Culture and Depression

The Health Care Foundation Grant of Greater Kansas City provided an opportunity to educate providers and others on how different cultures perceive depression. Pocket cards were provided to physicians to increase the understanding of culture and depression. In addition, a video was developed to encourage physicians to screen patients for depression and initiate treatment. Without screening, depression may go untreated because patients don't always talk about being depressed.

Through education and increased screening, physicians should:

• Communicate more effectively with patients and their families regarding depression.
• Increase screening in order to increase appropriate treatment and monitoring.

Phase two of the Depression Grant focuses on the development of depression curriculum for preschool and elementary school students. Feeling Safari KC helps preschoolers understand their feelings and talk about them on a jungle safari. A pilot for Feeling Safari will be launched this spring.

Overcoming the Blues targets elementary schools students. Curriculum and activities were piloted in early 2009. Information from this pilot will help to increase the effectiveness of the program. Overcoming the Blues is scheduled for release for broad use in the end of 2010.

E-mail us at info@kcqic.org for additional information about this initiative.