Public meeting on mental health - spreading awareness and offering help

Dec 04, 2014

A small but attentive group attended a seminar called “Depression Hurts”, which was held at Trinity United Church in Verona on November 26. The public meeting was aimed at highlighting the common symptoms of depression and anxiety and stressing the fact that help is available through a number of service providers in the area.

Dr. Joe Burley headed up the meeting, which included the participation of professional health care providers from the Sydenham and Verona medical clinics, Frontenac Community Mental Health and Addiction Services, L&A Addictions and Community Health Services, Southern Frontenac Community Services and Providence Care Mental Health Services.

Dr. Burley began by describing the symptoms of depression and anxiety. These symptoms can commonly overlap and can include a depressed or “slowed down” mood, appetite change and/or sudden weight gain or loss, feelings of worthlessness or tiredness, inappropriate or excessive guilt, thoughts of suicide, and difficulty sleeping or concentrating.

He stated the best way to address all mental health issues is to begin first with a visit to one’s general health care provider, who can access and refer patients to other health care professionals who offer counseling and other kinds of support.

Members of the panel demonstrated through a dramatization how depression can affect a person and also members of their family and much of the meeting included personal information being offered up by those in the audience who have experienced personal mental health issues.

Dr. Burley pointed out that in many cases anxiety and /or depression can often be successfully treated or at least managed by different kind of counseling, which include talk or behavior therapy and/or therapeutic drugs, and sometimes a combination of both.

This seminar was the first of what may become a series of similar public information sessions and meetings, and it was heartening to see that people are actively looking for help and information and that there are many professionals in the community available to offer their help and services to those in need.

For those in the community who may be in crisis but are currently suffering in silence, Frontenac Community Mental Health and Addiction Services has a 24-hour Crisis Line that can be called 24 hours a day at 613-544-4229. As well, those who missed the meeting and think that they might need help should make an appointment with their local health care provider.