Education and Training
Workforce Development
Who can participate?
People working with anyone whose lives are affected by mental illness.
Cost
$55.00 (inc. GST) per person per topic.Venue
Mental Health Education and Resource CentreLevel 2 - Securities House
221 Gloucester Street
Latimer Square
Christchurch
Parking
- Metered around Latimer Square ($2.50 per hour - minimum 2 hours)
- Manchester Street Parking Building - (FREE parking for the first hour)
- Wilson's Car Park - opposite MHERC (Cost $6.00 per day) Closes at 6.30pm.
N.B. must be in before 9.25 to purchase a day ticket.
Please DO NOT park your car under the MHERC building - it will be towed away.
Education topics
Level One
Introduction to Borderline Personality Disorder - A Consumer's Perspective
Introduction to Bipolar Disorder - A Community Perspective
Introduction to Anxiety Disorders
Introduction to Depression
Introduction to Schizophrenia - A Community Perspective
Introduction to Food and Body Image Issues
Level 2 (intermediate) workshops are currently being developed and will be available later in 2008.
Introduction to Borderline Personality Disorder - a consumers perspective
ObjectiveTo provide a in-depth description of the complexities of Borderline Personality Disorder to enable participants to be able to support and communicate more effectively with someone living with this disorder through a greater understanding and awareness.
Session Outline
• How does living with Borderline Personality Disorder, Depression, Anxiety and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder affect my life?
• The use of labels and coping with discrimination and stigma.
• How I manage my medication regime.
• The importance of having a multi-disciplinary team working together.
• What is important when forming treatment / crisis plans?
• Hospital, emergency respite, respite care and living independently.
• What has and has not been helpful in my recovery.
• Why change is frightening and how to work through the fear.
• Understanding different thought processes.
• Self-harm and addictive behaviours and how I regained control in my life.
• How to manage challenging behaviours.
• Setting boundaries and expectations.
• The importance of building a good sense of self-esteem/self-worth.
• Forming healthier relationships.
• Parenting and family issues.
• What practical things that have helped me to live a healthy lifestyle.
• Why it is important not to give up on your clients.
• Why it is important to laugh and have a good sense of humour!
Learning Outcomes
Participants will…
• Gain a greater understanding of the complexities of living with Borderline Personality Disorder and co-occurring mental illnesses
• Have an increased knowledge of how to support and encourage some with Borderline Personality Disorder
• Become more aware of how the Strengths Approach can assist recovery
Presenter’s Profile – Suzan Munro
Suzan created her own business ‘Changing Views’ out of a need to have quality, consumer education in the community. She has been providing education for 3 years to groups and organisations about what it is like to live with a mental illness while maintaining a satisfying and productive life that suits her needs and lifestyle.
Suzan shares her story about her personal experience in the mental health system spanning more than 20 years. She describes the many skills/tools she has learnt in her journey towards successful recovery. Suzan promotes a future-focused way of thinking in the hope that other people who live with a mental illness are given the same chances to live the life that they desire.
Suzan’s work history includes working for the Salvation Army in their thrift shop where her warmth, compassion and understanding has helped many clients.
Please email for a registration form and next available dates for this workshop.
Introduction to Bipolar Disorder - a community perspective
ObjectivesTo provide information about bipolar disorder to interested people, particularly those working in predominantly non-clinical community organisations who may deal with clients who have mental illness. It is hoped that by gaining a greater understanding of bipolar, people working with those who have the disorder will be able to offer a more empathetic and informed service to their clients (friends, family members or acquaintances).
Session Outline
• The medical view of Bipolar including its prevalence, genetic influences and treatment
• The effects of Bipolar from a family perspective
• Personal experience of living with Bipolar Disorder
• The impact of Bipolar Disorder in terms of energy levels, thinking patterns and behaviour
• A peer support view of the work undertaken at Bipolar Support Canterbury.
• Ways of living well and managing Bipolar Disorder
Learning Outcomes
Participants will…
• Have a knowledge of the causes, symptoms and treatment of Bipolar Disorder
• Gain insight about how bipolar disorder affects people with the disorder and their families
• Have a greater knowledge of how to support people who are affected by Bipolar
• Understand the importance of working together to create individualised recovery plans
This education session is co-presented by Janie Hand and Frances Caldwell
Presenter’s Profile - Janie Hand
Janie has been working at Bipolar Support Canterbury for the past four years as a peer support worker and educator. She previously worked for 8 years as a Community Support Worker at Comcare Charitable Trust. Janie’s peer support work is informed by her own personal experience of living with Bipolar from which she has learnt many life skills and strategies to enable her to live well. She has a Certificate in both Social Services and Psychiatric Services. Over the past 15 years Janie has developed her creative abilities in areas such as painting, gardening and stone carving. These creative outlets have assisted Janie with her ongoing wellness and recovery. Janie’s greatest pleasures are her 3 grandchildren, and her 3 cats.
