Meg Polacsek wants to talk to older people about depression.
The St Albans-based researcher admits the topic isn’t prime dinner party conversation material but says that about 15 per cent of older Australians live with depression, an illness that is more common than dementia.
“I don’t think many people are aware of that, and the figure is probably higher because a lot of people don’t seek help or report it, and that’s because of the stigma,” Ms Polacsek said.
“What’s interesting is that the highest rate of suicide [in Australia] is men aged over 80.”
The doctor of philosophy candidate wants to speak to older Brimbank residents with depression who are living at home, to help understand how they manage their illness.
The research will be used in her PhD thesis.
“I want people to share their experience of ageing with depression,” she said. “What sort of strategies do you use”?
She hopes her study will provide context and direction for policies that support people to manage the disease themselves.
To contact Ms Polacsek, phone 0448 056 591 or email meg.polacsek@live.vu.edu.au
