INTERVENTIONS
Interventions are programs, policies, and procedures used to address depression in India worldwide. The following interventions and their agencies are being used to address depression:
Air Purifiers
1.
Aid Based
Psycho-Therapy (Cognitive & Psycho-dynamic)
2.
Aid Based
Integrative Medicine
3.
Aid Based
1) Air Pollution Intervention
Air pollution also appears to play a role in depression, though scientists are still trying to clarify the link.
In one leading study, researchers at the Ohio State University exposed mice to either polluted air or filtered air for six hours a day, five days a week for 10 months. The polluted air included a concentration of PM2.5 particulate pollutants at a concentration level that was similar to what humans are exposed to in urban areas.
In one of the experiments, mice exposed to the polluted air showed more depression-like behaviors than the group breathing filtered air. When they examined the brains of the mice exposed to polluted air, they found that area of the brain called the hippocampus had developed differently from the mice breathing clean air. The hippocampus is associated with learning, memory and depression. Other studies of mice have reported that long-term exposure to pollution leads to widespread inflammation, including inflammation of the hippocampus.
A separate study at Columbia University found that children exposed in utero to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are more likely to suffer from a variety of mental health issues, including anxiety and depression. PAHs are a group of chemicals that are the byproduct of burning coal, gasoline, trash and other sources.
(IQAir, 2018).
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* Aid based
Steps You Can Take for Protection from Air Pollution Induced Depression
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Ensuring protection from air pollution is essential for countering depression caused by bad air quality in your home and office. You can start with proper ventilation of your living spaces. Buying home and office air purifier units is also advised, since air filtration products remove 99.9% of particulate matter and gaseous pollutants from your ambient environment.
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If you are feeling stretched at work, talking to your superiors or HR manager is advised. You can also convey to them the harmful effects of air pollution on office productivity if you believe that your stress is related to bad IAQ in the office.
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Depression can have severe implications if left unchecked, so never hesitate to ask for professional help if you are not feeling and performing well at work and in general.
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Sharing your problems with family and friends also helps you in getting out of depressing situations.
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Eating a healthy diet and fixing a routine will help you in maintaining a healthy body, which will uplift your spirits and make you happier and pro-active. (IQAir, 2018)
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Where to buy an air purifier in India?
Buying an air purifier in India has never been easier, Honeywell air purifiers are now available from online portals and stores near you as well. Browse for Honeywell air purifiers on amazon.in/flipkart.com/paytm.in or simply visit your nearest Croma store to buy one and protect your family from air pollution and depression.
(Honeywell, 2017).
2) Psycho-therapeutic Interventions
Cognitive therapy
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The efficacy and effectiveness of CT for MDD has been well established in controlled efficacy trials as well as in real world effectiveness trials.4-7 Given the substantial pain and suffering experienced by those who will encounter an episode of MDD in their lifetime, the research to date validating the effects of CT justify the time and costs necessary to implement this intervention in outpatient settings.
Hollon and colleagues8 demonstrated that CT reduced the risk of relapse after treatment was completed with continuation effects comparable to keeping patients on medication. The trial included only patients with severe depression, which indicates that the APA might reconsider its limited recommendation of psychotherapies for only mild to moderate depression.
(Connolly Gibbons, 2018).
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* Aid based
In this video, author and depression survivor Douglas Bloch talks about how you can change your mood by changing the way you view the world. He gives great insight on how cognitive therapy can treat your depression. For more information, go to http://healingfromdepression.com
Short-term dynamic psychotherapy
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In contrast to the solid evidence base for CT in the treatment of depression, there has been substantial debate in the literature over the past 20 years regarding whether short-term dynamic psychotherapy, which targets maladaptive interpersonal patterns as the source of symptomatology, has sufficient research to support its dissemination as an intervention for MDD. Although dynamic psychotherapy has been and is currently practiced worldwide, the research literature across mental disorders is flooded with reviews that debate whether it has adequate evidence of effectiveness.
A comprehensive review concluded that dynamic psychotherapy has large pre-and post-effects that are maintained at 1 year and medium effect sizes relative to control conditions.9 Two trials provide strong evidence that dynamic psychotherapy combined with medication is superior to medication alone in the treatment of depression.10,11 These studies provide valuable insight into the utility of dynamic psychotherapy in real world practice where psychotherapies are often combined with medication treatment.
