Waitemata Team Update

UPDATES AND EVENTS

February 2012:

SFMI Support Group West Auckland
Venue: Waitakere Community Resource Centre,
8 Ratanui Rd, Henderson
Time: 10 am – 12noon, every 1st and 3rd Thursday
1 hour family meetings available 12.30pm – 3pm, by appointment only.
Contact: 09 4142423

02 February No Support Group this week
16 February Goal- setting A/P
01 March No Support Group this week
15 March Nutritional strategies for depression – guest speaker: Sandra Perry – Nutritionist – 360 Nutrition
05, 19 April Relaxation
03 May Loneliness/where to learn new skills and meet new people – guest speaker: Jacqueline – Walsh Trust
17 May Loneliness/where to learn new skills and meet new people – guest speaker: Cooper – Te Ata Services
07, 21 June Boundaries
05, 19 July Problem-solving
03, 16 August Stress
06, 20 Sept Personal Care
04, 18 October Hallucinations Delusions Psychosis - guest speaker (to be confirmed)
01 November Mental Health Act guest speaker: Nicola - Disability Law/Auckland District Law
15 November Self-esteem
06, December Goal setting
20 December Celebrating Achievements

North Shore SFMI Support Group
Venue: Lion Foundation House, Level 2, 3 William Laurie Place, Albany
Time: 7pm – 9pm every 2nd Thursday of the month.
Contact: 09 4142423 North Shore Office or 3789134 Grey Lynn office

09 February Goal-setting
08 March Nutritional Strategies for Depression – guest speaker: Sandra Perry – Nutritionist – 360 Nutrition
12 April Relaxation
10 May Loneliness
14 June Depression
12 July Self-Awareness
09 August Stress
13 Sept Personal care
11 October Hallucinations Delusions Psychosis – guest speaker (to be confirmed)
08 Nov PPPR ACT – guest speaker: Nicola - Disability Law/Auckland District Law office
13 December Celebrating Achievement

August 2011:

We held LEAP workshops on 7 June and 5 July with approx 8 families attending each session. As well as sharing the history of the LEAP, families generated a lot of discussion, and joined in roleplaying different ways of communicating with loved ones and health professionals. Some feedback included:

“You guys broke it down well for me with your analogies and role play. Can’t wait to read the book”

“Great ideas to deal with stressful situations”

“Roles Plays revealing and probably the most useful part of the day”

“You hear other similar stories, find common ground. Great discussion with other people in similar situations”

“Very real, very personable and approachable people, thank you”

“This training allowed me to see the realities of mental illness for all types of people and how they cope with their personal/mental illness family”

“Clear concise and not too much information and overcrowding”

“I learnt how to react to different situations”

“Well prepared, clear, encouraging”

The WDHB Family Participation Forum was held on 14 June 2011. First Aid in Suicide: Supporting families and loved ones in suicide. Keynote speakers included representatives from Solace - which offers peer support groups for families who have lost loved ones to suicide, and Youthline which offers a 24 hour telephone and other services for youth. The final speaker shared her recovery story. This month, as well as working directly with families and their loved ones, we have had the opportunity to share information with health and other professional organisations including: WDHB acute units, WDHB care coordinators, Salvation Army, Victim Support, GP’s.

Support Groups:

• West Auckland at the Waitakere Community Resources Centre.

• North Shore at the Glenfield Community Centre

Please contact Annais or Peter on 09 4409812 and let us know if you are able to attend a support group, and any topics you are keen to know more about. For example; disability law, accommodation issues, communicating with loved ones, health and other professionals, just let us know your ideas.