This special two day seminar is designed for all nurses who are concerned about the potential of worry, anxiety and mental illness to affect themselves or colleagues in the workplace. Unlike traditional mental health education where the need of the patient is primarily in focus, we will shine a light on the nurses and carers instead.
All health professionals, especially nurses experience loss, death and despair more frequently than most other groups in society. It is therefore essential that a pro-active approach is taken to prevent illness caused by workplace stressors.
If you are looking to learn how to better identify, manage and prevent the scourge of mental illness affecting yourself or your team at work, then this innovative program is perfect for you. Only one date is scheduled for 2012 in Melbourne, Adelaide, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth so be sure to book early.
Need for Program
Worry, anxiety and mental illness affect a broad range of people in our society, including professional caregivers. This includes the nursing workforce where individuals may experience increased personal exhaustion, stress and worry as a result of the nature of their work. This can lead to, anxiety, lack of motivation and even depressive illness. This seminar addresses the need to prevent and better manage, worry and anxiety experienced in the workplace so that it does not lead to more pervasive mental illness. It will also address the need to enhance and update nurses overall knowledge about the signs, symptoms and management of people with depression.
Aims and Objectives
The aim of this program is to offer a forum for nurses to debate how worry and anxiety manifest in today’s workplace and to consider the consequences of this, if it remains unchecked. A further aim is to enhance and update nurses knowledge of mental illness by examining the concept and expression of depression, and then revising the signs, symptoms and management of people with this disease.
At the conclusion of this program it is expected that the participant will be able to:
Identify and differentiate between worry, anxiety and depressive behaviours.
Describe the signs and symptoms of anxiety and depression providing several strategies to minimise their impact upon people.
Initiate changes in personal behaviours, which facilitate movement towards a healthier personal and professional life.
Day 1
Day 2
Educators
8.30 - Registration and enjoy a refreshing drink
9.00 - Session One: Depression and Worry in the Workplace Myth or Reality?
This introductory session sets the scene for this two-day program. It includes a brief look at the modern workplace and potential causes for stress. Discussion
Workplace situations and environmental concerns will be discussed and triggers for stress and anxiety identified in this interactive session.
Audience discussion about common areas of workplace stress and how individuals deal with them.
9:45 - Defining Worry and Anxiety
Have you ever wondered what the difference is between worry and anxiety? Do you worry over niggling little things yet take the big things in your stride? In this session we will look at worry versus anxiety and why it matters to know the difference.
10:30am - Morning Tea & Coffee
11:00 - Identifying and Dealing with Panic Attacks
About 30% of the population will experience a panic attach at some time, whilst 2% of these people have a diagnosable panic disorder.
What does it feel like to have an episode of panic?
Is it possible to identify the triggers?
Is it true that fear of having a panic attack can actually bring on another panic attack?
How to assist someone who fears a panic attack or who is actually experiencing one.
11.45 - Reducing Anxiety At Work
In this session, we will take time to look at what a person can do to break the mould of habitual responses to stressful thoughts or situations. Find out about the common patterns of worry and how they can become habitual. Develop ways to break the cycle and help free yourself or others of the worry burden.
This includes:
An exploration of worry-inducing events and their emotional consequences if left unchecked.
How to examine your own (and others) irrational beliefs as a significant way to reduce worry.
Finding the courage within oneself, to confront workplace challenges – alone or with others.
Recognising the emergence of ‘burnout’ in yourself or one of your colleagues.
12:30pm - Lunch Break
1:30pm - Dealing with Worries Connected To Breaches of Boundaries
Sometimes it is extremely difficult to protect yourself from the demanding, evasive, irritating and/or manipulative behaviours of those in your workplace. This session will focus on practical and workable strategies for combating difficult behaviours and resolving conflict situations. Learn how to anticipate when your personal boundary is about to be breached.
Stepping back from intrusive and manipulative people.
Techniques to use to depersonalise conversations at appropriate times.
2.15pm - Dealing with Worries Connected with Conflict
If a person feels under attack or bullied, it can trigger worry and even feelings of persecution which, if not managed, can have profound implications on the individual. In this session, we will look at strategies to deal with day-to-day conflicts that arise in the workplace.
How to deal with complaints and manipulative behaviours in an effective manner.
How to build emotional stamina and integrity so that you and your colleagues are better protected from negative experiences.
3:00pm - Afternoon Tea & Coffee
3:15pm - Work/Life Balance and Mental Health
In this final session do day one, you will learn techniques to improve you, and your colleagues, overall state of mental well-being.
'Worry First Aid' what to do if you have an episode of worry that simply will not go away?
Reflect on what you have learned - consider strategies for promoting personal resilience and physical/mental wellness?
4.00 - Close of Day One
9:00am - Start of Day Two
9:00am - Depression: When Your 'Get Up and Go' Has 'Got Up and Gone'!
