About Defeat Depression
The Defeat Depression Campaign was a five-year national
campaign launched in January 1992 by the Royal College of
Psychiatrists in association with the Royal College of General
Practitioners.
The campaign had three broad aims:
- To educate health professionals, particularly general
practitioners, about recognition and management of depression.
- To educate the general public about depression and the
availability of treatment, in order to encourage people to seek
help earlier.
- To reduce the stigma associated with depression.
In order to take these activities forward, the Campaign
established two major committees:
- The Management Committee, chaired by Professor Robin Priest,
which had a broad membership, including psychiatrists and general
practitioners and representatives of psychology, social work,
nursing, carer and user organisations. This group overviewed the
general running of the campaign and undertook the public education
work and studies of public attitudes.
- The Scientific Advisory Committee, chaired by Professor Eugene
Paykel, provided overall scientific advice and was responsible for
evaluating the campaign.
Leaflets produced for the series
The campaign emphasized that depression is common,
recognizable and treatable.
A number of leaflets were produced for the series. Please
click on the leaflet most appropriate to you.
References
The Defeat Depression Campaign continued until the end of 1996
and the results of its many successes are outlined in the list of
publications below.
- 'Impact of a national campaign on GP education: an
evaluation of the Defeat Depression Campaign'
- S Rix, ES Paykel, P Lelliott, A Tylee, P Freeling, L Gask &
D Hart, 1999, British Journal of
General Practice, 99-102.
- 'The Defeat Depression Campaign: psychiatry in the
public arena'
Paykel ES, Tylee A, Wright A, et al., 1997, American Journal of
Psychiatry, 154 (Festschrift supplement), 59-65
- 'Recognition and management of depression in general
practice: consensus statement'
Paykel E , Priest RG, BMJ, 1992, 305, 1198-1202
- 'Recognition and management of depression in late life
in general practice: consensus statement'
Katona C, Freeling P, Hinchcliffe K et al on behalf of the
Consensus Group. Primary Care Psychiatry, 1995, 1, 107-113.
- 'Changes in public attitudes to depression during the
Defeat Depression Campaign'
Paykel ES, Hart D, Priest RG, British Journal of Psychiatry (1998),
173, 519-522
- Graham, P. & Hughes, C. (1995) So Young, So Sad,
So Listen. London: Gaskell.