Seminars
Overcoming Depression

Saturday 9 May 2009

Overcoming Depression - Mental Health in a Spiritual Context. Led by Dr Maarit Brooks, who has run courses in Rwanda teaching how to help survivors of the genocide recover from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and is a member of Christ Church, Clifton.

Saturday 9 May 2009, 9:30 am - 4 pm, Christ Church, Clifton.

Programme

0930 - Registration
1000 - Welcome and Introduction
1015 - Overview of depression
1130 - Coffee
1145 - Basic emotional needs and needs audit
1300 - Lunch
1345 - "Tools" for lifting depression
1445 - Coffee
1500 - Summary and group discussion
1600 - END

Flyer

We live in a society that professes to offer us everything we want - the newest technological product to enhance existence, fairtrade food for the fair-minded, fast food for the furiously busy, even the space to define oneself as one would like to be defined. Yet not only is depression currently the most common psychological illness but it is on the rise. In fact, the World Health Organisation estimates that by 2020 it will be second only to heart disease as the leading cause of illness and death. Christians are not immune to depression.

As our understanding of mental illness becomes more holistic, several new therapy methods are emerging. This day is based on the Human Givens approach. It considers that getting our basic emotional needs met in the right measure forms the foundation for good mental health. The Human Givens approach is positive and based on how our brain functions. There will be information about mental health, depression and how to connect this with wisdom from the Bible. There will also be some practical exercises and group discussion. The goal is to equip participants with several practical and effective "tools" for helping others and for taking good care of their own mental health.

• Download the Flyer (PDF) - 447Kb

Keynote Profile

Dr Maarit Brooks has practised as a GP for over 20 years in this country and many others around the world. She is also a fully qualified and passionate Human Givens therapist. She uses the Human Givens approach in her work daily to help her patients. She has also run courses in Rwanda teaching how to help survivors of the genocide recover from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. She is a mother of three and married to Ian. She is a member of Christ Church, Clifton.

BCAN / Hope's Place Mental Wellbeing

This workshop is one in a series on mental wellbeing and spirituality organised by Hope's Place and BCAN. These organisations are working together on a new initiative that aims to equip churches in the South West to engage in the area of mental health. If you would like more information on our work, please email Kate Virgo.