In an article I just posted in the news section of www.IamBackFromTheBrink.com called the The Great Male Meltdown it laments the poor record men have in seeing a doctor when something is not going right . It highlights the much higher death rate each year for men versus women from cancer and heart disease. The article argues that men have evolved from a time when the emphasis in life was to secure food for the table and anything that took them away from that was not good.

Why won’t men discuss depression?

When you bring depression and anxiety disorders into the picture the story only gets worse. I can speak from first hand experience when I say that in 1989 I was so ashamed to be not coping with life. This kept me from seeing a doctor and discussing the insomnia, anxiety, lethargy, and black thoughts. Due to the ever increasing spiral downwards I became convinced that there was no hope of me getting better and I thought I would be doing everyone a favour to end my life. Thankfully I was unsuccessful but I know even today that many men are making this same mistake.

It’s happening in rural area’s as well

I spoke at a small Queensland town called Murgon last week. The town had organised the event because they had been rocked by a recent spate of male suicides. I spoke afterwards with a surviving family of one of these tragedies and they were still so distraught that there son hadn’t reached out to them. When you are that depressed, the depression tells you that you will never get better again, and that is why you need to confide in others to give you perspective.

Please seek help

Depression is eminently treatable. I really believe that I was spared my suicide attempts to spread the message that you can recover from depression and go on to lead a very fulfilling life - for details of my path out of 5 years of hell see http://www.iambackfromthebrink.com/eBook.html 

Don’t believe you are doing anyone a favour by not seeking help

Depression is potentially a life threatening illness. If you think your family is better off without you - you are 1000% wrong. I have spoken to many families who have been devasted by a loved one’s suicide. They punish themselves by always questioning what they missed. It makes me shudder when I think of how close I came to putting my own family through that.

If you are not coping, please, please see your GP.

If you are feeling suicidal call the Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467 where you can have 5x 50 minute sessions with a trained counsellor for free.

Kind Regards

Graeme

 

Tags: anxiety disorders, depression, suicide

One of the biggest problems you have when you google depression or anxiety disorders is that you get 6 Trillion websites - where do you start?

I am very proud of the new resources section for  www.IamBackFromTheBrink.com . It is extremely comprehensive and covers helplines, organisations, websites, support groups, and books for Australia, New Zealand, USA, UK, and Canada.

It was put together with a huge contribution from a friend of mine, who wishes to remain anonymous. It is broken down into subcategories which include:

General Mental Health

Depression

Bipolar

Child and Adolescent

Carers

Post and Antenatal Depression

Anxiety Disorders

Seasonal Affective Disorder

Support Groups

There is also a large listing of books that is broken down into the same categories and are linked directly to Amazon so that you can read more about each book to see if it is for you.

You can check out the resources section at: http://www.iambackfromthebrink.com/resources.html

Hopefully this directory will save you lots of time in identifying websites that have good material.

Have a look at the section and let me know by answering this blog if there are any other sites that you think should be included. http://www.iambackfromthebrink.com/resources.html

Kind Regards

Graeme Cowan

www.IamBackFromTheBrink.com

 

Tags: anxiety, bipolar, depression, depression books, depression resources

Well the official launch happened on Tuesday September 9th at the Black Dog Institute in Randwick. It was a beautiful day and the room was filled to capacity.

The launch was MC’ed by Professor Gordon Parker, the Executive Director of the Black Dog Institute who brought us quickly up to date with some of the fantastic work the Institute is doing. One fantastic initiative they have is a computerised model called the Mood Assessment Program (MAP). This allows doctors to access the clinical expertise of the BDI. The patient fills out a computer based questionnaire that takes about an hour to complete. This then produces a diagnosis and treatment plan. It is in it’s pilot stage and is currently limited to NSW doctors but it will then be rolled out.

Professor Parker then introduced Elena Katrakis, CEO of Carers NSW who spoke on a macro level of the the extraordinary work being done by carers. She explained that their are over 2.5 million caregivers in Australia and their contribution is mostly hidden.

Professor Parker then introduced Lucy Brogden to launch BACK FROM THE BRINK TOO.  Lucy spoke with honesty and compassion about the role carers play. She then spoke very personally about the roller coaster of emotions she experienced when trying to help her husband John in his battle with depression.

The audience laughed at her attempts to medicate John by feeding him foods with high levels of serotonin such as bananas and pumpkin seeds. She then disclosed that it would take 20 kg of bananas per day to be a therapeutic dose. The amusing anecdote highlighted the length many carers go to to try to help.

Lucy stressed the importance of self care and having “me time” in order to ensure on can sustain the help to a loved one long term. It was a brilliant speech which really touched those who heard it with it’s humility and honesty and genuine desire to help.

See www.DepressionCarer.com

Finally it was my turn to talk and thank those who had helped make BACK FROM THE BRINK TOO a reality. This included the BDI, Carers NSW, the generous caregivers who had completed the survey that became the driving force behind the content of the book and many others from the mental health area too numerous to mention.

I then thanked my carers - my ex wife Susan, and my siblings. My most heartfelt thanks was reserved for my parents, Alan and Judy Cowan, who looked after me for 18 months when I couldn’t look after myself. My two books would never have happened if they hadn’t hung in there. I owe them everything.

Afterwards we enjoyed a lovely light in the courtyard. It was a proud moment after a year of research and hard work.

Full details of BACK FROM THE BRINK TOO can be found at www.DepressionCarer.com

 

Tonight I am in Melbourne for the Victorian launch  which has been organised by www.grow.net.au

Kind Regards

Graeme

 

Tags: back from the brink too, depression caregiver, depression carer, graeme cowan

The launch week for BACK FROM THE BRINK TOO is almost here. After a year of researching, writing, and gently prodding along, my new baby is about to greet the world. It’s a very exciting yet stressful time and I have had to be sensitive to ensuring my own mental health is not compromised with all the activity.

 

The publicity process has been underway for some time and yesterday I had two interviews. The first was with my local paper, the Northside Courier and then Lucy Brogden and I had a pre recorded interview with ABC’s radio National. It was a real honour to appear with Lucy as she is so passionate and articulate on the subject of caring for a loved one with depression.

 

The major events to occur in the next week or so are as follows:

 

Monday September 8

Sunrise Channel 7, 8.15am approx – Lucy and I to be interviewed

ABC Radio National, 9.15am approx – Lucy and I to be interviewed

Kerri Anne Channel 9. 9.45am approx – Lucy and I to be interviewed

 

Tuesday September 9

Sydneylaunch 11.00am Blackdog Institute Randwick

 

Thursday September 11

Melbourne launch

 

Saturday September 13

11.00am - Book signing Shelley’s bookshop, 731 Pacific Hwy, Gordon (Sydney)

 

Wednesday  September 17

ABC Radio NSW and QLD, 1 hour interview on Conversation Hour

 

Keep an eye on your inbox on Monday morning as a have a wonderful free resource to share with you.

 

Can I ask you a favour?

 

Next time your near a book shop can you ask them if they have BACK FROM THE BRINK TOO in as you’ve heard it is excellent.

 

Kind Regards

Graeme

 

 

 

 

Tags: depression, depression caregiver, depresssion carer, Emotional Support