In 2017, Deakin University's groundbreaking SMILES Trial demonstrated that improving the quality of your diet — more vegetables, lean protein and whole grains — is a powerful treatment for depression.
Now, further research has demonstrated simple improvements to diet aren't just effective but also affordable.
“We already know that dietary counselling is cost-effective when it comes to the management of obesity, cardiovascular disease and diabetes,” said Deakin's Dr Mary Lou Chatterton, one of the team behind the new research, in a statement.
“But these results indicate that providing support for people with depression to improve their diet may be a cost-effective strategy to reduce mental health symptoms too."
Published in BMC Public Health, the analysis recruited more than 60 adults with major depression and poor quality diets and randomised them to two groups: one group's members each consulted an accredited practising dietitian several times to learn the basics of a Mediterranean-style diet; while the other joined a social support program.
The researchers then weighed up the costs of improving diet — not only buying healthier foods, but also dietitian consultations — against the costs of visiting doctors and other healthcare professionals, medication, as well as lost productivity.
When it came to cost, the diet group came out ahead: their overall healthcare costs were $856 lower and average societal costs were $2591 lower over the 12-week study period.
“There is a strong relationship between depression and the development of other chronic health conditions like these. So a dietary improvement strategy could have multiple benefits that translate to wider health and wellbeing," Chatteron noted.
SMILES creator Professor Felice Jacka, director of Deakin’s Food and Mood Centre, stressed diet quality isn't the only cause of or solution to depression — however, it's a valuable tool in treating the condition, which affects 1 million Australians every year.
“Mental health involves the whole body and good diet is key driver of health. So that means eating a balanced diet of whole foods — fruits and vegetables, whole grains, legumes, nuts, olive oil and fish — while steering clear of processed foods," Jacka said.
"Depression, like any other mental illness, has many causes and many drivers, but if we can identify things like diet that are relatively straightforward and cost-effective to address, then that should be under-pinning all other strategies for prevention and treatment.”