Talk:DepressioNet.com.au

Questions and Concerns
I have some questions and concerns about this article, especially in light that its creator appears to be aligned with the organization being profiled.


 * Is this a good fit for SourceWatch, an online encyclopedia of "groups, issues and people shaping the public agenda"?


 * All references in this article come from the group's website itself, which surely counts as a biased source and should at least be clearly marked as such, according to SourceWatch referencing policies.


 * Is the following an adequate reference for the article's claim that its drug industry funding only accounts for a minority of its budget? This may be useful info, but it's not exactly a reference.
 * "the depressioNet company audited financial report for 2005/2006 is available on request by contacting team@depressionet.com.au with the email attention accounts/Gen"

Diane Farsetta 11:30, 30 May 2007 (EDT)

Edit Notes
I'm relocating this to the talk page, pending a rewrite and references. --Bob Burton 02:48, 26 May 2007 (EDT)

has grown from a four-page website launched mid-2001, to a national organisation providing a comprehensive online resource for Information, Help and 24-hour Peer-based support for people living with depression, their families and friends. This unique Peer-based model is in line with depressioNet’s philosophy of empowering people to take ownership of and responsibility for all aspects of their condition and recovery. In this way, depressioNet reduces the impact of depression on the individual, family, workplace and within the broader community. This model of service delivery reduces the social isolation caused by depression, as well as providing an increased understanding of depression, its causes, impacts, and options for effective treatment and management.

depressioNet subsisted predominantly on philanthropic grants and charitable donations from its inception in June 2001. Owing to a lack of financial resources, depressioNet faced imminent closure in October 2005. During this period, community lobbying, media campaigns, and the resounding support of both depressioNet clients and staff alike led to an increased awareness of the service.

As a direct result depressioNet successfully negotiated with the Department of Health and Ageing, Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Programs Branch, the provision of funding for a three-year period. This funding has been made available to provide depressioNet with financial support to undertake a number of projects around quality, accuracy and sustainability concluding in June 2008. This includes the development, implementation and concretisation of a business plan to address depressioNet’s strategic goals and an independent review of the depressioNet model.

depressioNet defines five income streams, including; Grants and funding proposals; Donors; The Shop; Agencies; and Fundraising activities. Concern has been raised that depressioNet is a pharmaceutical company-funded website. Between July 1, 2005 and July 1, 2006, contributions from pharmaceutical organisations accounted for 10.6 per cent of total income, whilst between July 1, 2006 and May 25, 2007 these contributions accounted for only 6 per cent of total income. Therefore, pharmaceutical contributions do not constitute a dominant source of funding for depressioNet. That said, the support depressioNet does receive from the pharmaceutical industry is visibly acknowledged in the website and all public financial reports, with this support being both unconditional and transparent.