In The Chair: President Carmel
Members: 12
Guests: Sandra Williams (Guest Speaker)
Harry Hurst, Chantelle and Asher Cloete
********************************
Lift the Lid for Mental Health
An error for the editor not to have taken a group photo with the bizarre or not-so-bizarre assembly of hats. One bit of by-play, however, shall not go unrecorded.
********************************
Sandra Williams – Mental Health
In retrospect, Sandra probably suffered from a form of depression since high school, but it often manifested as a physical condition. She noticed at Uni that she had trouble writing essays, but when submitted they scored good marks. She suffered a major breakdown after uni and so returned to the family farm. She probably suffered from her parent’s high expectations and, in retrospect, she probably demanded a lot from herself. At about this time her father was diagnosed with early onset dementia. This was also the time of high interest rates, and this made farming very challenging.
Initial visits to the doctor did not result in treatment – ‘do you want the stigma of mental health issues?’ But eventually she received medication in 1990 and has been on medication ever since. This made a lot of difference. Early medication did have side-effects, but these have improved with better treatments.
She was employed by TAFE, teaching literacy and numeracy but the course was terminated after 18 years. This triggered a depression relapse for about 12 months. It was at this time she discovered GROW.
GROW is a program - similar to AA - where participants meet once per week to discuss issues and follow a program together. The program is basically a cognitive behavioral one that endeavors to change thinking, and it WORKS.
The Grow Program is based on a 12-step program of personal growth, mutual help and support. The Grow Program is all-inclusive and draws on many principles for mental, social and spiritual health.
At each meeting, members, known as Growers, share how they came to GROW and how they’re exploring self-improvement as they work on their personal recovery. Recovery isn’t a straight road and that’s where the support of other Growers can help. Everyone in the group has opportunities to share their experiences of coping with mental ill-health.
Grow group meetings are weekly and go for about two hours. Newer members are supported by experienced members who have worked through the Grow Program. The Leeton group welcome visitors and are happy for new members to be initially accompanied by a friend.
What makes GROW special is the practical advice and the lived experiences that are shared each week by the members. The peer-to peer style of support has been proven to be a positive way of helping participants remain on the road to recovery.
Sandra has now taken control of her life. She has embarked on challenges. An example was taking on the coordinator of the Music program at the Eisteddfod and talking about mental health issues at events such as the ‘Stories of Resilience’ breakfast and with groups such as Rotary.
Sandra was thanked on behalf of the club by President Carmel.
