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Getting Help: Resources Guide
By Jim Thornton, May & June 2006
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Treatment for depression works—but only if you get it. For many older men, tracking down the right practitioner can seem an overwhelming challenge. It doesn't have to be. Experts recommend the following:
- Start with your primary care doctor. Most today are well schooled in the problem of later-life depression and can either treat you directly or refer you to a colleague who can.
- Your local pharmacist is also a great source for information on antidepressant medications, side effects, and possible interactions with other drugs you may be taking.
- Across the nation, nearly 150 academic medical centers boast state-of-the-art programs in geriatric psychiatry. Patients who live near one of these and are interested in the latest therapies can often volunteer for research studies. These provide free evaluation, access to top experts, and the opportunity to try out pioneering treatments.
The Internet has a wealth of websites with additional information:
The Geriatric Mental Health Foundation is dedicated to eliminating the stigma of mental illness and increasing access to quality mental health care for the elderly. This excellent site includes a "find a geriatric psychiatrist" feature for your area.
The National Institute of Mental Health's Real Men/Real Depression campaign not only provides easy-to-digest info on depression in men, it also includes the stories of guys, in their own words, who've been to the brink and made it back.
Geriatric depression researchers Mark Miller and Charles Reynolds at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center maintain www.latelifedepression.org as a resource for older patients suffering depression, anxiety, insomnia, or grief. It includes updated links to a host of related websites listed in their excellent book, Living Longer Depression Free: A Family Guide to Recognizing, Treating, and Preventing Depression in Later Life (The Johns Hopkins University Press, 2002).
If you're currently in a crisis, call the toll-free, 24-hour hotline of the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (800-273-8255; TTY: 800-799-4889) to be connected to a trained counselor at a suicide crisis center nearest you.
Information provided through this website is designed for educational and information purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice and should not be used for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease or as a substitute for professional health care. If you have or suspect you may have a health problem, please consult your health care provider.
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