Depression and Hope.

Many Australians will suffer a mental health episode in their lifetime and Depression is one of the most common mental illnesses. Mental Health support organisation Beyond Blue informs us that one in eight Australian men are likely to experience depression at some stage and one in five will experience anxiety.

Depression has been used to describe everything from a temporary feeling of being depressed to a chronic mental illness which can be a major disorder for a sufferer's life. As people become more aware of depression and its many varied symptoms, they are far more likely to put their hand up and ask for support or treatment. This maybe because they are increasing their understanding about it as a genuine medical issue that can improve with the right support, treatment and actions to reduce the severity and length of their depressive episodes.

Dr Grant Blashki from Beyond Blue informs that, “Everyone feels sad from time to time but depression is typically characterised by feeling unable to find pleasure in things you once did and you might also feel irritable, hostile, unable to sleep and feel generally down about yourself for a longer period of time.”

Identifying Depression.

Many people with depression don’t easily identify symptoms until they have been suffering for some time. There can be times of frustration and outbursts and time of feeling down and being isolated. When it comes to depression it is common to identify feelings of sadness and helplessness, but it is important to note that whilst depressive disorders are distinguished by the duration, severity and persistence of a broad range of symptoms it is quite often the physical changes such as headaches, muscle pains, sleeping issues and tiredness that men can notice before identifying the emotional.

Depression and Hope Information and Education Course.

This Information and Education Course on Depression and Hope is a six-week course designed for people who have previously or who currently are suffering from depression, family members of sufferers or any person who would like to learn more about how they can support suffers of depression. The Course has been developed to provide information and education on activities that can be undertaken to reduce the duration and severity of depression and give an understanding of how we can manage ongoing depression with hope or recover to live a life of hope after depression.

The Depression and Hope Course is conducted over six two-hour sessions and is facilitated by persons who have an understanding and experience in dealing with depression and professionals with insight and expertise in their area of speciality.

The Course covers the six topic areas of,

Session 1: Intro, tips, tools & techniques - lived experience. Presented by Retired NSW Police Force Superintendent Local Area Commander - Garry O’Dell & Psychiatrist Dr Caroline de Vries

Session 2: Understanding Depression. Presented by Mental Health Occupational Therapist Luke Fullwood, Garry O’Dell & Psychiatrist Dr Caroline de Vries

Session 3: Exercise & Diet: the impact on your body & brain. Presented by Exercise Physiologist Jacinta Durney

Session 4: The scope of different therapies & what they each can teach you about managing your mental health. Presented by Art Therapist Karen O’Dell & Dance Movement Therapist Jen Murrell

Session 5: Communication & maintaining relationships. Presented by Retired NSW Police Force Superintendent Local Area Commander Garry O’Dell

Session 6: Managing ongoing depression & living with hope. Presented by Garry O’Dell & Psychiatrist Dr Caroline de Vries.