Barwon Health Mental Health and Drugs & Alcohol
Services Family and Friends Newsletter
July & August 2015
Carers Family and Friends Support Groups
Wednesday 1st July- Family Drug Support – in the Green Room at the
Swanston Centre Annex from 7.00 – 9.00
For support 24/7 call the FDS support line on 1300 368 186
Thursday 2nd July – Mental Health Carer support and education in the activities
room at Barwon Health Community Health Services 104 – 108 Bellarine Hwy
Newcomb from 1.00 – 3.00
Thursday 9th July – Creative Carers – ring Jennifer or Serena for details – some
‘creative carer’ sessions require advance booking so that adequate materials
can be supplied.
Wednesday 15th July – Family Drug Support – in the Green Room at the
Swanston Centre Annex from 7.00 – 9.00
Wednesday 29th July – Family Drug Support – in the Green Room at the
Swanston Centre Annex from 7.00 – 9.00
Thursday 6th August – Mental Health Carer Support and education in the
activities room at Barwon Health Community Health Services 104 – 108
Bellarine Hwy Newcomb from with Jennifer - 2.00 – 4.00 NOTE NEW TIME
Wednesday 12th August – Family Drug Support – in the Green Room at the
Swanston Centre Annex from 7.00 – 9.00
Thursday 13th August – Creative Carers – ring Jennifer or Serena for details –
some creative carer sessions require advance booking so that adequate
materials can be supplied.
Wednesday 26th August – Family Drug Support – in the Green Room at the
Swanston Centre Annex from 7.00 – 9.00
Thursday 27th August – Mutual Support and self-help for Mental Health carers,
family and friends from 2.00 – 4.00 in the activities room at Barwon Health
Community Health Services 104 – 108 Bellarine Hwy Newcomb This is the
second of a trial which will run initially every 2 months or as need is perceived.
Share your grievances, concerns or successes with a cuppa in a safe,
confidential and supportive environment
Support group
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
See also: Peer support
In a support group, members provide each other with various types of help,
usually nonprofessional and nonmaterial, for a particular shared, usually
burdensome, characteristic. Members with the same issues can come together
for sharing coping strategies, to feel more empowered and for a sense of
community. The help may take the form of providing and evaluating relevant
information, relating personal experiences, listening to and accepting others'
experiences, providing sympathetic understanding and establishing social
networks. A support group may also work to inform the public or engage in
advocacy.
Why join a support group?
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To meet others in a similar position
To have a break
To get information
For support
Sharing ideas, feelings, worries, information and problems can help you feel
less isolated. Sometimes family and friends don’t understand the condition of
the person you care for. People in the support group will understand. They will
tell you that sometimes it is ok not to be ok. The constant demands of caring
and the many changes in family life may bring about a range of feelings and
emotions. Some people may feel a sense of satisfaction about being a carer.
Others may feel angry and overwhelmed at times. These emotions can be
difficult to cope with.
Carers may experience a range of different feelings, which surface from time
to time. There are no right or wrong feelings. These feelings are a natural and
normal reaction to caring.
All carers respond to the demands of caring in their own way. Feelings are
always individual and everyone will react differently. Regard your feelings as
signposts. They will tell you when things are not going well and need your
attention.
Some of the feelings carers often say they experience - overwhelmed,
confused, shocked, guilty, frustrated, angry, afraid, sad, stressed, lonely,
depressed, resentful, embarrassed, isolated, tired and feel a sense of loss of
expectations.
At other times, love for and commitment to the person being cared for override
the negative thoughts and feelings.
Being a carer:
“The tree changes as it grows. It is torn by wind and lightning, scarred by frost
and snow. Branches die and new ones emerge. The drama of existence has its
way with the tree but still it grows; its roots reach down into the darkness; still
its branches reach down into the sap and reach upward and outward into the
world.” Michael Leunig
Michael Leunig’s words suggest that even in times of suffering there is
potential for hope and new life. Often this can seem impossible when you are
caring for someone. However, if you are able to find support and some space
to be yourself, then you may well be able to manage the situation more easily.
It is hard, sometimes, to be positive. As a carer you may often feel tired,
depleted, exhausted, and perhaps self-critical. You may feel crushed, as if your
‘sap of life’ is being diminished. You are undertaking a workload that is
immense (so be kind to yourself).
Come sit down beside me
I said to myself,
And although it doesn’t make sense
I held my own hand
As a small sign of trust
And together I sat on the Fence
Michael Leunig
An Unrecognised Grief Annie Cantwell-Bartl A Carers Victoria booklet 2001
Help develop guidelines for carers of people with depression
Those with experience in dealing with major depressive disorder, that is
carers, consumers and clinicians, are invited to consider becoming expert
panel members to help develop a useful, publicly accessible information resource
(guidelines) for carers of people (18 years or over) with major depressive disorder. Major
depressive disorder is a challenging but treatable condition. Understandably, carers
sometimes feel distressed and worried when their loved one is depressed. Many carers seek
information to help them deal with their concerns, and find out about options for providing
support in their situation. We would greatly appreciate your help with what we believe to be
an extremely important and worthwhile project to help develop this information resource for
carers.
