Testing an online community on level of depression among older Australians

INTERVENTION: Web‐based peer support intervention: Individuals in the intervention arm will receive usual care plus access to a secure, study‐specific, unmoderated online community (the "Seniors Connect" website) dedicated to older people, where they can meet and engage in asynchronous one‐to‐one and group‐based communication with other individuals in the intervention arm. The Seniors Connect website adheres to user‐centred design processes and web design guidelines for older people, and will be accessible via computers and mobile devices for the duration of the trial. All individuals in the intervention arm will be sent an email invitation to access the private online community from a member of the research team, including the website address, login details, and basic instructions for use, as well as the BeyondBlue 'Connections Matter' booklet which emphasises the importance of social connections for improving mental health and wellbeing. The booklet takes around 20 minutes to read, however perusal is at the participant s own discretion. Individuals can: 1) create a profile using an online template. Individuals will have the option to include an avatar. As part of the profile creation process, each individual will be required to accept the terms and conditions of using the website including respectful communication, maintaining privacy, and promoting a positive culture among the online community. The research team will check all profiles prior to upload; 2) send and receive one‐to‐one private messages: a website function will enable individuals to use keywords and filters to search the profiles of other members of the intervention arm and identify those that meet specific criteria such as a particular interest or hobby. Individuals will be able to send ‘buddy’ requests directly t CONDITION: Depression;Anxiety;Loneliness;Quality of Life; ; Depression ; Anxiety ; Loneliness ; Quality of Life Mental Health ‐ Anxiety Mental Health ‐ Depression Public Health ‐ Other public health PRIMARY OUTCOME: Mean depression score assessed by the 15‐item Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS‐15); ; [Baseline, and at 3 months and 6 months (primary timepoint) after completion of baseline measures] SECONDARY OUTCOME: Anxiety assessed by the 20‐item Geriatric Anxiety Inventory[Baseline, and at 3 and 6 months after completion of baseline measures] Loneliness assessed by the 11‐item De Jong‐Gierveld Loneliness Scale ; [Baseline, and at 3 months and 6 months after completion of baseline measures] Quality of life assessed by the 36‐item Short Form‐36 (SF‐36) version 2 ; [Baseline, and at 3 months and 6 months after completion of baseline measures] INCLUSION CRITERIA: (i) Aged 65 years or older; (ii) English speaking; (iii) Living in a regional, rural or remote area (postcodes classified by the Rural, Remote and Metropolitan Areas Classification system as zones 2‐7) of Australia; (iv) have a life expectancy of more than 6 months; (v) live independently at home with low levels of support i.e. Commonwealth Home Support Programme or Home Care Package Level 1 or 2; (vi) have access to the internet.