Hi Paul
I could have had so much a better life if it weren’t for the family curse, my parents mental illness.

Some of the stats are out there now it would seem. See article below. So we do really need the nnaami youth link program funded over Australia. We need one funded for us adults as well who have parents with the dreaded illnesses. Paul I hope the federal government will acknowledge your work and give nnaami the support and funding it deserves. We need our own organization nnaami funded, with counseling provided and available to all who request it where ever they live in our great country.

My mother suffered schizophrenia and depression stayed in bed all the time, while us kids did all the work. I would be too scared to approach a mental health agency or depression specialists to look at if I had it. I think most of the problem is there is no one to talk to who knows what it is like, no support for those who are susceptible to depression and keep on carrying the stress of supporting our parents but have not got depression yet. From the Age article below it seems like a time bomb for some, just waiting to happen. This I feel is because no one looks at prevention. When I was a young kid there was no nnaami to turn to. Please Mr Howard help these kids through nnaami so they can make a better chance at it.

I would like to make the point re the research reported in the article below and the statement about “adverse life events”. Children coping with the demanding stress of a parent with mental illness at home must suffer ‘ Adverse ’ life events all the time. They probably just get worn down as part of coping with a parents continual serious mental illness any way and then other ordinary stressful life events slammed on top as well is just the final breaking point. If the stress of coping with a parent with mental illness was addressed somehow with support services and some one to talk to who understands then perhaps us people may cope a little better. You would think there would be a flow on benefit and cost reduction effect for our taxpayers with less depression in our society as a result.

Many I feel slip into depression because there has not been a concerted effort by bureaucrats to help us. Depression seems sexy now everyone seems to have it and talk about it, but what about the kids who are left to face the mad or depressed parent infinitam every day, nothing has been provided for them.

Paul, your organization is the only one I have ever found that have any Idea of what I have been struggling with. Your nnaami, site it so good keep up the good work.

The article below was reported in the Age 27 Feb 06

Lidia

Blue genes

By Janelle Miles
The Age February 27, 2006

People with the genetic predisposition have an 80 per cent chance of becoming depressed if they experience three or more negative events in five years.

Some people are genetically predisposed to developing depression when confronted with stressful life events such as a marriage breakup, Australian research suggests.

Inheriting a specific gene from both parents makes an individual more than twice as likely to become depressed as others, given similar circumstances, the study has found.

Mental health experts have been studying 127 graduates from a Sydney teachers' college for the past 25 years, with 42 per cent reporting at least one episode of major depression in that time.

They recently compared their DNA profiles with their lifetime history of major stress, such as a relationship breakdown or death of a parent, to find out whether a particular gene interacted with the environment to bring on depression.

The researchers found the influence of adverse life events on the onset of depression was significantly greater for those who inherited a short version of the serotonin transporter gene, known as 5-HTTLPR, from both parents.

"An interaction between the 5-HTTLPR and adverse life events was found to significantly predict the onset of major depression for the five years prior to depression onset," they write in the March edition of the British Journal of Psychiatry.

Those with the genetic predisposition had an 80 per cent chance of becoming depressed if they had three or more negative events in five years.

By contrast, those with "genetic resilience" against depression only had a 30 per cent chance of developing the mental illness given similar circumstances, said geneticist Peter Schofield.

Lead researcher Kay Wilhelm, of Sydney's St Vincent's Hospital and the University of NSW, said the research validated the results of a 2003 New Zealand study which looked at a larger sample of more than 800 people between ages 21 and 26.

"That's the exciting part, that this is not just a one-off thing," said Associate Professor Wilhelm.

"We've actually replicated the New Zealand study and got virtually identical findings."

The Australian researchers found that about 21 per cent of their sample, now aged 48, had inherited the short version of the serotonin transporter gene from both parents.

They were more likely to have experienced major depression at an earlier age and to have suffered repeated episodes.

Prof Wilhelm, a key researcher at Sydney's Black Dog Institute, said they may be less efficient at stopping unwanted emotional messages.

Gene found to increase depression risk

ABC news Australia online. Wednesday, March 1, 2006 . Posted: 00:00:00 (AEDT)

The age-old question about whether depression is caused by genes or your environment has been answered: it is both.

Scientists at the University of New South Wales have found a particular gene can increase your risk of depression.

But they also say it is what happens to you during life that ultimately determines your mood.

Scientists from the University of New South Wales have followed a group of teachers for 25 years.

Those who had particular genetic changes and who suffered three traumatic life events were twice as likely to become depressed.

Gender differences did not matter.

"This is a risk gene. It's not a disease gene," Professor Philip Mitchell, from the brain sciences unit of the University of New South Wales, said.

"What it does it is increases your risk of depression if you are exposed to a series of stressful life events.

"We've found is that both nature and nurture are important."

The gene in question regulates serotonin, or the feel-good hormone, which is present in the brain.

"Some people seem to be vulnerable to certain life events and some people are like Superman - are immutable - and this study gets to the answer to a very exciting degree," Professor Gordon Parker, executive director of the Black Dog Institute, said.

Researchers say it is too early to offer a genetic test for depression.

Instead, they are working to find the best ways for those at risk to develop good coping skills.

While those in the study could find out if they had the gene, participant Peter Hamer says he did not want to know.

"I think I'm in the reasonably able to cope group," he said.

Researchers are also looking for different personality traits that might mean patients are more likely to develop depression.

The paper has been published in the British Journal of Psychiatry.