Connections pamphlet - West Coast District Health Board

Who is it for
Who is it fo r:
What’s the programme
Week 1
Introductions — Who is Here
Things to know…
if some one in your family has a mental illness
Young people who have a parent with
mental health problems such as
depression, schizophrenia, bi polar
disorder.
What is it for
Age range between 10-14/15
Meeting other people of a similar
age living in a similar situation in a
confidential and safe way. You are
not alone.
Learning about mental illness and
some strategies for coping with it
when some one you live with has it
Having fun
When and where
Greymouth CAMHS, Cnr Cowper
St & Morice St Greymouth
August 6th
Week 2
August
13th
Week 3
August
20th
Purpose for the Meeting
What does support mean for you
What is Mental Illness anyway
What questions do you have for the next few
weeks
How can I cope with this : Tips to help you get by
Identifying feelings and what to do about them
Stress Management
Personal Strengths
Forging a resilient path
Communication
Setting Goals
Managing changes
Solving problems
It’s not your fault — You can’t cause some one’s
mental illness. Mental Illness affects the way people
think, their feelings and emotions and the way they
deal with other people. There are things you can do to
make it a little easier to live with.
Take care of yourself – do things you like doing—
sports, hobbies, crafts. Living with someone who has a
mental illness can be very stressful. Make sure you
take the time to do things you enjoy doing.
Your feelings are OK—It is Okay to feel sad, angry,
alone, confused, scared. Other people feel that way
too. Talk to someone you trust— It’s is Ok to talk about
how you feel with someone you trust—family member,
teacher, school counsellor, mental health worker, child
& adult resource worker.
It can get better.— often with medication and with
support from mental health services, people with a
mental illness can get better and live a normal life.
(Big, grey square building near
the hospital bridge)
How much does it cost
Nothing but your time for a few weeks.
Week 4
August
27th
What else do I need to know
Resources, systems information—who is that
anyway and who else can help me.
Finale—what else do I need, who can I stay in
contact with.
It’s no joke. It isn’t something people ask to have or
like to have. People with mental illness are not
psycho, schizo, lunies, crazies or nutters. It is
important to find out as much as you can about
mental illness through your library, mental health
service or the internet. If you have questions, ask the
mental health professionals.