Since the launch of BACK FROM THE BRINK TOO I have been able to research a number of visitors to my site to find out how I can further help the person suffering from depression and their caregiver.

The people that responded to the survey said that one of the things they would really value was the opportunity to participate in an anonymous telephone seminar on how the sufferer and their caregiver can work together to overcome depression.

I have come across some technology that enables the participants to either listen via their computer with speakers (using the internet) or by phone. It would also be possible to listen to a recording if you weren’t able to make the designated time. It will also be possible for me to answer questions raised before each seminar.

This type of format would allow me to share a much broader range of information than is possible in a book. In particular, with each point raised, I would like to share the perspective of both the person living with depression and the caregiver.

I have also come to realise that whilst some people like reading books, there are many others that would prefer to listen and watch.

Broadly speaking, I would see 4 seminars each being of around 60-90 minutes on a Tuesday night at 8pm, Sydney, Australia time. Each seminar will have accompanying materials

WEEK 1: WHAT REALLY, REALLY, WORKS IN MANAGING/ OVERCOMING DEPRESSION?

This will briefly outline the symptoms of depression but focus mainly on the evidence based strategies that are most effective for overcoming depression. I will outline a specific plan of action I recommend.

WEEK 2: FINDING THE RIGHT HELP FOR THE SUFFERER AND CAREGIVER

This week will show sufferers and carers how to find appropriate mental health professionals. It will include strategies to encourage the sufferer to seek help. It will also explain the mental health maze and how to access the right expertise. Getting the correct diagnosis and treatment is fundamental to recovery.

WEEK 3: BUILDING A SUPPORT NETWORK FOR THE SUFFERER AND CAREGIVER

Never have both parties been more in need of the care of family and friends. I will show how to build a plan brick by brick so both the sufferer and their caregiver can feel well supported. This support and cooperation is essential for implementing treatment strategies. Friendship is the special key to mental health.

WEEK 4: HELPING TO PREVENT A CRISIS AND SUSTAINING THE CARE

The taboo subject of self harm and suicide will be discussed from the perspective of the person living with depression and their loved ones. Strategies to help prevent a crisis occurring will be clearly explained. Recovery from depression is rarely a straight line and I will discuss what both parties can do when the road gets rocky. I will also outline some case studies of people who have been transformed by depression and gone on to lead very fulfilling lives.

There are of course costs involved in putting something like this on, but I plan to make Week 1 free so people can try before they buy.

The first seminar which will be on November 25^th, 2008.

If you have any questions or comments please respond to this blog.

Kind Regards

Graeme

Graeme Cowan

www.IamBackFromTheBrink.com

Tags: back from the brink too, depression caregivers, depression treatments, graeme cowan, overcoming depression

This morning Andrew Johns completed his walk from Newcastle to Sydney to raise funds for the Black Dog Institute research and awareness of bipolar and depression.

Raised $2 million

Even though it was a magnificent effort to raise these funds I think Andrew’s greatest contribution was to talk openly about his own experiences. I know from the feedback I have had from BACK FROM THE BRINK, that personal stories help bring down the bricks of stigma. I remember doing  a book signing in Perth where every third person commented that they felt comfortable discussing their depression with family after Geoff Gallop, the ex Premier of WA, admitted to his own struggles with the illness when resigning from parliament.

Real stories move hearts

It may seem like a courageous thing to do but I have been amazed how supportive people have been when discussing my own illness. Inevitably it leads to the person then feeling comfortable discussing their own story of a loved one (or even themselves) - and I now know that everyone has a story.

I encourage you to share your story with family and friends so that we can discuss mental illness as easily as we do physical illnesses. I encourage you to read the story on this topic from the Mayo Clinic in the news section of www.IamBackFromTheBrink.com

Kind Regards

Graeme

Tags: andrew johns, bipolar, depression, mental illness, stigma

After much searching I’ve found a wonderful resource for parents with a teenager with depression. As I shared in the post before last, this is an area which is severely under resourced.

Families for Depression Awareness

http://www.familyaware.org/index.php

This US site was established 16 years ago to help address the issues families encounter when one or more members live with depression. It offers some very practical advice and has many real stories covering a variety of situations.

Guide for parents of a teen with depression

Perhaps the thing of greatest value is an excellent guide for parents who have a teen with depression. It is a 72 page document that answers many of the questions you will have. Most importantly it has been thoroughly “road tested” to make sure it is relevant and practical. At this same location you will also find a very good guide for teens who are suffering from depression.

http://www.familyaware.org/teens/default.php

Please let me know how you find this material.

