 5575 or 0416 249 245

40/2002

© 2000 Marketing & Communications Division,
The Australian National University.
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Last Modified Tue, July 16, 2002