Through my work at the community centre, I’ve come to know quite a few people suffering with depression. Once you’ve had depression yourself you can quite easily pinpoint others who are suffering even if they don’t say so.
It made me think about starting a group for depression support – not so much real therapy but through a coffee and a chat and maybe some craft.
The idea was born with another lady I became friends with who also suffers with depression on and off – between the two of us we came up with a mosaic and chat group.
Starting any group sounds like a good idea at the time, but being that most people suffering with depression are erratic (not their fault) starting a group has it’s own difficulties because there will be times when people just can’t come because they won’t go out of the house or they don’t want to speak to anyone. I completely understand that, but that’s the problems of starting a group where you have to go outside of your own home to be there.
Some people have good days where they can step out the door and other days where they find it even hard to get out of bed.
Today was to be the start of the mosaic and chat group and I was looking forward to it as last week I met M at the centre and we went through all the mosaic supplies and found lots of cool tiles and some ornaments to decorate. I had bought all my tools ready for this afternoon.
Alas, I just received a phone call telling me that M could not make it today. Very disappointing, but I do understand. I guess I shouldn’t get my hopes up that it was going to be a smooth road ahead for the group, because I know very well it won’t be.
It may even be me that next time doesn’t make it. Depression can set in at any time of the day or night, over something that others may deem as nothing in particular. Although I’m majorly over the depression that I used to have, these days I sometimes get set off by people talking about their pregnancies or kids around me – being that the place where I live is Breeders Central, it can’t really be helped. But most days I can get out of bed and go out the house, mentally I’ve come by leaps and bounds.
First lesson in starting a depression support group is: don’t get your hopes up that it will go smoothly even on the first meet up, because the first meet up may not happen.
Other subsequent lessons may be that no-one turns up, or people say they are coming only to not show up or if they are having a better day phone up and say they can’t come.
If nothing else, this will be a learning experience. Maybe somewhere along the way I will learn better ideas of how to facilitate this group.
