Depression awareness campaign launched

The outoftheblue.org.nz website

After three years of planning and a year of fundraising the Mental Health Foundation today launched a major new depression awareness campaign called Out of the Blue/Kia Marama.

The campaign aims to raise awareness of the signs of depression to help people recognise when they, or someone close to them, is depressed.

One in five women and one in 10 men experience depression in New Zealand and there is a strong link between depression and suicidal behaviour, the foundation's acting chief executive, Sue Turner, said in a statement.

"Depression has become one of the most important and pressing health issues in our country," she said.

"We have always focused on depression as a big issue for communities, but it's now time for a more concerted effort that will help to stem the rising tide of depression."

The foundation wanted the campaign to make a real difference to people's lives and show there is a way out of depression and that people do recover, she said.

Wallet-card sized information booklets have been printed bilingually in English and Te Reo Maori and a website (link below) has been designed to help deliver information.

An advertising campaign will target middle-aged men, who are at high risk of suicide, and a postcard-based campaign in cafes will target a younger audience.

To assist the campaign Resene will be selling a new paint colour called Out of the Blue. Other companies and organisations distributing the material to clients include The Body Shop, Auckland Medlabs and Placemakers in Mt Maunganui and Tauranga.

- NZPA