Around one million Australian adults experience depression each year. On average, one in five people will experience depression in their lifetime. As a health professional, you will meet many people in the course of your work who experience a depressive illness.
This introductory session looks at the nature of depressive illness from a clinical perspective.
What are the main types of depression?
How do depressions differ from “the blues” or grief reactions?
What would make you suspect that yourself or a colleague with whom you are working is depressed?
Summary of the emotional and physical manifestations of this serious mood disorder.
10:00am - Is it really a Grey and Meaningless Workplace?
An Examination of underlying causes of depression. Many people go through periods at work when boredom sets in, or people think they are working on a treadmill, or are just simply part of a rat race, whilst others remain relatively optimistic and contented. Perception is clearly the key aspect in such a scenario. This session seeks to clarify people's understanding about common causes of depression and explores the nature of perception.
When reality and perception seem distorted.
What does the evidence suggest are the causes of depressive illness?
10:30am - Morning Tea & Coffee
11:00am - 'You’ll Be Ok If You Just Pull Your Socks Up!'... 'Oh Really?’
As with all mental illness it is difficult to understand another person's pain and distress. In this session, we will look at the responses that others may have to a person who is experiencing depression. You will learn some practical skills and strategies for communicating with a person whom you suspect is experiencing depression.
What to avoid when communicating with a work colleague who is experiencing depression.
How to sustain unconditional positive regard in the face of unresponsiveness and negativity.
When to encourage someone to reach out for professional help.
11.30am - Practical Skills (Clinical): Mental Status Examination
We now move to general information about nursing care of all people who are depressed. In this session you will enhance your knowledge about the correct use of the mental status examination, to identify, document and care for those who you suspect have a depressive illness.
Is it appropriate for a staff member to perform a mental status examination on a colleague to determine if they are depressed?
Should friends/family members be involved in the assessment process?
How is the depth of a depression estimated?
Tips on documentation and referral.
12.15pm - Therapeutic Care of a Person With a Depressive Illness
A summary of care and treatment for people with depression will be provided and discussed in this session. Strategies to be included in the discussion will be: supportive counselling, cognitive behaviour approaches, creative diversions or activities and psychosocial rehabilitation. We will also discuss:
The role and effectiveness of anti-depression medications.
When a person with depression should be admitted to hospital.
The role and effectiveness of electro-convulsive therapies (ECT).
1.00pm - Lunch Break & Time to Network
1:45pm Attempted Suicide – Fact and Fiction
Suicide continues to be a pervasive aspect of our society. When it occurs, many repercussions are felt which may last for generations. The next two sessions review some aspects of what we know about suicide and suggest therapeutic ways to intervene and possibly prevent such incidents.
A look at National trends for suicide in Australia.
Overcoming the taboo against talking about suicide - why is this important?
Understanding causes, risk factors and methods – all critical to our understanding of prevention strategies.
2:15pm - Managing Suicide Risk Factors
If you suspect a person is suicidal it is important that you know what to do. In this session we will review ways to identify whether a person is actively suicidal and the action that should be taken buy a professional in such circumstances.
What to do when someone (verbally or non-verbally) signals that they are thinking of taking their life.
When is 'specialling' suicidal patients, indicated?
Simple tools for uncovering complex secrets.
Attempted suicide – crucial facts.
Where to get help?
2:45pm - Afternoon Tea & Coffee
3:15pm - Depression – The Journey from Illness to Wellness
In this interesting, final session we will reflect on people’s life stories and how they are able to move from the 'black dog' of depression towards a meaningful and functional life.
4:00pm - Review of Program and Evaluations
4.15pm - Close of Seminar
Hugh Irons
Nurse Consultant and Educator with a Master of Nursing qualification, majoring in community health. He has extensive hospital and community- based experience as a mental health clinician where his clients included those affected by various forms of dementia. Hugh is well known as an informed and engaging teacher and his topics include psycho-geriatric aspects of care. Also, he is the author of the publication “Counselling and Interviewing for Carers: A Basic Guide”.
Presenting in: WA, QLD, NSW, VIC, SA,
Geoffrey Ahern
Geoff is a Clinical Nurse Specialist in Dual Diagnosis (Mental Health and Drug and Alcohol) with a background working in Critical Care and Trauma. His interest in trauma begun when working with survivors of the Kosovo Crisis at Holsworthy Army Barracks in Sydney in the 90’s. He has since worked with a number of special needs groups in the area of trauma including troubled youth in Outback NSW, asylum seeker groups in Sydney, and clients with substance use disorders associated with trauma. Geoff also works with school groups to actively address bullying in the education system helping teachers, parents and support staff to understand the link between bullying and many of the contemporary mental health problems evident in our community, in particular anxiety and PTSD.
