In a recent article from Psychology today it cites a study where group of women were allocated a volunteer “befriender” for a year to meet up with regularly for a chat, cup of tea, go to movies etc. After a year they found that 72% had experienced a remission from their depression compared to 45% for a control group. This also reinforces the research I did for “Back from the Brink’ which showed that support from family and friends was the second most important factor in people recovering from depression. For details of the story go to the news section of www.IamBackFromTheBrink.com (a free copy my research can also be downloaded there. When people are depressed they find it very difficult to reach out to others but there are some strategies can help address this which I’ll outline later.

May the best in life and love and happiness be ahead of you.

Graeme

Tags: , anxiety, depression, loneliness, stress

In an article today from the US (see News section of www.IamBackFromTheBrink.com ) several employers from Minnesota have banded together to try to address the high cost of depression in their workforce. Called the “Bridges to Excellence” program, their health insurance companies are asking doctors to be accountable for their results. Patients will be asked to fill out a 9 question survey at the start to assess the severity of their depression. They will then have to redo the survey at 6 months and 12 months. If the patient is recovered after 12 months, the doctor will receive a $100 bonus for their treatment. They then plan to review results after two years with a view to directing patients to the more successful doctors.

This action is a direct result of the cost of depression in the workplace. Although the structure of health delivery in Australia is quite different, I think it is inevitable (and healthy) to have doctors accountable for their treatment. There would then be a much higher motivation to instigate evidence based treatment. In talking recently with Professor Gordon Parker from the Blackdog Institute, I know that he believes that many doctors currently treat depression via an outdated model. Measuring outcomes along the recovery path (or lack of it is a good thing)

May the best in life and love and happiness be ahead of you.

Graeme

Tags: , anxiety, depression, workplace depression, workplace stress

As some of you would know, I am also the leader of a GROW group. GROW is a 12 step support group for people with mental health issues - see www.grow.net.au . I remember being in my first group five years ago and thinking that I would never recover. Sure, some people may be able to overcome their depression, but they obviously don’t know how bad my depression is.

I am always reminded of those days when a new person comes for the first time who is really struggling. We had a person last night who had been in hospital for 9 months and was really struggling to come to terms with their future. My advice in this situation is always the same:

1. Don’t get too far ahead of yourself - just try setting weekly goals. Initially these goals should be around exercise (30 minutes 6 times per week) and contact with family and friends (2-3 visits per week) You should then schedule these activities and then live your life in day tight compartments.
2. Make sure you find a competent doctor and/or psychologist and follow their advice. 
3. If you aren’t currently working, explore voluntary work
4. Review these goals at the end of each week and set ones for the following week.

I would welcome your thoughts on this approach or you may have a different approach that works for you. I look forward to your post.

Kind Regards

Graeme

Tags: , adversity, anxiety, depression, hopeless, mental health at work, overcoming depression, psychiatric hospital, stigma, stress

Those that know will have heard how passionate I am about the role exercise can play can overcoming depression. This isn’t just based on anecdotal evidence although there is plenty of that. In a study I did for BFTB interviewing 300 people, exercise was rated the most successful strategy in overcoming depression. In a study the Blackdog Institute did at a similar time of 2962 people , exercise was also the most effective strategy for overcoming depression. On my main main website www.IamBackFromTheBrink.com you will find an excellent recent story from the MAYO clinc in the NEWS section on this topic.

I was also fortunate enough to talk at Meadowbank TAFE this week. The Community Health students organised a wonder “Mental Health Day” and there were people there from The Blackdog Institute and other mental health services. I think it is wonderful these topics are starting to be spoken about in this environment.

In the coming couple of weeks I am speaking at a Lifeline fundraising dinner on Friday May 30th in Sydney, the Brahma Kumaris at Ashfield Sydney on Sunday June 1 and at the Uniting Church in Forster, NSW on Monday June 2, and Dee Why, NSW SWAP on Tuesday 10 June.

Kind Regards

Graeme

Tags:

Over the last few days I have been going through the final editing stage for “Back From The Brink Too: 7 steps in helping your loved one in overcoming depression”. It gets quite tiring going through the same material time and again but I am very excited about the material that this will make available. The need for this material was brought home to me recently in the most dramatic way. I woman emailed me who heard I was writing the sequel to BFTB. She had heard John Brogden and I on Radio National on the day of the launch for the first book- June 13 2007. A friend had called to let her know it was on as she had a daughter who was suffering badly from depression. On that same day her beautiful daughter took her own life and totally devasted her. She was so frustrated at how difficult it was to navigate the mental health system as a carer. She couldn’t believe how doctors often left her out of the picture because of so called privacy issues. This was despite her daughter wanting to have her involved. She lamented that doctors are trying to make decisions with often only 30% of the information. This is at best short sighted and at worst bordering on negligence. Even though this beautiful lady did everything in her power to help her daughter she is still haunted by guilt and what might have been. She encouraged me to get the information out as it was so desperately needed. I really feel for her and other caregivers.

Graeme

Tags: , anxiety, carer, depression, guilt, mental illness

I have just finished writing “BACK FROM THE BRINK TOO: 7 Steps to help your loved one in overcoming depression”. It is quite an exhaustive process writing a book but I just felt so dedicated to the task by knowing how difficult it is to support someone with depression. As part of the process I interviewed over 200 carers and I was just struck with how difficult it is for them. Often they don’t feel they can discuss their situation with anyone and don’t really know where they can get help. I have found that there is quite a lot of help out there but it is very fragmented and difficult to find. Hopefully my book will go someway down the path of addressing this issue. What I also know is how important that support is for those living with depression. We need to act as a partnership to get the best result for both parties.

Kind Regards

Graeme

Tags: , , depression, overcoming depression, support of loved ones