Presenter’s Profile – Frances Caldwell
Frances is the family peer worker at Bipolar Support Canterbury. Her knowledge of bipolar is based particularly on the experience of having a family member with the disorder. She is also currently doing a Masters of Education and works as a research assistant and tutor at the University of Canterbury in the areas of education, disability and inclusion. Previous work has included educational theatre and workshop facilitation around issues of mental illness as well as the provision of career coaching and study support for people with a range of disabilities.
Please email for a registration form and next available dates for this workshop.
Introduction to Anxiety Disorders
Objectives• To provide a general introduction about the experiences and causes of anxiety. Particular focus will be given to agoraphobia, obsessive compulsive disorder, panic disorder and social phobia.
• To raise the awareness of course participants of the factors influencing paths to recovery from anxiety disorder, including an overview of anxiety management techniques.
Session Outline
• Introduction to the Anxiety Disorders
• Diagnosis criteria for Anxiety Disorders (DSMIV)
• Anxiety and the Anxiety Cycle – including risk factors and causes
• Social Phobia
• Panic Disorder and Agoraphobia
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• Treatment options
• Supporting a person with an Anxiety Disorder
Learning Outcomes
Participants will …
• Have knowledge of the seven groups of Anxiety Disorders and the key features of each disorder
• Be aware that the symptoms of panic attacks are very similar to other physical illnesses, and that a diagnosis in the first instance should be made by a health professional
• Have an increased knowledge of Panic Disorder, Agoraphobia, Social Phobia and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) in relation to some of the symptoms and behaviours of these disorders
• Be aware of treatment and support available in Christchurch for people with Anxiety Disorders
• Have an increased insight into supporting someone with an anxiety disorder
This education session is co-presented by Paula Rountree and Sue Ricketts
Presenter’s Profile - Paula Rountree
Paula presents her knowledge of Anxiety Disorders, particularly Agoraphobia and Panic Attacks from her own personal experience. She has a 12 year history with the Agoraphobic Support Group (Canterbury) as a key committee member. Over the years has been involved in facilitating workshops and education to a number of community groups and agencies, as well as providing peer support to others with Anxiety Disorders. She has also been employed as a Community Support Worker for a number of years with people with the dual diagnosis of intellectual and psychiatric disabilities. Paula has a Certificate in Community Psychiatric Care from the University of Otago. She currently works at MHERC where she has been employed for the last nine and a half years. In addition, she continues to build on her knowledge of Anxiety Disorders through attendance at workshops and conferences.
Presenter’s Profile - Sue Ricketts
Sue has qualifications in teaching and counseling, a background in office administration and personal experience of anxiety and depression. She was the co-ordinator for four years of the Joint Anxiety Disorders Group, comprising the Obsessive Compulsive Support Group and the Social Phobia Support Group before joining the Psychiatric Consumers Trust as administrator in 2007. She has a Diploma in Mental Health Support Work from Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology and continues to build her understanding of anxiety and anxiety disorders through her contact with the support groups and ongoing reading.
Please email for a registration form and next available dates for this workshop.
Introduction to Depression
ObjectivesThis session is for people who are experiencing depression, people who are personally supporting someone who is experiencing depression (friends, parents, family, whanau) and people within the community who would like to increase their personal understanding of how depression affects peoples lives, and to gain an awareness of the recovery process and maintenance techniques.
Session Outline
• Describing depression from a medical viewpoint
• The biochemical nature of the brain
• Vulnerability and contributing factors to experiencing depression
• Symptoms and warning signs
• How depression impacts on our lives and the lives of those around us
• Recovery and taking responsibility for ourselves
• Mental Health services
• Treatment and support options including: medications, ECT, complementary therapies, counselling therapies, light therapy.