Kind Regards

Graeme

Tags: depression advice, depression in families, teenager depression, youth depression

It was all going so smoothly

As many of you would know, I had my routine down pat. Rise at 5.45am, meditate for 20 minutes and then go for a 45 minute bushwalk before having breakfast and beginning my work. I felt healthy and energetic and was very productive.

Life is what happens to you while your busy making other plans

Then three weeks ago I unexpectedly (is it ever expected!!!) broke my ankle when I crashed into my son on a waterslide. Last week after another xray my specialist decided to insert a plate and screws into my fibular as the fracture had become displaced. I had all these plans of things I would like to do in October and November and I’m spending most of  my time in hospitals and doctors surgeries. I now find myself rising at 8.30 and taking an hour and a half to have breakfast, clean up and have a shower. I’m eating more than I should and starting to feel a bit blarrrrrr.

Feeling sorry for myself

At the time it happened I commented that I would rather have two broken legs and two broken arms than go through a period of depression again. Whilst that is still true, the full impact of my injury and the limitations it places on me are just starting to really hit home. I can’t drive, so I am restricted to my house and going a bit stir crazy. I can’t put any weight on my broken leg so things like cooking, washing up, cleaning, and working become a real challenge. I’m focussing at everything I can’t do.

Then I saw a movie

On Friday night I watched “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly”. For those who haven’t seen it, it is the true story of the French editor of Elle magazine, who suddenly was struck down by an illness known as “locked in syndrome”.  Whilst his mind was still functioning normally, he lost movement in every muscle except his eyelid. What extraordinary frustration that man suffered as most people saw him as “vegetable” when his mind was still alert.

One blink at a time

Though a very patient speech therapist, he learnt a system whereby he would blink when she said the right letter. They had to go through this agonising process to identify the right letter, which became a word, which became a sentence, which became a paragraph, which became a chapter, which became a book. I thought I had problems writing my two books!!!!!!!!

When I was depressed…

I would have thought “interesting movie but at least he is not depressed”. Thankfully now, I’m not depressed but I’m aware that I have to take action so that I don’t slip back there again. Seeing the movie has helped me realise how “able” I am compared to the “Diving Bell”. Whilst it is difficult, today I am going to recalibrate my weekly goals and realise that I am going to need the assistance from others to get through this period.

My goals for next week

1. Rise by 6.00am, meditate and do 20 minutes of stretching
2. Eat 10% less than I have been eating
3. Reach out to family and friends via phone and email
4. Finalise a telephone seminar course designed to help carers provide the best support to those living with depression.

I’ll let you know how I go.

Kind Regards

Graeme 

Tags: back from the brink, back from the brink too, depression, graeme cowan, stigma

Since the launch of BACK FROM THE BRINK TOO, I have been surprised by the number of parents who have contacted me who are struggling in knowing how to best help a young person with depression. I cover this in some depth in BFTBToo but I wanted to provide a few suggestions here which might be of some assistance.

It is a difficult area, as quite often, there are many social and hormonal things happening in a young person’s life that sometimes it can be diffiulct to separate normal “teenage blues” from a genuine threat to their mental health. The thing that separates clinical depression is a sustained low mood (often combined with changes in sleep patterns and eating habits) everyday for 2 weeks. If this threshold is crossed:

• Always take it seriously
• Encourage your child to seek help by providing a list of relevant contacts (see http://www.iambackfromthebrink.com/resources.html)
• If your teenager won’t ask for help and you are really worried, go to the GP yourself and ask advice.
• Show love and concern. They need to know they have this when they are going through tough times.
• Take time to listen when your teenager wants to talk about their feelings.
• Encourage them to do things they enjoy.
• Take threats of self harm extremely seriously and call the Suicide Callback Service  1300 659 467 or Lifeline immediately for advice 13 11 14
• Make sure you do not keep a gun in your home or shed (especially relevant for farmers)

Where to get help?

The following may be of assistance

• Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (or equivalent)
• your doctor
• parentline (see resources section for local phone number)
• community health centres
• psychologists
• school and/or youth counsellors

Some parents can sometimes be wary of bringing their concerns out into the open for fear of what others will think. It is important you don’t let this get in the way of finding the best support available for your child.

In BFTBToo I also share a headhunting (my previous profession) approach to finding the best person for your child.

