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Diabetes and a Healthy Mind

Diabetes and a Healthy Mind. Building well-being: Now, and into the future. Janine Clarke PhD MAPs Psychologist Research Officer Mend Psychology Black Dog Institute. Overview.

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Diabetes and a Healthy Mind

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  1. Diabetes and a Healthy Mind Building well-being: Now, and into the future Janine Clarke PhD MAPs Psychologist Research Officer Mend Psychology Black Dog Institute

  2. Overview • Defining emotional well-being, i.e., what does it mean to be ‘mentally healthy’? • Why is mental health important? • Common emotional issues/mental health problems • Strategies for staying well now • Well-being into the future

  3. What is emotional well-being? • Living without distress • Getting the most out of life • Knowing your strengths and weaknesses • Working productively • Coping with life’s ups and downs • Happy with your life and relationships • Living a meaningful life

  4. Why is emotional wellbeing important? • Illness demands • Complications • Fluctuating blood glucose • Fear of hypos • self-care • complications • risk of mortality • glycemic control • risk of hypos Physical health Mental well-being

  5. Common emotional/mental health issues • Depression • Persistent (> two weeks): • Sadness, misery, unhappiness • Loss of interest and pleasure • in activities • Sleep changes • Appetite and weight changes • Worry and negative thinking • Feelings of helplessness and hopelessness • Anger and irritability • Rates are twice as high in people with diabetes • Predicts a range of poor diabetes outcomes

  6. Also … • Diabetes-related stress • Emotional reaction to tedious intrusion of diabetes on normal day-to-day life: • Fear and worry about complications • Dealing with health professionals • Problems with self-care and lifestyle demands • Adjusting to diagnosis • Problems with food and eating • Impact of diabetes on social relationships • Approximately 25% of people with diabetes experience severe levels • Associated with poorer self-care, depression, and raised HbA1c

  7. So what can we do?

  8. To manage distress/low mood • Accept that all emotions are normal You can’t get rid of your fears but you can learn how to live with them

  9. Do things youenjoy

  10. The power of behaviour

  11. Focus on the present Awareness without judgment • 5 things you can see • 4 things you can hear • 3 things you can touch/feel • 2 things you can smell • 1 thing you can taste

  12. Notice unhelpful thinking

  13. ADC Information Sheets

  14. See your GP for a referral to a mental health professional

  15. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) “It’s been a week and nothing has changed. What’s the point?” “It’s been a week. Not much has changed, but it’s still early days” Frustrated, irritable, hopeless Content, relaxed Feelings/emotions Stick to eating plan, investigate healthy alternatives, tolerant of others Give up, ignore eating plan, shout at others Behaviours

  16. Therapy is collaborative • Identify and evaluate thoughts, feelings and/or behaviours that are causing trouble • Decide where to intervene • Problem solving • Goal setting

  17. To get the most out of life • Increase enjoyment • Celebrate success • Keep momentos • Immerse yourself • Stay engaged • Nurture your relationships • Know your strengths • Be mindful

  18. Find meaning • Know your values • Be thankful • Small acts of kindness

  19. The future …

  20. Background • In Australia, about ½ of the people with mental health problems do not get the professional support they need • Only about 1/3 of people with diabetes and depression get appropriate treatment for both conditions

  21. Possible hurdles/barriers: • Difficult to find provider • Not enough providers • Costs too much • Time/lifestyle constraints • Don’t know where to go • Too embarrassed/ashamed • “I should be able to cope on my own”

  22. The internet • Popular with users • Cost effective • Clinically effective – effects similar to face-to-face care

  23. One step further Mobile mental health

  24. www.myCompass.org.au • A world first • Public health intervention • Completely automated – no therapist input • Delivered via the internet to computers, tablets and mobile phones • >14,000 registered users since July 2012 • International uptake • IT WORKS!!

  25. www.myCompass.org.au • Self-monitoring or ‘tracking’ • Graphical reporting • Brief psychological modules (3 x 10 min sessions) • Diary • Fact sheets • Snippets (tips, motivational messages)

  26. Current research • Improving mental health and reducing psychological distress in young people with type 1 diabetes (16 – 25 years)(Australian Rotary Health) • Development of a online and interactive psycho-educational module targeting diabetes-specific emotional distress • (RACGP/Diabetes Australia) Next … • Early intervention for depression in people with type 2 diabetes

  27. Contact details: info@mendpsychology.com.au Janine.clarke@unsw.edu.au myCompass@blackdog.org.au

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