Helpful and Sensitive Communication with a Depressed Person

Helpful and Sensitive Communication with a Depressed Person

In this session Hugh talks about the importance of showing support to the older person experiencing depression. Hugh highlights some key nursing strategies including actively listening and providing reassurance to a person as a means of demonstrating support to them. Hugh outlines the important questions to ask particularly in relation to suicide.  He then provides clear and simple guidelines to  assessi the risk of suicide. Providing the ‘top ten tips’ in how to approach a depressed elderly person, Hugh concludes this practical informative presentation.

The main concepts explored in this session are:

• Suicide assessment
• How to talk with a depressed person
• Counselling and interviewing skills
• Providing reassurance and support

Hugh Irons

Hugh Irons is a mental health nurse consultant and educator with extensive hospital and community based experience as a clinician and teacher.  Hugh has a Master of Nursing Degree (Community Health) as well as an impressive record as a teacher of communication skills and mental health topics. In addition is a member of the Australian College of Mental Health Nurses and is the author of the publication entitled: Counselling and Interviewing for Carers: A Basic Guide.

Speaker name: Hugh Irons
Recorded: 23/03/2010
Listening time: 23 minutes
Conference: Depression and the Elderly
Session in Conference: Helpful and Sensitive Communications
State: Melbourne, Australia

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