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SMILES Program (Simplifying Mental Illness + Life Enhancement Skills) - ** Free download - available worldwide
| Date update submitted |
Apr 22, 2010 |
| Program Title |
SMILES Program (Simplifying Mental Illness + Life Enhancement Skills) - ** Free download - available worldwide |
| Contact Person/s |
Erica Pitman (Counsellor, Supervisor, Trainer, Funeral Celebrant) |
| Organisation |
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| Address |
Bathurst (Australia) |
| State |
NSW 2795 |
| Email |
ericap@ix.net.au |
| Telephone |
(02) 6332 9498 |
| Fax |
(02) 6332 9498 |
| Program Description |
SMILES Program: Simplifying Mental Illness + Life Enhancement Skills.
TARGET GROUP: Children aged 8-12 years old, or young people aged 13-16 years old who have a parent or sibling experiencing a mental health problem (specifically schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression or anxiety).
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: 3 day program (9am-3pm), usually delivered during school holiday period, in conjunction with health services or appropriate non-government organisations. Minimum 8, maximum 10 participants. Resources included as part of the program: 'Handle with Care - A Workbook About Mental Illness for 8-12 Year Olds'; 'A Booklet for Young People about Mental Illness'; 'Moonbeam - A Book of Meditations for Children' (or similar titles by Maureen Garth).
AIMS: To provide age-appropriate education about mental illness and life skills; to improve capacity to cope more effectively and increase resilience; to improve self-expression and creativity; to increase self-esteem and reduce feelings of isolation.
CONTENTS: Education about mental illness; communication exercises; problem solving; art work; music; interactive and relaxation exercises; peer support.
BACKGROUND: Developed in 1997 by Erica Pitman as a result of the increasing recognition that children in families affected by mental illness are a population 'at risk' for developing their own mental health problems. Erica has an Advanced Diploma of Applied Social Science, Certificate IV Workplace Training, Funeral Celebrant Training, Certificates of Management, is a clinically registered counsellor with the NSW Counsellors and Psychotherapists Association Inc (CMCAPA) and a registered member of the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia Inc (RMPACFA) and a registered supervisor of the Australian Counselling Association. Erica's professional work is enhanced by her own experience as the sibling of her deceased brother who struggled with epilepsy and childhood schizophrenia.
The SMILES Program is available to download in full from this website.
Click here to view the index page.
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| Evaluation Information |
Between 1998 and 2009, over 170* children have participated in the SMILES Program in NSW Australia - Bankstown, Bathurst (two programs), Canley Vale (two programs), Central Coast (two programs), Chatswood, Cowra, Cronulla, Dubbo, Fairfield, Harrington Park, Orange (two programs), Parkes, Parramatta, Penrith, Seven Hills, Tamworth, Wagga Wagga, Wollongong as well as Pointe-Claire (Montreal) and Kitchener (Ontario) Canada.
* As the program is fully downloadable from this website and being instigated around the world, it is no longer possible to know accurate details regarding places of delivery and numbers of participants.
Comprehensive qualitative and quantitative evaluation data has been collected from the children and their parents.
The following journal article fully describes the program and it's outcomes:
PEER REVIEWED OUTCOME EVALUATION
Pitman, E. & Matthey, S. (2004). The SMILES Program: A Group Program for Children With Mentally Ill Parents or Siblings. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, Vol. 74, No. 3, 383-388, July 2004. Accepted for publication April 2003.
Available on request are the following program reports:
Pagnini, D. (2006). Carers NSW Carers Mental Health Project Stage One Final Evaluation Report August 2001-June 2004. Carers NSW, Sydney, Australia. (This report incorporates the Bathurst, Parkes and Canley Vale programs completed in October 2003 and January 2004).
Pagnini, D. (2007). Carers NSW Carers Mental Health Project (2001-2004) Longitudinal Follow-up Report. Carers NSW, Sydney, Australia. (This report incorporates the longitudinal follow-up of children who participated in five programs - Bathurst, Parkes and Canley Vale, completed between October 2003 and January 2005).
Pitman, E. & Matthey, S. (2002). Evaluation of the SMILES Program for Children with Mentally Ill Parents: Bankstown, Sydney (17-19 January 2001). South West Sydney Area Health Service: Sydney, Australia.
Pitman, E. (1999). SMILES (Explorations) Program Report. Mental Illness Education - Australia (NSW) Inc: Sydney, Australia.
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| Evidence |
PEER REVIEWED OUTCOME EVALUATION
Pitman, E. & Matthey, S. (2004). The SMILES Program: A Group Program for Children With Mentally Ill Parents or Siblings. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, Vol. 74, No. 3, 383-388, July 2004. Accepted for publication April 2003.
Clinical experience and research, with reference to the following:
1) Cowling, V.R, McGorry, P.D, & Hay, D.A (1995). Children of parents with psychotic disorders. The Medical Journal of Australia, 163, 119-120.
2) Cuff, R & Pietsch, J (1997). Peer support for children of parents with mental illness - program design and evaluation. Melbourne: Mental Health Research Institute.
3) Gerace, L.M, Camillerie, D & Ayers, L (1993). Sibling perspectives on schizophrenia and the family. Schizophrenia Bulletin, 19, 637-647.
4) Luntz, J (1995). The invisible dimension in mental health - children whose parents suffer from serious mental illness. Australian Social Work, 48, 19-27.
5) Marsh, D.T, Appleby, N.F, Dickens, R.M, Ownens, M & Young, N.O (1993). Anguished voices: impact of mental illness on siblings and children. Innovations and Research, 2, 34.
Plus reference to over 40 additional books, reports, and journal articles.
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| Any other information |
The SMILES Program is available to download free on this website, or is provided on a fee for service initially facilitated by the author (Erica Pitman), in a collaborative partnership with appropriate health or non-government services. This provides a 'train-the-trainer' opportunity for interested and appropriate facilitators. Services fund the delivery of the program, provide transport and food for the participants. There is no cost to the children participating.
Between 2003 and 2007, 53 participants have attended two-day facilitator's training workshops delivered in NSW Australia - Orange, Parramatta, Sydney and Wagga Wagga. For further information about this, please contact Erica Pitman.
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