May 18th program explores depression in prostate cancer patients and their partners
May 5, 2010A new Rural Health Education Foundation television program airing on Tuesday May 18th assists health professionals to identify depression and anxiety disorders in men with prostate cancer.
Maintaining Well-being: Depression and Anxiety in Men with Prostate Cancer and Their Partners provides information about treatments for depression and anxiety disorders, and how best to support families and carers of men with prostate cancer.
The hour-long program also discusses diagnosis, management and treatment of the different stages/forms of depression and anxiety disorders in men with prostate cancer.
First in four-program series with beyondblue: the national depression initiative
Maintaining Well-being: Depression and Anxiety in Men with Prostate Cancer and Their Partners is the first of four programs which the Rural Health Education Foundation will co-produce this year with beyondblue: the national depression initiative. A program about caring for carers will air on Tuesday June 29th, and programs on mental health for young people and doctors in the workforce will follow in the second half of 2010.
This new series builds on an already strong partnership between the Foundation and beyondblue. The two organisations have co-produced a number of successful educational television programs over the past five years, including Another Shade of Blue: Depression in Older Australians (2007), Postnatal Depression (2006) and Out of the Blue: Managing Depression (2005).
Depression in men with prostate cancer under-diagnosed
“Approximately 20,000 Australian men are diagnosed with prostate cancer each year, but symptoms of depression and anxiety in those men are often overlooked and therefore under-diagnosed,” says Rural Health Education Foundation CEO Don Perlgut. “This new program will help health professionals to identify, assess and manage depression and anxiety in men with prostate cancer patients.”
“Although men with prostate cancer report high levels of depression, the rate of anxiety and depression in their partners is even higher – more than double the normal rate for the general Australian community,” says Leonie Young, CEO of beyondblue. “As a result, beyondblue has designed a program that enables health workers effectively assist men with prostate cancer, and also support their partners, families and carers.”
Expert panel discussion and case study
The program features a panel discussion chaired by Dr Norman Swan, Presenter of the Health Report on ABC Radio National.
The panel features Mr Colin Bartlett, a consumer from NSW; Professor Suzanne Chambers, Director of Research and General Manager Services at Cancer Council Queensland; Dr Caroline Johnson, a General Practitioner and Medical Educator from the Victorian Metropolitan Alliance in Melbourne, VIC; and Mr Peter Strange from Bendigo Community Health Services, VIC.
The case study looks at a successful prostate cancer support group based at Sydney Adventist Hospital. The group is led by David Sandoe, Deputy Chair of the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia and prostate cancer survivor, in conjunction with his wife, Pam. The case study discusses the impact of prostate cancer on mental health, relationships and carers; as well as exploring the strategies and resources available to patients and their partners.
Program funding
Maintaining Well-being: Depression and Anxiety in Men with Prostate Cancer and Their Partners is funded by beyondblue: the national depression initiative and the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia.
“PCFA is proud to be involved with Rural Health Education Foundation and beyondblue: the national depression initiative in developing the Maintaining Well-being: Depression and Anxiety in Men with Prostate Cancer and Their Partners broadcast,” says Mr Andrew Giles, Chief Executive Officer of the Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia. “This resource has added importance as depression not only impacts men diagnosed with prostate cancer, but also those who love and care for them. By encouraging health workers to recognise depression as an issue commonly related to prostate cancer, and helping enable the implementation of relevant strategies at an early stage, this resource has the potential to improve the well-being of many Australians.”
Broadcast details
Maintaining Well-being: Depression and Anxiety in Men with Prostate Cancer and Their Partners will be broadcast across the Rural Health Education Foundation’s satellite television network on Tuesday May 18th at 8.00pm (AEST), with repeats at 8.00pm Perth time that same evening (three hours later) and 12.30pm on Friday May 21st.
Also available via web-streaming
After the initial broadcast, this program will also be available free on the Internet for viewing via web-streamed video or listening via an audio podcast.
About prostate cancer and depression
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in Australia and the second most common cause of cancer deaths in men. Men with prostate cancer report higher levels of depression than the general community.
There are many types of anxiety disorders associated with prostate cancer, each with a range of symptoms. A number of different factors surrounding diagnosis, treatment and remission of prostate cancer may contribute to the development of an anxiety disorder in men and their partners. For example, concerns about Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) levels, concerns about treatment decisions, potential side-effects such as incontinence and erectile dysfunction, and fear of recurrence of the cancer, may compound the person’s anxiety.
For more information about prostate cancer, visit www.prostate.org.au, or phone PCFA toll free on 1800 22 00 99.
More information
For more information about the Maintaining Well-being program - including presenter details and associated educational resources - go to the online program summary, or contact the Foundation.