Scientific Series: Dr. Mark J. Yaffe, "Lay mental health self-care: the innovative DIRECT care model"

To join via Teams, click here. 

The DIRECT research group will present an overview of its comprehensive program of studies aiming to improve the management of depression for older adults. This interdisciplinary team of researchers, primary care physicians, mental health specialists, trained non-medical mental health workers, and community stakeholders has focused on understanding the complex needs of older adults with chronic physical conditions and depression. Recognizing the urgent need for mental health support in this population, it has collaboratively developed, evaluated and disseminated depression self-care interventions for use in different contexts. These models utilize brief, low-intensity psychological interventions that encourage self-care.

The DIRECT team developed a depression self-care toolkit specifically for community-based patients. The toolkit, which can be modified according to the needs of specific target populations, acknowledges the interconnectedness of mental and physical health and addresses both aspects in a coordinated manner. The team has shown the feasibility of…