About the Alliance Against Depression

Alliance Against Depression (AAD) – Global best practice

“Good mental health is fundamental to the well-being of individuals, families and communities.

The strong link between depression and the prevention of suicidal behaviour requires a focus on improving the identification and treatment of depression.

The Alliance Against Depression (AAD) is an approach based on evaluated trials and is recognised as world’s best practice for the care of people with depression and prevention of suicidal behaviour. The initial implementation of the framework in the trial region of Nuremberg (The Nuremberg Alliance Against Depression) resulted in a 24% reduction of suicidal behaviour within a two-year period”.

Alliance Against Depression | primary health exchange (wapha.org.au)
The support provided to Belmont Alliance Against Depression (AAD) by the AAD Coordination Centre at WA Primary Health Alliances is informed by the European Alliance Against Depression (EAAD) Coordination Centre in Germany and its global network of local Alliances.

The AAD framework
The AAD is a community-led yet clinical framework for the treatment and care of people with depression and prevention of suicidal behaviour. Successful implementation of the AAD framework within a community requires broad community engagement and support, and the coordination and integration of pre-defined activities. Activities include:

Primary care and mental healthcare training
Mental health training for community “gatekeepers” eg teachers, sports’ coaches
Support for at-risk groups, their family and carers
Depression awareness campaign
Collaboration with diverse community partners
Media training in safe reporting guidelines
Postvention planning

The Belmont AAD Team
Our team consists of people living or working in the City of Belmont. The majority are residents driven to help optimise the mental health and well-being of their community.

The Belmont Alliance Against Depression steering committee consists mostly of consumer representatives. Representatives from Community Matrix Inc., WA Primary Health Alliance and the City of Belmont make up the remainder of the committee’s membership and support the alignment and integration of AAD activities within the broader community and the health and care sector.

Belmont AAD Steering Committee

Community Matrix Inc (Project Lead)

City of Belmont

WA Primary Health Alliance

Felicity Hatzis

Community Development Officer

Program Coordinator (AAD)

Consumer Representatives:

Young people and families

Seniors

First Nations people

Access and inclusion

Lived experience

Culturally and Linguistically Diverse

LGBTIQ+ community

Katherine Venables

Glenys Godfrey

Norma Morrison

Monica Steiner

Amanda Boylan

Rosemary Thwin

Vaughn Barker

Communications:

Communications

Marketing and social media

Edita Perisic

Aly Winter

Community Support

About the Alliance Against Depression

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