• Supporting someone who is experiencing depression
Learning Outcomes
Participants will gain a greater understanding of…
• The different types of depression and mood disorders
• The bio-chemistry of depression and the effects of medication
• The symptoms of depression and contributing factors and how they impact on a person’s life
• How thinking, beliefs and values contribute to depression
• How lifestyle, nutrition, environment etc impacts on depression
• Treatment and support options and what is available in the community
• How to support someone with depression in a personal and professional capacity
• How the impact of stigma and discrimination impacts on recovery
Presenter’s Profile - Gill Cooper
Gill has been working in the mental health field for the past ten years. For the last seven years she has been employed by Depression Support Network as a support group facilitator and depression awareness educator.
Gill brings an interactive, fun, matter-of-fact presentation style to the educational workshops she leads, using a direct, honest and very practical approach. She can tailor-make a workshop to suit the needs of the audience and draws on her store of knowledge and experience. Gill has worked extensively in the area of training and up-skilling mental health and community workers.
Please email for a registration form and next available dates for this workshop.
Introduction to Schizophrenia - a community perspective
ObjectiveTo provide a general introduction about the experiences and causes of Schizophrenia; to increase the participants’ knowledge of the realities of living with this illness from a personal and a carer’s perspective and to learn how to support recovery from a strengths-based perspective.
Session Outline
Understanding Schizophrenia from both a family and a consumer’s perspective.
• Introduction to Schizophrenia
• Diagnostic criteria for Schizophrenia (DSMIV)
• The Facts & Myths
• Risk factors and causes
• Treatment Options
• We are all affected
• Supporting a person with Schizophrenia in the community
• Early Warning signs/Crisis Intervention
• Coping Strategies and Problem Solving.
Learning Outcomes
Participants will…
• Become aware of the myths surrounding Schizophrenia
• Be aware of the age of onset and the need for Early Interventions
• Increase their knowledge of schizophrenia in relation to some of the symptoms and behaviours of this disorder
• Be aware of treatments and supports available in the Canterbury community for people with Schizophrenia and their families
• Have an increased insight into supporting someone with Schizophrenia
• Be aware of working with the Strengths Model towards Recovery
Presenter’s Profile - Joyce Harris
Joyce currently works as a fieldworker for Supporting Families in Mental Illness - Schizophrenia Fellowship. She has worked for the Schizophrenia Fellowship since 1991 in many different roles.
After completing the Certificate in Community Psychiatric Care in 1993, Joyce began working for the fellowship at the Drop-In centre for those living with a major mental illness. In 1997, she became a fieldworker who provided support, advocacy and education to families around the issues of living and supporting someone with schizophrenia and/or related disorders.
For the last 15 years, Joyce has delivered education on Schizophrenia and/or the Family Perspective to Nursing Degree students at the Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology and at the Southern Institute of Technology - Mental Health Support Worker Courses. In addition, she regularly gives presentations on Schizophrenia at the Mental Health Education & Resource Centre.
Joyce has also completed a 3 year course in Clinical Supervision with the CDHB.
Please email for a registration form and next available dates for this workshop.
Introduction to Food and Body Image Issues
Objectives• To provide people working in mental health with information and skills to support them in their work with clients affected by eating disorders or other food and body image issues.
• To support and encourage individuals and agencies to promote healthy, peaceful relationships with food and positive attitudes towards body image in their workplaces and client work.
Session Outline
• Characteristics of Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia Nervosa and Binge Eating Disorder
• The social, cultural and individual factors that influence the development of difficulties with food and/or body image
• The diet/binge cycle and associated medical problems
• Internal dialogue experienced by someone affected by an eating disorder
• Understanding, working with and preventing eating issues
• Creating change and promoting supportive attitudes within workplaces
• Working with clients towards recovery: case studies
Learning Outcomes
Participants will …
• Have a knowledge of eating disorder characteristics and symptoms, and an understanding of broader eating and body image difficulties
• Have increased awareness of the social and cultural factors that encourage eating and body image difficulties and knowledge of strategies to challenge and negotiate these factors
• Have a greater understanding of the experiences and internal dialogue of people affected by eating disorders
• Have basic skills, strategies and knowledge to aid their work with clients who have eating and body image difficulties
• Be aware of the treatment and support services available to people dealing with eating disorders and/or food and body image issues in Christchurch
Presenter’s Profile - Kate Yeoman
Kate Yeoman is a counsellor and educator at (EAT) Eating Awareness Team. EAT is a Christchurch-based community agency that provides support, counselling and information to people dealing with food and body image issues, as well as to their families and friends. Kate has been involved with EAT for over seven years and has a wealth of experience and knowledge of working with clients with eating disorders and other food and body image issues.
Please email for a registration form and next available dates for this workshop.