What will panel members do?
Expert panel members will be asked to rate statements on online (or postal if preferred)
surveys about what they consider might be helpful to include in the guidelines and can add
comments and suggestions. This project has ethics approval and participation is voluntary,
confidential and private. Panel members who complete all survey rounds (maximum 3) will
be offered an Amazon Voucher for AUD $30. Participating organisations and panel members
will receive a copy of the guidelines, and summaries of results and related journal
publications.
For more information or to register your interest in participating
Please contact Lesley Berk via email on icarestudy@deakin.edu.au or phone 0402 518 843.
This research is being conducted in the School of Psychology at Deakin University by Dr
Lesley Berk and the icarestudy team.
What does a healthy brain do?
The brain has two hemispheres – the left (dominant) and the right (nondominant). Separately and together, each hemisphere allows us to constantly
carry out the activities required to function in life and that makes each of us
unique.
The brain is further divided into sections or lobes, each of which has specific
functions (see diagram below). While particular lobes may make a specialised
contribution, they do not work in isolation. Instead networks of brain regions
work together to execute the behaviours and functions we perform every day.
To function as complete human beings there is a constant interchange
between both sides and lobes of the brain.
What a clever machine!
A Carer’s voice:
On a cold wintery day read this and remember :
Yeast
Yeast has many wonderful memories from my childhood where the whole
house takes on the aroma of bread and buns baking.
Easter (school) holidays was a time when we would have a test run of making
buns in readiness for Easter.
Of course the true Easter bun had to have fruit with the white cross on the top
and a glaze over the bun to make it extra special.
I love the smell of the wood stove making the house all warm and cosy.
Mum would say if only the oven door had a window in it, we could watch them
rise. Little did she know that one day ovens would have windows in them.
We did make them in the gas oven once but nothing beats our old wood stove
for perfect Easter buns made with fresh yeast.
Today you can get Easter buns with no fruit in them but it just is not the same
for me.
I am a true hot cross bun kid from way back and the aroma of mum’s kitchen is
a treasured memory.
By Ellen Bailey
Anxiety workshop: Some of us were privileged to hear Johnnie McKay from
Carers Victoria give his presentation on anxiety & the caring role. At this
session he talked about deep diaphragmatic and belly breathing and reminded
us that these breathing techniques are free, accessible, induce calm, increase
oxygenation to the brain, reduce stress and improve blood flow. Place your
hands on your belly and breathe deeply as though inflating a ball – pushing
your stomach out not up. Practice next time you are waiting at traffic lights.
Breathe like a baby and feel the benefits.
Counselling:
It can be tough being a carer. It can be difficult dealing with a range of
emotions, thoughts and experiences that carers encounter. Talking it over can
help.
Free, confidential counselling specially designed for carers is offered by
Carers Victoria – short term – up to six sessions at a time.
You may be feeling stressed, guilty, confused or overwhelmed by your caring
role. Dealing with these emotions is not always easy.
Talking with a professional counsellor can help to make a difference to your
caring role and your life. Counsellors won’t judge you, but they will listen and
encourage you to talk about your worries.
Counselling can help you with:
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Coping skills
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Loss and grief
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Managing stress
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Emotional Support
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Health and wellbeing
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Practical problem solving
For more information contact the Carer Advisory Line on 1800 242 636
Thursday 3rd September – Relax and Unwind – a session presented
by Carers Victoria – in the activities room at Barwon Health
Community Health Services at Newcomb – from 2.00 – 4.00
Have you forgotten how to relax? Do you want to try some simple
enjoyable techniques to unwind and recharge that are easy to fir
into a busy life?
All mental health carers, family and friends are welcome
Future Education Sessions
Please let me know if there are any topics you would like covered/discussed in our
regular education sessions.
Please note that I have changed the time to 2.00 – 4.00 on the first Thursday of each
month so that I may attend “Creating Safety’ meetings each Thursday at the
Swanston Centre.
I will take several weeks Long Service Leave from 20th July to 17th August travelling to Perth, Broome and Darwin in search of blue skies, sunshine &
relaxation.
For carer support & information about mental health
services
Ring Pamela – 421 52418 or mob 0437 663 845
Jennifer – 421 52419 or mob 0490 346 694
Note land line numbers – recently all Barwon Health telephone numbers changed and
the prefix to the land lines is 421
We both work part time so leave a message & we will call you as soon as possible
For respite services
Ring the intake worker – FREECALL 1800 052 222
National Family Drug Support
Available 7 days a week 24 hours a day – phone 1300 368 186
Lifeline 131114
This is a 24-hour telephone crisis service available every day of the year to
anyone, anytime and from anywhere in Australia for just the cost of a local call
Beyond Blue
Talk it through day or night
1300 224 636
SANE Helpline
Information and advice 9 – 5 weekdays
Suicide Helpline 1300 651 251