OMH Commissioner Hogan Supports IOM Report Calling for Family-Focused Care for Depression

ALBANY, NY (06/11/2009)(readMedia)-- Michael F. Hogan, PhD., Commissioner of the New York State Office of Mental Health, (OMH) today announced his support of newly-published findings that a new family-focused model of depression treatment is needed to minimize risks and problems for parents with depression and their children. The report, "Depression in Parents, Parenting and Children: Opportunities to Improve Identification, Treatment and Prevention," was published June 10 by the National Research Council and Institute of Medicine (IOM).

"This report adds to the emerging consensus that early and family-driven care is the right approach for young people and families with mental health challenges," said Commissioner Hogan. "Behavioral problems are the most serious and costly health problems that children face. Most children do not get treatment and if they do, there are usually long lag times from onset of illness to treatment. Yesterday's report follows a recent recommendation from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force that adolescents be screened for depression, in part because of new information about the effectiveness of psychotherapy and other treatments. New information also suggests that youth recovery from depression is more difficult if parents are also depressed."

"Estimates by the IOM are that youth mental disorders generate $247 billion per year in costs to the educational, criminal justice, health, and social welfare service systems - and to families," wrote Lloyd Sederer, M.D., OMH's Chief Medical Officer, in a recent Huffington Post entry. "The terrible irony is that if an affected youth is identified by screening and receives proven forms of mental health treatment, the likelihood that youth will recover is better than 75 percent, comparable to other major medical illnesses like diabetes and heart disease."

The newly-released report proposes an increased family focus on the treatment of depression that would remove barriers to care and encourage coordination across organizations and among service providers. It goes on to suggest that services for families coping with depression be available in a range of community locations including head start facilities, schools, and families' homes.

Copies of Depression in Parents, Parenting and Children: Opportunities to Improve Identification, Treatment and Prevention are available from the National Academies Press, 1-800-624-6242 or at www.nap.edu