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Media Release

March 25, 2008

Upcoming Documentary Leads to Community Initiative on Depression in Older Adults

Austin, TX -- An upcoming PBS documentary about depression in older adults is serving as a catalyst for local organizations to come together and address the issue. Depression: Out of the Shadows, will be broadcast on KLRU-TV, Austin PBS, on May 21, 2008. The film provides a comprehensive portrait of depression never before presented on American television. This 90-minute documentary focuses on cutting edge medical and scientific information as told through the personal stories of those living with depression.

To localize the national program and to focus on a critical issue in Central Texas, KLRU and the Area Agency on Aging of the Capital Area have convened a local planning team to develop a Leadership Summit on Depression in Older Adults.

Other groups involved include the Austin/Travis County Health & Human Services Department, Family Eldercare, Hogg Foundation for Mental Health, Mayor’s Mental Health Task Force Monitoring Committee, National Alliance on Mental Illness -- Texas, St. David’s Community Health Foundation, Seton Family of Hospitals, Seton Shoal Creek Hospital, The University of Texas School of Social Work, and YMCA-Austin.

On March 28, the summit will bring policy makers, community leaders, and service providers together with two groups of professionals who are on the front line working with older adults -- clergy and physicians in private practice and community clinics. The discussion will focus on how the Greater Austin area can more effectively serve the needs of older citizens who are suffering from depression.

Panelists include:

• Jim Van Norman, MD, Director of Medical and Clinical Services, Austin/ Travis County MHMR Center
• Reverend H. Ed Calahan, Pastor of the Agape Baptist Church in Austin
• Linda Perez, LBSW, Assistant Vice President for Client Services at Meals on Wheels and More
• Carol Peters, Community Volunteer and Consumer

Fred Butler, Moderator, recently retired as Executive Director of the Austin/Travis County Community Action Network (CAN)

In addition to playing a key role as an organizer of the summit, KLRU will produce a 30 minute local television program to be aired immediately after the national documentary on May 21. The show will present the personal stories of local older adults who have dealt with depression, along with medical and public health experts speaking specifically about depression in older adults.

The local Leadership Summit and the local production are funded, in part, by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, KLRU, the St. David’s Community Health Foundation and the Austin/Travis County Health and Human Services Department and Seton Family of Hospitals.

The national PBS documentary, Deppression: Out of the Shadows, is a production of Twin Cities Public Television (TPT) and WGBH Boston. Producer/Writer/Director: Larkin McPhee. Executive Producers: Laurie Donnelly, WGBH; Phylis Geller, TPT. Senior Producer, WGBH: Anne Adams. Major funding for the program and Take One Step: A PBS HEALTH CAMPAIGN is provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Public Television Viewers and PBS. Additional support for DEPRESSION: Out of the Shadows provided by The Ritter Foundation Inc. and Mental Insight Foundation.

About KLRU

KLRU-TV, Austin PBS, reflects, celebrates and inspires Central Texas through creative excellence,
community engagement and lifelong learning. Although primarily a television station providing locally produced and quality national programming, KLRU is also a non-profit organization helping to build a stronger community through educational workshops, community outreach projects and public events. Get more information about KLRU at klru.org.

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