Volunteer Stories

Keith Eveson

Kingsley resident Keith Eveson is a familiar face to Perth's commuters, most mornings he greets city workers with a smile and a pamphlet on organ donation.

Keith doesn't do things in half measures. He has a big heart and is 100 per cent committed to the cause, be it organ donation or participating in medical research trials.

Keith's smile masks the pain that he suffers daily. 20 years ago he was involved in a serious car accident that has left his body riddled with pain. He has learnt to deal with the physical pain. But his happy demeanour conceals his underlying struggle with depression.

"There are days where I feel like I am alone in a black hole with no way of getting out, with no one to help. I can sit on the couch and stare at the TV for the whole day" says Mr Eveson.

Keith has suffered from depression for over 20 years and finds that by helping others, it eases his suffering.

"Volunteering helps me break free from all of this - I feel useful again," says Keith.

"I was reluctant to talk about my depression but realised that talking about it might help others. If I can help just one person deal with the agony of depression, it is worthwhile coming forward."

Keith is a volunteer in a research study that is investigating how vitamins can improve the treatment of depression. He is encouraging other people that are over 50 years old and who suffer from depression to contact the WA Centre for Health and Ageing and get involved.

For more information contact the WA Centre for Health and Ageing on 9224 2855 and mention the B-Vitage study or visit www.wacha.org.au.

John

Like you and I, John*, a research volunteer for the B-VITAge study, has personal goals. On face value John is a pretty ordinary bloke, sixty five years old, tertiary educated and gainfully employed. John, however, has been feeling trapped and not able to move forward because of depression. He has been feeling like this for over 30 years.

The B-VITAge study, conducted by the WA Centre for Health and Ageing at The University of Western Australia, is investigating better ways to treat depression in older people.

"I have been feeling bad about myself for many years and have lost interest in the things that used to interest me. I realised something was wrong, but I couldn't put my finger on it," says John. "These symptoms also cost me a beautiful relationship, as I was not a very nice person to live with anymore."

"I urge people who suffer with similar feelings to consider joining the study. It may make the difference between a miserable old age and a happy and fulfilling one."

WACHA and Royal Perth Hospital psychiatrist, Dr Andrew Ford, is seeking volunteers, like John, who are feeling low in mood or have lost their drive and interest in life to be involved in the study.

"This study hopes to find that vitamin supplements, used in conjunction with medications, can contribute to relieving the symptoms of depression," said Dr Ford.

An estimated eight per cent of older Australian adults suffer from depression at some point and it is predicted that depression will be the second leading cause of disability worldwide within the next 10 years, clearly making this a major public health problem.

All study participants will receive standard antidepressant treatment with either additional vitamin or placebo supplements. For further information please contact WACHA on 9224 2855.

* A pseudyonym has been used to protect the research volunteer's privacy

Jenny

Meet Jenny. 30 years ago she married her high school sweetheart. Together they have seen and experienced a lot of change. This is her story.

On Jenny's 51st birthday she noticed a change in her mood and motivation. She used to enjoy going to work but found that she no longer had the energy to sustain a full day's work. She decided to retire early and thought that this would help improve her mood and energy levels.

Unfortunately for Jenny, things didn't get better. Jenny got very anxious and could not help but worry about her husband and her family all day. Jenny's husband enjoys tinkering around the house and fixing things. The mere thought of him using electrical equipment or climbing a ladder to do some repairs would have Jenny so wound up she would become physically ill.

When Jenny looked at her future it looked bleak, she couldn't see anything that excited her. On most days she felt low, tired and often, she became so anxious that she would be short of breath.

Whilst paging through the local paper Jenny saw an advert inviting people with a low mood to become involved in a clinical trial that was exploring ways to improve the treatment of depression. At first, Jenny was reluctant to put her hand up. She felt low but couldn't bring herself to call the research Centre. She sat on it for a few weeks. After giving it further consideration she plucked up the courage to call the research Centre to find out more about the study. She had lived with these feelings for the past 9 years - enough was enough!

After taking part in the study Jenny noticed a gradual change within herself. It was as if she had been hibernating in a cocoon and was now slowly coming out - bit by bit - she was spreading her wings. A year on Jenny is a changed woman.

She is motivated, wakes up every morning with purpose and is now a keen ballroom dancer and card player. She is no longer worried about her husband's handy man work and even encourages him to complete tasks around the house.

Jenny sees a very bright future for herself, and is keen to make up for lost time. Her advice to others is - GET INVOLVED AND DO IT NOW!