going further

Relief is launching the "Going further" project – an initiative to support mental health organizations during COVID-19. With the support of funding from Bell Let’s Talk, Relief is inviting mental health organizations to apply for free starter kits for self-management workshops. Priority will be granted to the following regions:

• Centre-du-Québec 
• Côte-Nord 
• Estrie 
• Mauricie 
• Nord-du-Québec 

This kit is designed to help mental-health organizations launch their first self-management workshop. It includes the following:  

• Training information and facilitation guides for workshop leaders 
• Access to Relief’s platform for virtual workshops.

 

application deadline: midnight on Wednesday, December 1, 2021. 

Submit an application

 

How can we equip people to deal with their difficulties? How can we give them renewed hope and facilitate mutual support? 

Offering self-management workshops is one way to do this.
 

Many studies are documenting the psychosocial impact of the pandemic. In September, a study bya Université de Sherbrooke team revealed that many people in the seven health regions included in the study, including Mauricie, Centre-du-Québec, and Estrie, are suffering from anxiety and depression. Many mental health community organizations and their partners are seeking ways to adapt their services to this situation.

 

 

Relief developed self-management workshops to empower people living with anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder. More than 14,000 hours were invested in the development and validation of these workshops, which were reviewed by  42 members of expert committees. The content and tools developed are in line with practice guidelines based on scientific research and knowledge. Five self-management workshops are now available in French. The English version will be available soon: 

• Anxiety (already available in English) 
• Depression  
• Bipolar disorder  
• Self esteem  

Since their creation in 2010, more than 7,500 people have followed a self-management program to learn how to take charge of their own health. Workshops are now offered in more than 50 cities through our network of partners.  To learn more about self-management workshops, click here. 

Learn more about self-management workshops

FAQ

self-management workshops

What is self-management?

Self-management refers to taking action to regain control over our mental health through daily behaviours that diminish symptoms, help prevent relapses and improve well-being. A self-management approach does not replace conventional treatment, but can be a very effective complement to psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy.

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What does a self-management workshop actually consist of?

A self-management workshop is a group based psychoeducational intervention. Each workshop is composed of 10 to 15 participants and lasts 10 to 12 weeks, with a 2.5-hour meeting each week. Participants complete exercises and reflections at home, engage in group discussions in the workshop, and have access to resources (organized by topic).

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Who are the self-management workshops for?

• Anyone 18 years of age or older living with anxiety, depression or bipolarity. No diagnosis is required, except for the Living with Bipolarity workshop.
• The intensity of symptoms can vary widely, from mild to severe.
• To participate, an individual must find that the signs and manifestations of their anxiety, depression or bipolarity sufficiently affect their well-being and functioning to justify spending a total of 25 hours in a group workshop.

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How many participants are required in order to hold a self-management workshop?

We recommend starting off a group when there are 8 to 15 participants, in order to be able to reproduce the desired group effect even if a few participants withdraw along the way.

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training on self-management support

What does the training consist of?

The training is seven hours long and introduces the concepts and fundamentals of self-management support for mental health. The approach is theoretical and lecture-based, but also includes role-play scenarios drawn from the self-management workshops.

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Why is training required to be able to facilitate the self-management workshops?

We want to ensure that the workshop is offered as originally designed, regardless of where it is held in Quebec or by which organization. The self-management workshops have undergone rigorous content validation by a committee of experts. 

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workshop co-facilitation

Who can facilitate the workshops?

Mental health professionals such as psychologists, social workers, psychoeducators, occupational therapists, nurses, and trained workers can lead our self-management workshops. It may also be appropriate to offer co-facilitation by a professional and a certified peer helper. Please consult the recommended profile for details.

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Why is co-facilitation required?

Co-facilitation is recommended and is standard practice for most programs involving recurrent mental-health group interventions. Among other things, co-facilitation helps to manage difficult situations within the group.

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technology and equipment

Does Relief's platform offer the possibility of videoconferencing?