First aid for depression: a Delphi consensus study with consumers, carers and clinicians

Area of Science:

• Mental Health
• Psychiatry
• Public Health

Background:

• Public support for individuals with depression before professional help is not well-defined.
• Early intervention and support are crucial for managing depressive episodes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish expert consensus on how the public can best provide first aid to individuals experiencing a depressive episode.
• To develop evidence-based recommendations for public support in early-stage depression.

Main Methods:

• The Delphi Method was employed with an expert panel of 167 mental health consumers, carers, and clinicians.
• A 99-item questionnaire was developed and refined over three rounds to achieve consensus.

Main Results:

• Sixty-four items achieved over 80% consensus across all expert groups.
• Key areas include recognizing depression, supportive communication, unhelpful actions, and encouraging professional or self-help.

Conclusions:

• The developed recommendations can inform training programs to enhance public first aid for depression.
• These guidelines aim to improve support and facilitate timely professional help-seeking for individuals with depression.