Website to tackle youth depression

Youth depression is the target of a new website launched by the Ministry of Health.

The interactive website, www.thelowdown.co.nz, has been created to help young New Zealanders understand and recover from depression.

A range of singers, TV celebrities and sports stars will be contributing to the website, including Brooke Fraser, Dave Gibson from Elemeno P, Op Shop's Jason Kerrison, Paul Roper from the Mint Chicks, rapper Scribe, former All Black Ma'a Nonu and TV presenter Jaquie Brown.

Actors from popular TV series Shortland Street and Outrageous Fortune will also contribute.

The website is part of the Ministry of Health's national depression initiative (NDI), which aims to reduce the impact of depression on the lives of New Zealanders.

The initiative was launched in October last year, and has included television commercials featuring John Kirwan talking about his personal experience of depression, and encouraging people to seek help.

To date, over 25,000 calls have been made to the Depression Helpline.

Research shows that young people are less likely to respond to these commercials by seeking help than adults. They tend not to visit GPs and are less likely to use helplines, preferring to get support from other sources such as their friends, family, the Internet, magazines and school counsellors.

The site was developed and designed in consultation with youth, and includes online support services.

The Ministry of Health's NDI spokeswoman, Candace Bagnall, said it was "crucial" to help young people deal with and recover from depression.

"The lowdown has been created for them to get help as quickly as possible," she said.

"If they can develop their skills in coping with what life throws at them, they can have more control over their future."

The website aims to help young people recognise and understand depression, and encourages them to seek appropriate help, or puts them in touch with trained professionals.

A Ministry spokeswoman said about one in seven New Zealanders aged between 16 and 24 would experience severe depression over the next 12 months.

Young people have higher rates of depression than the general population, with suicide being the second most common cause of death among young New Zealanders.

- © Fairfax NZ News