Valuable resources

Reachout.com.au factsheets

http://www.cyh.com/HealthTopics/HealthTopicDetails.aspx?p=243&np=293&id=2157

As I found with my first book BACK FROM THE BRINK, first hand accounts of people overcoming depression are very powerful - it lets young people know others in there situation have overcome adversity. Reachout.com.au have a great list of these stories from young people. See:

http://www.reachout.com.au/index.asp?mci=11&mwi=1 

Other help sites  for parents trying to assist their children include:

http://www.headspace.org.au/parents-carers/

http://www.cyh.com/HealthTopics/HealthTopicDetails.aspx?p=243&np=293&id=2157

If anyone is aware of any other good resources for parents trying to help a young person with depression please let me know.

Kind Regards

Graeme

Tags: adolescent depression, effective treatments for depression, youth depression

Last week I went away with my son and his cousin on a holiday to Forster. We had a great time until we went to a fun park!!! I followed Adam down a water slide. We had a good distance between us but unbeknown to me his mat got caught on the tube.  I crashed into him at great speed and for the first time in my life I broke a bone - a fibula.  Luckily he escaped injury.

This week I was asked to speak at a forum for the Sydney Leadership Centre for Mental Health Week. I raised my leg on the table and said it highlighted the anomaly that existed in Mental Health Week. With a cast on my leg everyone wanted to help me by opening doors, carrying bags, holding lifts, holding food, asking how it happened etc. I couldn’t help comparing this experience with my time when I suffered with depression when many people are too embarrassed or don’t know how to offer help.  Even so called close and lifelong friends would evaporate because they did not know what to say or do.

Why is that we feel reluctant to offer the same level of assistance to those living with a mental illness. To be honest I would rather have two broken legs and two broken arms than have to go through an episode of depression again. I know that depression is much more disabling than a broken bone but in 2008 this is not generally known or acknowledged.

My wish is that when people encounter someone who isn’t coping that they show as much compassion to them as they would if they came across someone in a plaster caste. It’s time we recognized an inequity for what it is. It’s time to start breaking down the stigma walls.

Kind Regards

Graeme

Tags: back from the brink, back from the brink too, depression, graeme cowan, mental health week, stigma

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

There is a common myth that you shouldn’t discuss suicide with someone who is depressed. The rational is that you will put ideas into their head. I can speak with some authority on this subject as I have felt seriously suicidal for periods up to three years. I have also made four serious attempts on my life. During those periods, I was 100% certain that I would never feel normal again. I knew that I had overcome depression before but after four years of unrelenting hell no logic could convince me that I could do the same again.

My parents say in the foreword to BACK FROM THE BRINK TOO (launched September 9) that not asking me if I wanted to take my life was one of their greatest regrets. Thankfully, for all our sakes, I was unsuccessful. Many other distressed people have contacted me, who have lost a loved one to suicide. Their despair and guilt is palpable. They are continually asking themselves “What if I had done this?” “What if I had done that?” To those people I say that some people are determined to die no matter what you say to them.

Looking forward however, my advice to people supporting someone with depression, definitely would be to raise it, if you suspect the person is in crisis. There is not enough room here to go into all the warning signs here but it is something I cover comprehensively in a chapter titled “Surviving a Crisis” in the new book.

There is still so much stigma around the word suicide that I think this is one of the major reasons people find it difficult to raise.

Perhaps a less confronting way to ask the same thing is: “Are you thinking of harming yourself?” If the answer is in the affirmative, I would suggest asking them “If you had to rate your mood, where 1 is actively suicidal and 10 is 100% normal, where would you score yourself?”

If they rate themselves below 4, you need to quietly but firmly suggest that you take them to see a mental health professional.

If you have depression and are thinking of ending your life, my emphatic message would be that people do feel that there is absolutely no hope for them and go on to fully recover. You only have to read the stories of Kathy McMahon, Brian Egan, Sonia Attard, and even myself from my first book to see that. Details can be found at:

www.OvercomingYourDepression.com

If you are caring for someone who you think could be contemplating ending their life, I would strongly encourage you to raise it with them by asking the two questions above. I would also say to you that just because someone is feeling strongly suicidal, it doesn’t mean that they can’t make a 100% recovery. See:

www.OvercomingYourDepression.com

Suicide Call-back Service

In the process of researching BACK FROM THE BRINK TOO I came across this fabulous service called the “Suicide Call-back Service” which very few people are aware of. It is a free federally funded service for people contemplating suicide, their carers, and those bereaved by suicide. It is manned by trained counsellors and you can have up to five fifty minute phone consultations with the same person at a mutually agreed time.