A recent trial of longer-term psychoanalytic treatment demonstrated superiority over treatment as usual for treatment-resistant MDD.12 At the 2-year follow-up, 44% of patients in the psychoanalytic treatment no longer met criteria for MDD compared with 10% of those receiving treatment as usual.
(Connolly Gibbons, 2018).
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* Aid based
This psychotherapy video shows how to use intensive short term dynamic psychotherapy to establish a therapeutic alliance. It also discusses ways to co-create change in detail. This video has 5 other parts that go in detail about this therapeutic alliance. For more information, go to http://www.istdpinstitute.com
3) Integrative Medicine Intervention
Integrative Medicine (IM) is healing-oriented medicine that takes account of the whole person, including all aspects of lifestyle. It emphasizes the therapeutic relationship between practitioner and patient, is informed by evidence, and makes use of all appropriate therapies. This is very beneficial for those who suffer from depression.
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With the emergence of integrative medicine as a frontier and depression being associated strongly with cultural phenomenon and positive effects of yoga, there is a need to strengthen the Ayurveda, yoga and naturopathy, unani, siddha and homeopathy (AYUSH) network in the public sector for community-based preventative and promotive interventions for depression.
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*Aid based
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(WHO, 2018).
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Ayurveda: a system of medicine with historical roots in the Indian subcontinent. Globalized and modernized practices derived from Ayurveda traditions are a type of alternative medicine.
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Yoga: a group of physical, mental, and spiritual practices or disciplines which originated in ancient India.
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Naturopathy: a system of working towards the cure of diseases without using medicines. It is an ancient and traditional science which integrates the physical, mental, and spiritual aspects of our natural constitution.
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Unani: Arabian medicine, or Islamic medicine, a traditional system of healing and health maintenance observed in South Asia.
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Siddha: a person who has achieved spiritual realization and supernatural power with yoga.
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Homeopathy: the treatment of disease by minute doses of natural substances that in a healthy person would produce symptoms of disease.
How does it work?
4) Other Interventions
Interventions in educational settings:
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Some children and adolescents are at risk of developing depression. Interventions that aim to improve their emotional resilience can reduce depression as well as prevent suicides. Educational settings like schools and colleges offer unique opportunities for effective implementation of interventions aimed at early recognition, mental health promotion and prevention and care of depression. Teachers and motivated youth can act as effective gatekeepers and some of them have been found to be effective. Similarly, life skills training for students help in building greater resilience and
improve mental health.
(WHO, 2018).
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* Aid based
Interventions in the workplace:
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Workplace mental health interventions are beneficial both for employee and the employer. Following early identification, there is strong evidence regarding the beneficial effect of cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and antidepressant drugs in significantly improving the clinical (reduced depression scores) and workplace outcomes (more job retention and more worked hours). Activities that enhance employees' control (educational workshops, problem/stress management committees) and those which promote physical activity in the workplace have also demonstrated moderate evidence in reducing the symptoms of depression. Emerging evidence indicates that screening and treatment (both psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy) for depression in workplaces is cost effective.
(WHO, 2018)
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*Aid based
Civil society organizations:
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Working in the areas of health (and mental health in particular) can help in strengthening curative and rehabilitative services to specific vulnerable populations and also in developing community care models through research. They can be active agents for community engagement, empowerment, building enabling environment and for political advocacy purposes. Collaboration with and support to NGOs would bridge the gap in service provision and advanced care for depression in India. Several examples have demonstrated successful engagement of civil society organizations during disaster situations in strengthening psychosocial services, as well as with integrated services for care of mentally ill in religious institutions.
For the first time in India, a mobile tele-psychiatry unit was commissioned by SCARF with support from TATA Educational Trust. The bus has teleconferencing facilities, a computer for data storage and a large television fixed at its rear (used for awareness programs in the villages). The bus moves from village to village, accessing persons with mental illness. After the psychiatric consultation through linking with Chennai SCARF office, medicines will be given from the pharmacy located within the bus.
(WHO, 2018).
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*Capacity based
Media Engagement:
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Print, visual and digital platforms are effective agents of change for a wide range of activities like awareness, advocacy, mental health promotion as well as for strengthening services for the affected. Several activities can be undertaken by media-disseminating information, publishing strategies and places of care in neighboring communities, stories of those who have recovered, addressing depression can be effective when combined with targeted, focused and sustained interventions.
(WHO, 2018).
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* Capacity based