In Living Color: Depression Treatment in Primary Care Curriculum Rollout

Recovery for AllDecember 2008

Developed in partnership between NAMI and the American Psychiatric Association, theIn Living Color: Depression Treatment in Primary Careintervention aims to: equip primary care physicians with the knowledge and tools to identify and provide appropriate treatment of depression in minority populations; create awareness of cultural influences and how depression manifests within a cultural context; and to model successfulcommunication and partnership between providers and patients of different cultures.  The program is taught by a team consisting of a consumer, a family member, and a physician.  Together, the facilitators model successful partnering and showcase the expertise each individual brings to the treatment setting. 

The curriculum was completed in 2008 and, in order to ensure that it is utilized effectively and reaches the audiences most in need, NAMI will work with four carefully selected sites to implement the program in 2009.  NAMI will use the experience with these sites to evaluate the obstacles and best practices ofcommunity implementation in order to inform larger national-scale rollout in the near future. 

Details of the selection criteria of the four sites will be made available in early 2009.Once the sites have been identified, trainings will be scheduled and theMulticulturalActionCenterwill provide technical assistance for the implementation phase.  In 2009, we estimate that the program will reach hundreds primary care providers across the country and we look forward to the opportunities to expand its reach in the future. 

For more information on theIn Living Color: Depression Treatment in Primary Careview our first articleabout the NAMI-APA collaborative inRecovery for All,thefollow-up articlein the December 2007 issue, or view our PowerPoint presentation from the NAMI 2007 Convention.