In the February 2009 issue of Viewpoint, the lead article was Depression is NOT a Normal Part of Aging, written by Ms. Randi Fine, a consultant-trainer-advocate specializing in older adults' mental health and addictions. Ms. Fine is the former Executive Director for the Older Persons Mental Health and Addictions Network (OPMHAN), an organization that had to cease operations in 2008 because of lack of funding. One of the projects that OPMHAN had to leave unfinished concerned public awareness and education about seniors and mental health, specifically depression. Some funding for this project remained and, with approval from the funder, the Ontario Seniors' Secretariat, and from CPC Ontario Division's Board of Directors, this work will be continued. Ms. Fine has joined CPC Health-Environment Committee and will help guide the development of this public education and public awareness project. CPC will be submitting proposals to several additional sources to expand the project.

Initially, OPMHAN trained volunteers to speak about seniors and depression in Toronto and Kawartha Lakes area. These volunteers need to be re?connected now through CPC. Several resources are available to them and other speakers as a result of OPMHAN's work. A video was made of seniors telling their stories about coping with depression, as well as several information booklets that CPC is working to get reprinted.

Over the next few months, CPC will be looking for additional volunteers to join this project. If you would be interested in being a part of this, if you have some experience in public speaking or if you have personal experience of depression yourself, a family member or friend, let us know. You can call the office at 416?368?5222 to have someone from the Health Environment Committee call you or e?mail with the same request: info@canpension.ca

Depression does NOT have to be part of aging. As Ms. Fine's article pointed out, talking to someone who understands depression is the first step. Talk to your family doctor. Or talk to someone you trust-a nurse, social worker, leader in your faith community, worker or volunteer at a seniors' organization. There is help and treatment. CPC will be building its public awareness and education project and talking a lot about seniors and their mental health - depression is NOT a normal part of aging.