Stress and Depression are Treatable

CANADA - A western Manitoba based registered clinical psychologist reports men, especially in rural communities are less likely to seek help in dealing with stress and depression but that trend is starting to change, according to Bruce Cochrane.
calendar icon 17 February 2010
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Stress and depression was the focus yesterday as the Manitoba Farm and Rural Stress Line hosted the first in a series of workshops dealing with "Men and Depression."

Dr Greg Gibson, a registered clinical psychologist with the Brandon Regional Health Authority and the University of Manitoba, says depression is treatable and there are supports from friends and family to community mental health workers to regional health authorities to the Manitoba Farm and rural stress line.

Dr Greg Gibson-Brandon Regional Health Authority-University of Manitoba

We use the term self-care and I think it's really looking at a number of different ways.

We talk about hopelessness and helplessness being such a big part of what depression is, so being able to challenge those thoughts, being able to recognise that there is hope, being able get yourself out of that mindset is extremely important.

You do that yourself but it's also important to do that with the assistance of other people.

Talking is extremely important, talking about what's concerning to you, trying to break out of that isolation for instance, being able to engage in things that they find nourishing on a day to day basis, going for a walk, exercising, talking, playing with pets, those sort of basic things.

Making sure you're again contacting with friends and family not just about things that are troubling you but just being able to engage in other people are extremely important.


Dr Gibson says men have typically been less likely than women to seek assistance in dealing with depression, especially in rural communities but that trend is changing and more men are utilizing the rural stress line, approaching councilors for help and admitting they're struggling.

Additional workshops are scheduled for tomorrow in Brandon, February 22nd in Morris and February 23rd in Arborg.

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