Commenting on a national report released by the Wesley Mission, which indicated that more elderly men are committing suicide than their younger counterparts, TASA co-ordinator, Linda Byart said  that the role of hormones in depression was being largely ignored and that many men would continue to die unnecessarily at their own hand because of this."Suicide in older men is often hormonally based and can be prevented by appropriate hormone replacement therapy".

A recent Study of 2000 men with diminished levels of Free Active Testosterone in their blood found that 30% were seriously suicidal before they commenced treatment. Many admitted to having made concrete plans on how to end their lives.

Rebalancing their hormones caused depression to lift and stay away so that they regained an optimistic attitude towards life as well as relief from other symptoms such as fatigue, aches and pains and loss of interest or ability in sex.

A great deal of taxpayers money is being wasted in the battle against depression because this simple factor of hormones is often not even considered, Mrs Byart said.

"Mature-onset depression is mostly treated with anti-depressants, when often it can be hormonally treated. This can improve a man’s mood and many other associated symptoms without causing erectile dysfunction", Dr Adrian Zentner, senior doctor at a Melbourne mens' health clinic said.

In addition to the 30% who admit to being suicidal right at the start, others wait until their hormonal management is well underway before they open up and explain how close to suicide they were before they began treatment, Dr Zentner said. "We estimate the true figure of those at risk is closer to 50%".

A new survey of 300 men who have been treated with Hormone Replacement Therapy as part of a wholistic care programme has revealed that over 90% said that symptoms, such as depression, fatigue, aches and pains and loss of drive in all aspects of their life, had improved.

In relation to depression 89% said they felt more able to cope, whilst 86% said they felt more cheerfull, more alert and more able to concentrate. 83% reported that their relationships had improved.

"Men change from being suicidal and from saying "if this is as good as life gets, I don’t want it’ to telling us they feel great, ten years younger and full of zest for life. This is a fact," Dr Zentner said.

"What is needed is for the blinkers to come off and for hormonal assessment to be routinely included in the investigation of depression. In addition to our dedicated men’s health Centres in Perth and Melbourne, there are now a number of good doctors around the country with special expertise in treatment with HRT that men can be referred to," he said.