Aware, Ireland’s national charity supporting people affected by depression, bipolar disorder and mood-related conditions, is to host a new positive mental health programme, free of charge, in Co Clare starting next month.
Aware’s Life Skills Programme, which is open to anyone wishing to learn new ways of dealing with life’s ups and downs, gets underway at the Old Ground Hotel, Ennis, on Thursday September 12 at 7.30pm.
The programme takes place over a period of six weeks and is open to people aged 18 years and over. You can secure your place with a booking deposit of €30 (€10 for students, and those who are unemployed or over 65 years or who hold a medical card) – refundable at the end of the programme – by visiting www.aware.ie/education
It is estimated that there are more than 450,000 people in Ireland who experience depression at any one time, while there are approximately 45,000 people diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Depression and bipolar disorder are mental health conditions that affect our thinking, energy, feelings and behaviour. While they can vary from mild to severe, and impact on our relationships, family and work lives, it is possible to find ways to manage the conditions, and to lead healthy and productive lives.
Skills for Life
According to Bríd O’Meara, Aware’s Director of Services, the new programme is designed to help people better cope with the challenges in their lives:
“The Life Skills Programme is designed to give people insights into how we think and how this can influence our actions in both helpful and unhelpful ways. Based on the principles of cognitive behavioural therapy, each session is guided by our trained facilitator to help people better manage the stresses of everyday life, learning to spot unhelpful thoughts and discovering new and healthier ways of thinking. It is important to emphasise that confidentiality is the bedrock of the programme and nobody is asked to share personal information or experiences. The results speak for themselves with evaluations showing participants experiencing reduced levels of anxiety and improved mood on completion of the programme.”
If you are worried about depression or bipolar disorder, you can call the Aware Support Line on Freephone 1800 80 48 48 or email supportmail@aware.ie