Helping others with self help

A TRIAL of a mental health self-help program in Wollongong could lead to a national self-help resource for people suffering from a range of illnesses, a University of Wollongong doctor has said.

Starting in May, the University of Wollongong’s Institute for Mental Health will be running a free self-development program for people with mental illness.

Dr Lindsay Oades from the university is leading the project, which will see trial groups for people suffering from a mental illness (also called mental health ‘consumers’) formed in Sydney, Wollongong and Nowra.

He said the program, called ‘Flourish’, focuses on people’s strengths rather than the areas where they struggle and aims to improve their quality of life – something which can be ignored when patients are treated.

“There are a lot of people who would have had some medical treatment- so they might be on medication for the symptoms of schizophrenia or bipolar and that may be helping a great deal to alleviate their symptoms, but it doesn’t really help them to improve their overall wellbeing,” he said.

The ‘Flourish’ program includes a self-help handbook, MP3 recordings to illustrate some of the principles in the handbook and fortnightly peer support meetings.

The idea is to eventually make the resource available on the internet to help the mentally ill, especially those in rural areas.

Nowra resident and Consumer Advocate for Shoalhaven and Illawarra for the Southern Network Mental Health Service John Strang will be facilitating the Wollongong group.

Mr Strang developed schizophrenia just over 20 years ago, and had to be admitted to hospital three times in the first years of his illness.

He said having group meetings with people who have similar problems can be very rewarding.

“Peer support is extremely powerful – it’s nice to talk to someone who’s been on similar journey – but I would like to emphasise that everyone’s journey is different,” he said.

To become involved contact Retta on 4221 5605 or email retta@uow.edu.au before April 1. Places are limited.