Walk a Block for Lupus:
October is National Lupus Awareness Month. In the hopes of raising awareness, as well as funds, Lupus Canada is encouraging people to participate in Walk a Block for Lupus.
Walk a Block for Lupus: Obtain pledges, map out your route and take a stroll in your neighbourhood. You can walk indoors or outdoors, along Neighbourhoods streets, walking trails or even inside a mall. You can walk a block or more on one day, or you walk a block for three days - whatever works best for you. Walk a Block for Lupus is flexible for everyone: people of all fitness levels and living anywhere across the country can participate. Celebrate and give thanks that we can walk a block together!
For more information about the Walk a Block for Lupus call Pat Jones at 604-467-9430.
National Pain Awareness Week Display:
November 6th - 12th is National Pain Awareness Week. In partnership with the Chronic Pain Association of Canada, the Ridge Meadows Chronic Pain Support Group will have a display at the Maple Ridge Library. A collection of personal stories about life with chronic pain will be displayed, as will information about learning to cope with chronic pain. Members of the Chronic Pain Support Group will be there throughout the week to answer questions and talk to people hoping to learn more.
For more information, or to find out how to help, call Heather McCain at -604-466-8771.
SKILLS FOR SUCCESSFULLY COPING WITH ANXIETY & DEPRESSION
This is a free group with a limited enrollment, open to residents of Maple Ridge and Pitt Meadows. It will run weekly for ten weeks (beginning in Nov. 2005) This course takes place at the Adult Mental Health Resource Centre, located in the Family Education and Support Centre, 22554 Lougheed Highway, Maple Ridge.
All participants must meet with the facilitator before the group starts. To book a personal interview, please call Joan Fisher at the Adult Mental Health Resource Centre at 604-467-6034.
This group is based on the Changeways Depression Program. It provides participants with instruction in a variety of problem-solving and lifestyle management skills.
The content includes:
- Identifying problems and transforming them into goals for change.
- Breaking goals down into manageable steps.
- Learning about stress.
- The signs, symptoms, and causes of depression.
- The effects of diet, exercise, sleep habits, caffeine, drugs and alcohol.
- The importance of building recreation into one’s daily life.
- Strategies for developing a more satisfying social life.
- An introduction to assertiveness skills.
- Identifying negative and self-defeating thought patterns.
- Learning to think in a more balanced and realistic manner.
- Preventing mood problems from becoming unmanageable.
This group is appropriate for people experiencing depression, dysthymia, bipolar II disorder, generalized anxiety disorder and adjustment disorder or other major life stressors. People with psychosis, borderline personality disorder, current alcohol and drug problems, head injuries or developmental delays are not appropriate for this group. The group requires an ability to read at a grade six level (or help to read the manual and do the written homework exercises), a willingness to attend all the sessions, to take part in the simple small group or partnered exercises and to do the assigned homework.
