Media Release

17 July 2008

New Guidelines on Identifying Mental Health Problems and Managing Depression

The Ministry of Health and the New Zealand Guidelines Group have launched a new mental health guideline aimed at improving the assessment of common mental disorders and the management of depression in primary care.

The guideline identifies primary care and general practice as the place where, with appropriate resourcing, common mental health problems can, and should, be managed.

It has been developed in response to concern that in any given 12 month period, over one third of adults seeing a primary care professional are likely to have a mental health problem. It is likely that many of these problems are not immediately recognised. This is especially an issue for Maori, Pacific and Asian peoples. Delay in diagnosis and appropriate treatment can lead to a much longer period of recovery.

The guideline acknowledges that both antidepressants and psychological therapies are equally effective in the management of moderate depression. It recognises that psychological therapies are important in community settings and endorses initiatives that make “talking therapies” available.

The guideline encourages the use of screening and assessment tools when targeting groups who are at a higher risk of mental health problems, but does not advocate universal screening at this time.

Developed by a team comprising mental health service users and practitioners from across New Zealand, the guideline is part of the Ministry's ongoing commitment to improving the health and wellbeing of New Zealanders through the National Depression Initiative and the New Zealand Primary Care Strategy. The Ministry's commitment to the guideline extends beyond its launch, with a range of projects currently being developed to implement the Guideline’s recommendations.

The guideline is also part of the New Zealand Guideline Group's commitment to ensuring that New Zealanders receive care that is based on the best available international and national evidence.

The guideline is called the "Identification of Common Mental Disorders and Management of Depression in Primary Care", and has been launched at the annual conference of the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners by Dr David Chaplow (Director of Mental Health at the Ministry), Steve Caldwell (Chief Executive of the New Zealand Guidelines Group) and Professor Tony Dowell (Professor of Primary Health Care and General Practice at Otago University and chair of the Guideline Development Team).

Hard copies of this guideline are available free from: Wickliffe: 04 496 2277
Order Nos. HP: 4597 (full); HP: 4619 (summary).
This guideline is also available online at: New Zealand Guidelines Group (www.nzgg.org.nz)

For further information, please contact Peter Abernathy (Communications Manager) 04-496-2008 / 021-366-111