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Dementia can be debilitating not only for the older adult suffering from memory loss and confusion, but for family members as well. Understanding caregiving for ethnic minorities is critical. In Asian communities, addressing dementia and other mental health issues can be compounded by cultural factors such as perceptions of mental health and caregiving. The purpose of this article is to review the literature on the perceptions and knowledge of dementia in Asian communities, discuss the consequences of caregiving, and discuss implications for practice and research.

: Using an international sample, this study examined what variables were associated with social distancing among social work students. A total of 1,042 students from seven universities in the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia participated in a cross-sectional paper and pencil survey that applied the Social Distancing Scale to case vignettes describing an individual with panic disorder or major depressive disorder. The results show that levels of social distancing were related to age, knowing someone with a mental illness, type of disorder, level of conservatism, race, country, professional interest in mental health, level of student, and sex. Overall, 16.8% of the variance was accounted for with these significant variables. Implications for social work education and future research are discussed.

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The effective treatment of depression in older adults requires a wide repertoire of interventions from the knowledge bases of several disciplines. The purpose of this article is to offer professionals an overview of the various treatments for depression, as well as their theoretical foundation, in order to design appropriate interventions and activities for older adults who are depressed. Implications for practice are also offered.