Experts Launch Cincinnati Mood Disorders Consortium
Mason, OH – April 18, 2011 – In a recent survey conducted by the Health Foundation, the number of Greater Cincinnati adults diagnosed with depression climbed in the last decade. The Greater Cincinnati Community Health Status Survey also found that as a region, 21 percent of adults indicated they had been diagnosed with depression by a health professional and the largest sum of those individuals were between the ages of 30-45.
Regional and international experts in mood disorders from University of Cincinnati Academic Health Center, Lindner Center of HOPE and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center have joined to form the Cincinnati Mood Disorders Consortium (CMDC). “Our mission is to improve the lives of people with mood disorders through improved coordination of key clinical care components, research and education,” said Dr. Stephen Strakowski, Chair of Psychiatry at UC Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Neuroscience. “Mood disorders have been shown to be a leading cause of disability worldwide and more than 20 million children and adults in the U.S. are affected by this disorder,” Dr. Strakowski added. “Mood disorders are immensely disabling and disrupt every facet of a person’s life including physical health,” he added.
Dr. Henry Nasrallah, Director, Schizophrenia Research Program and Professor of Psychiatry and Neuroscience at UC says, “There are many opportunities to move forward in our understanding of mood disorders, research priorities and pharmacological advances.” Mood disorders are potentially fatal. “Nearly one in six persons with severe, untreated depression will die by suicide,” Dr. Nasrallah added. Recent statistics show that one person every 15 minutes dies from suicide in the U.S.
“The Cincinnati Mood Disorders Consortium will collaborate to improve outcomes, review medical disorders in primary care settings that manifest with depressive symptoms and continually look at therapies and opportunities that foster improved health in adolescents, adults and older adults,” said Dr. Paul E. Keck, Jr., CEO, Lindner Center of HOPE. “Raising public awareness of mood disorders and training clinical care providers is key to our mission,” Keck added.
Two educational opportunities are being offered to help support these goals. The Consortium will offer an educational forum for doctors, nurses, mental health professionals and medical students to learn about managing depression in primary care, treatment-resistant depression, treatment advances and discussions of depression in special populations. Titled, Managing Depression in Special Populations, the event will be held on Saturday, April 30, 2011 from 8:00am-12:15pm, Cintas Center at Xavier University, 1624 Herald Avenue, 45207. To register, call University of Cincinnati Department of Psychiatry at 1-877-CME-AT-UC.
As part of a community-wide outreach strategy, Eric Hipple, a former NFL Detroit Lions quarterback will speak at an event opened to the public on Saturday, April 30, 2011. Hipple, has devoted his life to building awareness of depression and suicide after his son took his own life at age 15. In addition to a panel of clinical experts discussing mood disorders, Karen Troup will discuss the loss of her son, Jacob Ober at the age of 20 to suicide. She will share her journey of healing and offer advice to individuals, families and loved ones coping with mood disorders. To read more about Karen’s story of grieving and healing please follow this link http://healthnews.uc.edu/publications/findings/?/12821/12830/.
Depression and Suicide: What You Should Know, will take place from 12:30pm-5:00pm at the Cintas Center at Xavier University. For more information the public can call 1-877-263-2882. “This is another valuable opportunity where parents, caregivers and those interested in learning more about mood disorders, antidepressants and suicide can come together in an afternoon and hear from leaders in the field of mental health treatment and research,” said Dr. Keck.
CONTACT:
Terri Ann Fredette, Lindner Center of HOPE
513.536.0328 or [email protected]
Or
Keith Herrell, UC Department of Psychiatry
513.558.4559 or [email protected]