This service operates 7 days a week from 10.00am til 8.30pm. The number is:

1300 659 467

If you know anyone that falls into the above 3 categories, please share this information with them.

Please don’t be afraid of raising the subject of suicide with someone who is depressed. If you know the depth of their crisis you can take some appropriate action.

Kind Regards

Graeme

Tags: crisis, depression, depression caregiver, depression carer, suicide

Thought Leaders Showcase

Last Thursday, I was one of 8 participants in a Thought Leaders Winter Showcase. This is an event put on for Speakers Bureaus and Convention Organisers. My presentation was on Brinkmanship: the art of turning adversity into opportunity. It was quite ironic that it was on July 24 - exactly 4 years after my last suicide attempt. If you had told me back then that I would be speaking so publicly about my depression I wouldn’t have believed you.

Brinkmanship

I have come to realise that we often see problems and adversity with our mind and opportunities with our hearts. How then do we begin to engage our hearts. When we are in the depths of depression this is very hard but I will try to describe my path out. I believe there are 5 principles of brinkmanship.

Step Back

After leaving hospital following a 9 week stay in November 2005 I attended an outpatient depression management course. In this course they encouraged us not to try to solve our whole life’s problems today, but to live in weekly compartments. We set goals, initially around exercise and contact with family and friends. When you are depressed, this is not something you feel like doing, but I decided to give it a go. Over a 4 month period my mood started to improve.

Experience the NOW

This is easy to understand intellectually, but so hard to live. A friend of mine had done a meditation course with the Brahma Kumaris and encouraged me to do the same. I did the course and immediately started seeing benefits. It was interesting, because when I was really depressed, I had tried meditating but without much success. I believe the exercise I had done before hand really helped to prepare me. I now start each day with 20 minutes of meditation and a 45 minute bush walk and this gets me off to a great start.

Reach Out

As my mood improved, I became involved with a 12 step support group called GROW. As I reached out to others, I found it also helped me. I began to reacquaint myself with old friends.

Value Yourself and Others

This is about caring for others and yourself. I started doing voluntary work which got me out of the house and really helped. When I began working on BFTB, this project became bigger than myself and served as motivation when I wasn’t feeling great.

Energise

Once your new mission evolves, the energy comes naturally - you seem to be in the flow.

I don’t want to trivialise depression, but the more I see it in perspective, the more I am convinced that there are many self help things that can be done to aid your own recovery.

SERVE

You’ll notice that the five principles form the acronym SERVE. I know that when I am depressed I become very self absorbed and that thinking about how my experience of adversity can help others is an important change in mindset that can often allow us to move forward.

This is a brief summary of my talk which I hope to be presenting on a much wider scale - particularly in the corporate sector.

Kind Regards

Graeme

Tags: depression, depression treatments, overcoming depression

Friends of mine have a child who experienced some very frightening psychotic episodes with their depression. They were very motivated and financially able to access the best support, but still found it incredibly difficult to find a competent doctor to advise them on the best course of action.

One in 12 children suffer from depression each year

In an article I have just linked to the News section of www.IamBackFromTheBrink.com it shows that 1 in 12 children between the ages of 12-17 in the US had a major episode of depression in the last year. So what are parents to do when faced with this very difficult issue?

In my new book, “Back from the Brink Too” (in bookshops in September) I give some insights based on my years working as a headhunter. In essence, a head hunter has the task of finding someone with a very definite set of skills and personal qualitites. My suggestions for finding the right mental health professional are:

Compile a list of people that can help you

Think of people or organisations that may know the right person, or may know a respected opinion leader who themselves may know the right person. This would include your GP, a clinical person at your local Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service, your child’s school counsellor, Parentline, the beyondblue helpline, and so on.

Prepare your script

This is a succinct way of describing the the type of person you are seeking. You want a brief one or two minute description of the situation and symptoms and the type of specialist you are seeking.

Make the calls

By going through this process you will hopefully start to get a few names. Remember to listen and probe.

“What makes Dr Smith so good?”

“If he is too busy, is there anyone else you would recommend?”

I’m not saying this will be easy, but as a loved one, the greatest service you can provide is getting them to a skilled specialist who can make an accurate diagnosis and prepare a treatment plan.

If you have any other tips on finding the right specialist help for an adolescent, I would love to hear them.

KInd Regards

Graeme

Tags: adolescent depression, adolescent psychiatrist, depression