The+Great+Depression+of+2011

**Jacob Isaac** **N7499884** **Cultural** **Artefact**
 * Judith Meiklejohn **



Brisbane north side residents Jack Clarke, Peter Johnston and Matt Gardner, made a 23-day walk from Sydney to Brisbane to promote and raise awareness of depression. Peter, who lost his mother to suicide, last year, told high school students along the 1000-kilometre route where they can find help to deal with their problems. He grew up with his mum after his parents separated, but she felt isolated as a deaf woman and had attempted suicide several times. The three friends used radio interviews and high school visits to promote the youth-targeted anti-depression website reachout.com. ** Public Health Issue ** This artefact represents mental health and in particular depression. It promotes awareness and gives an overview of its prevalence in today’s culture in Australia. This wiki will be aimed at depression. Topics like why it should be focused on and how it affects different classes and cultures will be discussed. Factors as well as people who are at higher risks of depression will also be examined. Some theories of depression will be discussed from well-known theorists such as Bandura as well as recent research and its impact on this mental health issue. ** Literature Review ** Depression is an affective, or mood disorder. It is an illness that immerses its sufferers in a world of self-blame, confusion, and hopelessness. It is an illness of the mind and the body. Some could argue depression is a way of coping with life's pressures (Schwartz & Schwartz, 1993). Depression can strike at any age or stage of life, but there are certain factors that are more strongly associated with the development of depression than others. Australia's national agency for health and welfare statistics and information in 2010 said for Australians aged 15-24 years: road traffic accidents, alcohol abuse and suicide are the leading causes of disease and injury burden for males; while depression is the leading causes for females (21% of the total burden).

In recognition of its high prevalence, associated social, human and economic costs, and public health impact in Australia, the National Health Priority Action Council (NHPAC), in consultation with the National Mental Health Working Group (NMHWG), identified depression as requiring a particular focus under this National Health Priority Area according to Australia's national agency for health and welfare statistics and information in 2010. Studies conducted and published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, the World Health Organization and information gathered from the National Institute of Mental Health, the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, the Center for Mental Health Services, and Brown University Long Term Care Quarterly, “roughly seven of every one hundred people suffer depression after age 18 at some point in their lives”(Depression Help Spot, 2011).

According to Australia's national agency for health and welfare statistics and information in 2010, depression was the most frequently managed mental health-related problem in 2008-09, accounting for 34.3% of all mental health-related problems managed and 2.8% of all health problems managed according to the mental health services in Australia. It is also the most frequently identified medical and mental disorder as shown on this table by 900 adults

 Depression arises regularly in grouping with other mental disorders such as anxiety disorders. It also happens in combination with other National Health Priority Area diseases and conditions. Depression is also usually associated with suicide in all age groups. After an earlier suicide attempt, depression is the next greatest risk factor for youth suicide according to the Department of Health and Aging in 2010. It is very hard to find information publish by theorists in the last 10 years. There is much information publish by theorists such as Bandura that was created longer than 10 years ago. As this information is still relevant today, it will be discussed below.  Psychologist Albert Bandura's Social Cognitive learning theory suggested that people are shaped by the interactions between their behaviors, thoughts, and environmental events. Each action affects other actions. He said that human behavior ends up being largely a product of learning, which may occur by observation, as well as through direct experienc e.   In a publication by Lindzey, Gardner, (Ed), Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences, Stanford, CA, US. Runyan, William M, and University of California in 2007, it showed that Bandura pointed out that depressed people's self-concepts are dissimilar from non-depressed people's self-concepts. Depressed people tend to hold themselves solely accountable for evil things in their lives and are full of self-recrimination and self-blame. Bandura makes note that when a depressed person succeeds, they take no satisfaction from it as they believe its been caused by external factors out of their own control. In addition, depressed people tend to have low levels of self-efficacy. Bandura goes on to say that people are suffering from depression have poor judgemental system so they tend to set their personal goals too high, and then fall short of reaching them. Repeated failure further reduces feelings of self-efficacy and leads to depression.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;"> Other cognitive behavioral theorists (Aaron Beck, Albert Ellis) put forward that people with "depressive" character traits seem to be more susceptible than others to depression. Some Examples from Linden E (2006) of depressive personality traits include neuroticism, gloominess, introversion, self-criticism, excessive scepticism and criticism of others, deep feelings of inadequacy, and excessive brooding and worrying. In addition, people who regularly behave in dependent, hostile, and impulsive ways appear at greater risk for depression to.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Types of depression that are caused by biological/psychological factors are more likely to need physical treatments, (eg antidepressants) and less likely to be resolved with psychological treatments alone (eg counselling, psychotherapy). <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Many researches go on to say that depression diminishes quality of life.Good mental health plays an important role in keeping people on their feet and preventing even physical injury, especially in the elderly, according to research from The Australian National University in 2008.The study also showed that there was an increasing fall rate over time among individuals who reported an increase in depressive symptoms or reduction in morale during the course of the study. <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: justify;"> “The findings of this study clearly show that mental health is strongly linked to physical function in later life and that promoting good mental health as we age has benefits for physical function and mobility. Good mental health is an integral part of healthy ageing,” (Professor Anstey, 2008).

