Partners in Depression is a group education and support program for people who love, live with or care for someone experiencing depression (evidence-based psycho-education group).
Six session program (2 hours per week over 6 weeks) run by two facilitators in community settings. It covers a range of topics including:
- What is depression
- Treatments for depression
- Suicidality and self-harm
- Communication strategies
- The support role
- Importance of self-care
- Where to and how to seek help for yourself and loved one with depression
Sessions include structured activities and group discussion as well as take-home practice strategies.
- Suitable for people aged 16 years and over – program is based on adult learning principles.
- Developed using the current evidence in this field.
- Initiative of Hunter Institute of Mental Health (HIMH) based in Newcastle.
Note: Whilst the program has been developed for a generic audience, specific information and fact sheets are available to support program implementation for specific subpopulations (e.g. parents of adolescents with depression; partners of women experiencing perinatal depression). The program has been reviewed to ensure it is considered ‘culturally inclusive’.