Partners in Depression Support Program (For carers)
Depression & Anxiety Support Group
Heal your Life Class
Saturday Meditation
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Partners in Depression Support Program - Dates TBA - Register your interest
Kathryn Kitto will be facilitating the 6 week program starting in July/August 2011.
Partners in Depression is a group education program designed to address the information and support needs of those who care for or love a person experiencing depression. It is a six session program run by two facilitators in community settings.
The sessions include structured activities and discussion and also involve take home practice strategies.
The aims of Partners in Depression are to:
The Partners in Depression program was developed in response to an identified need for those who care for someone with depression to have access to relevant information and support. Previous research highlights that those who support or care for a person with depression are at risk of developing mental health problems themselves (Jeglic et al., 2005). The practical and emotional demands of supporting a loved one with depression can be great.
Significant stress has been associated with caring for someone due to feelings of:
However, carers report not feeling comfortable in discussing their concerns with their loved one’s clinician, believing the primary concern of the treating clinician should be for the person with depression. Further, few mental health or counselling services specifically target the information or support needs of carers.
Providing information about how a person can appropriately support their loved one, whilst also looking after your own mental health, can decrease the risk of those who care for people with depression developing significant mental health problems themselves.
This early intervention approach may also have follow on benefits for the person experiencing depression with regards to their capacity to access and engage with appropriate health services in times of need, and as an intervention the program offers opportunities for partnerships across teams and sectors. Thus, the program aims to improve the wellbeing of the carer, and this may have indirect benefits for the person with depression as well.
Those who have attended the pilot program valued the opportunity to connect with others in similar situations, and attendance resulted in improved psychological wellbeing, and also an improvement in their relationship with their loved one.
See also the Partners in Depression website for further information.
Hickie, I (2002). Responding to the Australian experience of depression: promotion of the direct voice of consumers and carers is critical for reducing stigma. Medical Journal of Australia. 176: S10. S61-S66.
Highet, N., Thompson, M. & McNair, B. (2005). Identifying depression in a family member: The carers's experience. Journal of Affective Disorders. 87 25-33.
Jeglic, E., Pepper, C., Ryanchenko, K., Griffith, K., Miller, A. & Johnson, M. (2005). A caregiving model of coping with a partner's depression. Family Relations. 51:1. 37-45.
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Depression & Anxiety Support Group - ongoing alternate Saturday mornings at The Eternal Spirit - $10 from 11am - 12pm
Group dates for August are 13th and 27th...
This support group focuses on non-threatening, positive and constructive self-help, providing people with a chance to share their experiences, report on what has helped, and their own progress. Kathryn Kitto also provides guidance on ways to deal with depression and pathways to recovery.
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Texts books for Heal your Life class. Click here to purchase.
Heal your Life Class - ongoing alternate Saturday mornings at The Eternal Spirit - $20 from 11am - 12pm
The class is a revolving class, so that you can join anytime, and once we finish the class we just start again, so you will never miss out on anything. Just call Kathryn on 0402 312 810 or email her via our contact page to order your text book and to book your place in the class.
More than just a find your success class... this class is about true healing so you can find yourself mentally, emotionally and spiritually in a better place and create the life you really want through healthy, positive thinking.
Healing Souls specialises in Personal Growth and Healing classes. Utilising various self-development tools, such as those created by Steve Pavlina, author of Personal Development for Smart People, and also Louise L. Hay, author of You Can Heal Your Life, Kathryn will help you to achieve meaningful results if you are prepared to use your own courage to get past your fears and consciously grow.
Enjoy learning techniques of self-love and positive thinking, while also gaining insight and practical methods for improving your health, relationships, career, and more.
Please call Kathryn on 0402 312 810 to find out which book is required for the current fortnight. Both books are available for purchase in the Online Shop and can be delivered at the class.
Each week a different form of meditation healing will be the focus, such as relaxation and confidence building; chakra and crystal healing; or healing through forgiveness and letting go of anger. Relaxation breath work is included each week.
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