This instructional textbook and accompanying CD provides vital information about Depression and other mental illnesses in aging adults. The demand for knowledge about mental health in later life will continue to expand as the proportion of older adults in the population increases. Professionals in the fields of sociology, psychology, medicine, and nursing have collaborated to produce this interdisciplinary product to empower health care and social service providers to better serve the needs of an older population. Topics cover symptoms, biological influences, diagnosis, and treatments. Additional sections cover what family and friends can do to help an individual seek treatment, barriers to recognizing and treating mental illnesses, and public policy and community issues regarding mental health. Together the book and CD package provide the experience of attending several professional workshops at the convenience of your own home or office. This book is designed to work well for college level courses, independent study, or to provide workshops for anyone concerned about mental illness. The text provides a perspective from the person with a mental illness, research information presented in an easy to follow format, questions for discussion, and extensive references to agencies, books, and websites. The CD contains recorded video conferences with physicians, interviews with family members, and multimedia presentations (5 to 30 minutes each). Chapters: Depressive Disorders, Epidemiology of Depression, Risk and Protective Factors, Barriers to Recognizing and Treating Depression, Biology of Depression, Screening, Assessment, and Diagnosis of Depression, CoMorbidity and Depression, Family and Community Support in Late Life Depression, Treatments for Depression Alternative and Experimental Diagnostic Methods and Treatments, Suicide in Later Life, Resources |