Navigating the grey: a holistic approach to mental health in later life

Your patient Ian retired and moved to a rural community at 68 after 40 years as a loved school teacher. He feels increasingly isolated, experiencing low mood, disturbed sleep, and loss of interest in his usual activities. Ian faces the challenge of anxiety and depression experienced by many of our older patients.

In this interactive webinar, we explore the holistic approaches to managing anxiety and depression in patients like Ian.  Covering key treatment considerations combining non-pharmacological & pharmacological treatments specific to the older patient.

Join experts Professor Mark Morgan and Dr Paresh Dawda as they discuss their approach to the management of anxiety and depression in older adults.

Mark Morgan is professor of General Practice at Bond University where he leads the Medical Doctorate. He is also the chair of RACGP Expert Committee for Quality Care that is responsible for clinical practice guidelines.

Paresh Dawda has a portfolio of roles as a GP, academic, educator and consultant. He is the Director and Principal of an innovative outreach primary care service as well as a new technology enabled practice, Next Practice Canberra. He is also a GP Consultant Adviser at the NSW Agency for Clinical Innovation and a member of the Aged Care Advisory Group.

What you’ll learn

Topics include important considerations when initiating treatment in older adults, the evidence behind a range of interventions including social prescribing, lifestyle strategies and psychological treatments and the role of shared decision-making in ensuring effective, patient-centred care for managing depression and anxiety.

• Identify key factors affecting the diagnosis and management of anxiety and depression in older adults.
• Utilise shared decision-making when discussing treatment options for anxiety and depression with your patient.
• Assess the evidence for effectiveness and risks associated with antidepressants in the older person.
• Implement a management plan that incorporates non-pharmacological management strategies and outlines treatment goals and expectations.
• Outline the importance of ongoing review and monitoring to ensure effective management and minimise harms.

Why attend

This webinar provides CPD meeting EA and RP criteria, content also addresses health inequities. Live attendance includes interaction via case based poll questions, and Q&A with the presenters.

On demand access of the webinar is available following the live webinar date.

This is a Medcast Continuing Medical Education (CME) course.

Feedback from previous course participants

"The resources and use of measures were very practical and usable"

"Informative and very relevant to general practice, in the approach to collaborative management to depression in older adults"

"Content was concise, backed with evidence and relevant to every day practice"

"Excellent webinar, concise and portable information"

This educational session is brought to you by Medcast and the Quality Use of Medicines Alliance. 

For more free Quality Use of Medicines education, check out QHUB on Medcast