Bridging the Gap: Supporting Loved Ones as They Wait for Mental Health Care
Upcoming Webinar
Airing Tuesday, March 25, 2025 from 7:00 to 8:30 pm ET
Our upcoming webinar, “Bridging the Gap: Supporting Loved Ones as They Wait for Mental Health Care”, tackles these pressing questions head-on. Led by Emily Kline, PhD, clinical psychologist and an expert in Motivational Interviewing, this session will equip you with practical strategies to provide meaningful support to your loved ones as they await professional care.
A place to learn
At Families for Depression Awareness (FFDA), we focus on the families of people living with depression or bipolar disorder ("mood disorders"), equipping family caregivers with education and training so they can provide effective, constructive support to their loved ones.
Mood disorders affect everyone in a family, not only those with the diagnosis. Each family member should be able to have their needs identified and addressed.
In addition to passing along a higher likelihood of having a mood disorder, parents living with a mood disorder can find it hard to engage with their children, take care of household chores, do their work, and sometimes even to get out of bed.
Family caregivers risk wearing themselves out as they help their loved one seek treatment, manage the household and the family, and try to keep a roof over their heads.
Since our beginning, we have shared family stories to help caregivers feel like they are not alone, show that families can address mood disorders together, inspire hope, and dispel stigma. Each year, we add to our library of honest and inspiring accounts of families facing the challenges of mood disorders and suicide.
Supporting New Parents: A Conversation About Postpartum Mental Health
Recorded Livestream
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Join us for an enlightening discussion on postpartum mental health and family wellness. Our panel of experts will shed light on the challenges new parents face, offer practical strategies for caring adults supporting new parents, and answer your questions.
Unlocking Healthy Conversations: Strategies for Talking with Teens About Mental Health
Recorded Webinar
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In Part Two of our series on effective communication, Rebekah Gibbons, LICSW, will take participants through four common scenarios. In each scenario, she will teach parents and caring adults how to use communication strategies that work. You will learn how to validate your teen’s feelings and discuss sensitive topics.
Personal Insights: Unpacking the Power of Psychiatric Advance Directives
Recorded Livestream
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Resolving the who, what, when, and how of treatment decisions during a mental health crisis can cause anxiety for caregivers and their loved ones. The person living with a mental health condition may worry about who will make decisions on their behalf, while the caregiver may wonder if decisions they need to make will reflect their loved one’s preferences and priorities. A written mental health crisis plan can alleviate anxiety and eliminate the guesswork for everyone involved.
Mental Health Crisis Planning: How to Develop a Proactive Strategy
Recorded Webinar
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Caregivers often find themselves hoping for the best, while preparing for the worst. When your loved one is facing a mental health crisis, they may not be able to communicate their preferences for care. For caregivers to be effective, they need to have the right resources and support. This is when having a crisis plan – which may include a Psychiatric Advance Directive (PAD) – becomes crucial.