“Beyondblue: The National Depression Initiative”

Abstract

Objective: To describe the initial phases of “beyondblue: the national depression initiative”. In doing so, this paper aims to highlight those issues that are likely to be most relevant to clinical, academic and administrative psychiatrists.

Conclusions: beyondblue potentially represents a very significant development in mental health for the Australian community. Its success will depend on its capacity to engage the wider community in the issues that impact on persons suffering from depression and related disorders. There is the potential for psychiatrists to take leading roles in promoting a public health approach, working closely with primary care and allied health colleagues and devising national research projects of international significance.