An article posted on March 11th by The Kings County Advertiser:
Kings County Chapter of the Schizophrenia Society of Nova Scotia board members Pat MacLean (left) and Margaret Burton are raising awareness of an information program and a self-help group in our community dedicated to offering support to the family members and friends of people living with mental illnesses. Photograph by Kirk Starratt.
By Kirk Starratt
Sometimes dealing with a mental illness can make you feel isolated or leave you wondering where to turn for support.
Recognizing a need to share information, provide support and help debunk the myths and stigma associated with mental illness, the Kings County Chapter of the Schizophrenia Society of Nova Scotia is offering a 10-session information program and a self-help group to reach out to affected members of the community.
“We’re concerned about the fact that families often are the key caregivers to someone with a serious mental illness,” board member Pat MacLean said. “It’s not always easy to get the information they need.”
Because of this, the society has launched the information program, called “Strengthening Families Together”. It’s free to attend and is geared toward family members and friends of people experiencing serious mental illnesses. The sessions are being held at the offices of the Kings County Branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) in Kentville. The first will be held Tuesday evening, March 24 at 7 p.m. and each runs for two hours.
The sessions will provide information about mental illnesses, skill-building and support. Participants will learn about early intervention and recovery, treatments and supports, coping with challenges of daily living, navigating the mental health system and the importance of taking care of one’s self.
‘Not talking about a few people here’
MacLean said it’s important to reach the general public with information on what is available in terms of supports and services.
“We’re not talking about a few people here,” she said. “A lot of people have serious mental illnesses.”
There are about 600 people in Kings County living with schizophrenia, about 600 living with bipolar condition and about 1,000 living with depression. However, because of the stigma, people often remain quiet and don’t seek help.
Board member Margaret Burton said that one in five people will experience mental illness at some point in life and the numbers are much higher when you consider how many people will be affected indirectly. She said that, as a society, they see three components to their work: advocacy, education and support.
She said her family took the “Strengthening Families Together” program and recognized a need for ongoing support for family members and friends of those living with mental illness.
This past fall, a group of family members from within the society formed a self-help group. All the members are people who have been touched directly or indirectly by mental illness.
Burton said families need information about mental illness and about the services that may be available to them. They need help in coping over the long-term with the illness and its consequences, including acquiring skills for problem solving, conflict resolution and stress management.
Confidentiality a must
They need support to be able to cope with the challenges of caring for someone with a mental illness as well as to be able to address their own emotional needs.
As with other self-help groups, confidentiality is a must. Meetings take place once a month at the CMHA offices in Kentville.
If you or someone you know might be interested in the information sessions or the self-help group, call the Schizophrenia Society of Nova Scotia toll-free at 1-800-465-2601 for more information or visit www.blog.ssns.ca.
The society believes there is a greater need for understanding among members of the general public in order to overcome the myths and stigma associated with mental illness. They extend thanks to the Kings CMHA for providing their facilities for the information program and the self-help group.
Schizophrenia is a complex brain illness that affects one per cent of the general population and can be particularly devastating to young people. The Federal Kirby Report of May 2006, “Out of the Shadows at Last”, states that family members play an essential, sometimes lifesaving, role in caring for persons living with mental illnesses.
Almost 60 per cent of the families of people living with serious mental illnesses are estimated to serve in the capacity of primary caregiver, usually with little guidance, support, relief or respite.
