On 19 April 2017 NHMRC opened the Targeted Call for Research (TCR) into Depression, Anxiety and Suicide in Elderly Australians and applications for this TCR closed on 31 May 2017.

While most elderly Australians experience good mental health, a sizeable minority are at risk of depression, anxiety and suicide, particularly those in residential aged care settings. This TCR was created after a review undertaken by the National Ageing Research Institute, on behalf of beyondblue, identified several areas of research requiring particular attention. The resulting TCR was co-funded with beyondblue and focused on exploring ways to prevent depression, anxiety and suicide among elderly Australians and on improving the detection and effective management of these conditions, through new and existing interventions and models of care.

Successful applications for this TCR aimed to stimulate research that support improved approaches to either, or both, the:

  • Prevention of depression, anxiety and suicide among elderly Australians in residential aged care services and the broader community.
  • Detection and management of depression, anxiety and suicide risk in elderly Australians in residential aged care services and the broader community.

It is expected that either one or more of the following outcomes will be achieved by each of the funded grants:

  • Evidence to guide improvements in the prevention of depression, anxiety and suicide risk in elderly Australians living in community and/or residential aged care services.
  • Evidence to guide improvements in the detection and management of depression, anxiety and suicide risk in elderly Australians living in community and/or residential aged care services.
  • Evidence for new or improved interventions and models of care in community care, primary care, aged care and specialist mental health services for elderly Australians living with anxiety, depression and suicide risk in residential aged care services and/or the broader community.
  • Evidence to support the effective uptake by individuals, aged care and health providers, and policy makers of already existing evidence-based approaches to the prevention of depression, anxiety and suicide among elderly Australians, or to the detection and management of these conditions.