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: justify;"> The World Health Organisation created ‘Health Promotion’ in 1976. Its role was to evaluate and promote strategies until results were visible and sustainable. This was a worldwide successful prevention technique and is also used for depression today. <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: justify;"> According to Beyond Blue in 2009, to prevent depression from increaseing, there must be sustainable and achievable strategies, check-ups from health promotion officers, raising money and awareness campaigns and new improved anti-depressants to be released. <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> ** Cultural Analysis ** <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; text-align: justify;"> The graph below shows many different contributing or preventing factors of depression. Typically, if a person were to have a lot of the risk factors and very little protective factors then they could have a much higher risk of depression. They may already have depression if this is the case. The factors are divided into two categories, environmental/social and biological/psychological. Environmental/social are factors that are around you. They are factors that other people have an influence on. Biological/psychological is almost the opposite. They are factors that you are born with and can’t really be influenced.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Depression is believed to be highly prevalent in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. A Study by Swan and Raphael shown by the Department of Health and Aging in 2010, has reported that more than 63 per cent of people in such settings have a significant level of distress, principally depression. The ABS has produced prevalence rates for affective disorders in people born in non-English speaking countries showing that the rate is lower than for people born in Australia. There are limited comparative data available on depression in rural areas in Australia according to Highnet, N.J, Hickie, I.A. & Davenport, T.A in 2002. However, suicide death rates for men living in rural areas have been consistently higher than for men living in urban areas, particularly for young men aged 15–24 years (Department of Health and Aging, 2010). <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">This is only the start of why we should be addressing this issue, its prevalent in today’s society and in the media. A recent article in the Sydney morning herald titled “young flood victims ‘battling depression’” explained how the tragic life events they suffered had succumb them to depression. In a country that is prone to natural disasters, this could be quite a more common than we think. It could possibly be linked to the study with higher rates of males with depression in rural areas mentioned before.



<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">Another example of depression in today’s society is its link to illicit drugs. In today’s society where certain drugs are almost normalised, one may think it is quite typical to experiment with popular drugs like cannabis but this could impact of their mental health more than they think. Young people who are genetically vulnerable to depressionshould be extra careful about using cannabis. Smoking cannabis leads to an increased risk of developing depressive symptoms (Australian Drug Information Network, 2011).



<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">So we should be paying closer attention to people who are at risk so we can provide help when needed. According to all my findings, it’s mainly females who are in the teenage-early adulthood category. Specifically some who could be going through a hard time in their life eg. Breakups, parental separation, poverty etc. Although depression can affect anyone, it’s just more likely to affect teenage girls under those circumstances. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">**Artefact Analysis** <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">This artefact represents depression and survival. It shows that if three people can walk 1000 miles then it is possible to overcome depression. I think it’s also meant to be linked with the saying “a “journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step” in the most literal way possible. It also shows that depression is not necessarily a taboo topic anymore. It shows young people that help is available and where to go to find help. There are services out there you can go to when things are getting rough. Personally I thought the trio’s choice to start this journey to be inspiring. Even though a journey full of countless steps and barriers on the way seems overwhelming almost unimaginable a, it can be done. To me this means that sometimes when life gets tough and you become overwhelmed with everything that going on and you don’t think you can deal with it, you just need to take one rung at a time and plan your steps as to where to go next. This will influence my future learning, thinking and even teaching process as I now know how prevalent depression is but it there is help for those affected. I will be able to detected students who may be at risk of depressive and be able to provide appropriate support.


 * References**

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Anstey P (2008). Good mental health prevents falls: Study. Australian National University. Retrieved November 1 from [] <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Australian Drug Information Network (2011). Information for School: Mental Health. Retrieved October 25 from [] <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Australia's national agency for health and welfare statistics and information (2010) Mental Health. Retrieved Oct 26 from [] <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">BeyondBlue (2009). Depression: Helping yourself. Retrieved October 25 from [] <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Department of Health and Aging. (2010) Profile of depression in Australia. Retrieved October 16 from [] <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Depression Help Spot (2011) Depression Statistics Retrieved November 1 from [] <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Highnet, N.J., Hickie, I.A. & Davenport, T.A. (2002, May 20). Depression and The Community. Monitoring Awareness and Attitudes to depression in Australia. MJA 2002; 176: S63-S68. <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Linden D. How psychotherapy changes the brain--the contribution of functional neuroimaging. Mol Psychiatry 2006; 11: 528-538. <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Lindzey, Gardner, (Ed), Center for Advanced Study in the Behavioral Sciences, Stanford, CA, US. Runyan, William M., (Ed), Institute of Personality and Social Research, University of California (2007). <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">A history of psychology in autobiography, Vol. IX. American Psychological Association p43-75 <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Mental Health Association (2011). Mental Health Week 2011. Retrieved October 25 from [] <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">Schwartz, A., & Schwartz, R. (1993). Depression: Theories & treatments. New York: Columbia University Press. <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif;">World Health Organisation (2011). WHO initiative on depression in public health. Retrieved on October 28 from []
 * Learning Engagement and Reflection Task**

<span style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">To be completely honest, politics and all that doesn’t interest me at all. As I’m not interested, I usually have no idea what's going on present day. After reading this article it has given more of a clue about the labor party. After one of the topic sentences that read “The public health issue is an acceleration of changes induced by the post-industrial revolution in transport and communication“, I was starting to regret what I was getting in to as I had no clue. After reading the article I was a little wiser with the topic. It was partially the reason that I chose to read this one. Thanks.
 * Australian Labor Party **

<span style="color: #404040; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">The reason I read this article was firstly because of the interesting title as it related to me, being a big sport fan. I then realised that its artefact was the video advertising Lingerie Football League, quite a controversial topic for some people. Some people love it and don’t see the harm, others don’t care and some hate it as they believe its setting women back in rights with all the progress they have made. It was a great factual article that went over <span style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;">the prevalence and acceptance of female sexism in sport with a lot of detail.
 * TRUE FANTASY FOOTBALL **

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