Resilience Workshop

A big thank you to Susan Johnson for conducting a resilience workshop at our June meeting.
Susan is a psychologist and her contact phone number is 0429 644 628.
She practices in Goyder Street, Narrabundah and after hours appointments are available.

The workshop on 6 June was entitled "Resilience for people with Chronic Illness".
I have a couple of extra handouts for any members that could not come.

Below are some resources that Susan suggested:
http://www.actmindfully.com.au/ Russ Harris: meaning, mindfulness
http://www.apa.org/ American Psychological Association: resiliance, emotional factors
http://www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu/Default.aspx Martin Seligman: resilience, emotional and cognitive factors
http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/ Health info
http://www.crohnsandcolitis.com.au/ Health info, social engagement
http://danielgoleman.info/ EQ
http://www.health.nsw.gov.au/factsheets/ Health info
http://www.psychology.org.au/ Emotional and cognitive factors
http://www.umassmed.edu/index.aspx Jon Kabat-Zinn: Mindfulness
http://www.umassmed.edu/cfm/home/index.aspx
http://www.volunteeract.org.au/ Social engagement

Latest News - late May 2012

Hi everyone,

It has been a busy month for CCA around Canberra.

I saw many of you at the IBD forum at Canberra Hospital last week and again at the cocktail reception at Parliament House on Monday.

I thought the cocktail reception was surprisingly good even though I only had one drink! Luke Escombe was great and is a fine ambassador for the cause. Perhaps we can form a group to go and see him perform later in the year.

We still have a few significant events coming up soon:

Resilience Workshop

Our next support group meeting in Hughes on June 6 (from 7pm) will be a special event with a psychologist, Susan, coming to run an abbreviated workshop on “Resilience”. A big thank you to Jess for organising this. Susan is giving us her time free of charge as a community service so please take advantage and support this event. Can everyone who is coming please RSVP by next Wednesday (30 May)?

For those who are new additions to my list, the southside group meets at the Hughes Community Centre (north side of the shopping centre) on the first Wednesday of each month from 7pm to 9pm.

New Northside Group

Next Monday a new support group is starting up on Northside. It is run by Dave Wheeler. Those who can’t make my group meetings or live north may find this more convenient. Dave is addressed in this email if you wish to contact him directly.

Date & Time: Fourth Monday of every month from 7.00pm – 8.30pm
First Meeting: Monday 28th May, 2012 at 7.00pm
Venue:
The Majura Function Room
Northside Community Services (Head Office)
2 Rosevear Place
Dickson

To register your interest in attending please email info@crohnsandcolitis.com.au
or phone our office on 1800 138 029.
Please provide contact details in case of cancellation.

I hope everyone is feeling well.

Stephen Hope

Canberra (Southside) Support Group Facilitator

0417 58 66 99

http://ccacanberrasupport.blogspot.com.au/

Coming Events

We have a lot happening over the next month or so.

 

Wednesday 2/5 : Support Group Meeting from 7pm at the Hughes Community Centre (Room 2) – Discussion topic to be “medications and side-effects” but other topics can be raised during the evening. Please RSVP by Sunday evening.

Wednesday 16/5 : IBD Forum at Canberra Hospital from 7pm to 9pm. More details should be available at the support group meeting.

Saturday 19/5 : World IBD Day

Monday 21/5 : Cocktail Party at Parliament House (free). If you are interested in attending then you must let me know before Friday.

Wednesday 6/6 : Support Group Meeting with a special workshop on Resilience by a psychologist. Thanks to Jess Paterson for organising this.

 

I look forward to seeing you at some of these events.

Stephen Hope

CCA Canberra Support Group Facilitator

April 2012 Meeting

10 attended the April meeting including Dave Wheeler who is intending to get a support group up and running on the north side soon.
We had some interesting discussion about food and diiet and found that experiences were quite varied. Conversation also moved on to other areas as it often does.
I mentioned at the end of the evening that I intend to send out a survey out to support group members. I can then connect people that have questions or concerns with others that are in a similar situation or have been through issues previously.

From our diet and nutrition discussion we listed the following:

Good Foods

Vitagreen vitamin supplements
Mashed potato
Yakult
Cheeseburgers!
A2 milk
Oat muesli
Pawpaw
Turmeric
Smoothies
Blueberries
Guardian cereal

Bad Foods

MSG
Fruits - melons, apples
Cabbage and cauliflower
Wheat
Wasabi
Alcohol
Pasta
Dairy
Grain bread

Other Useful Suggestions

Put your meat through a blender
Keep food and health diaries to find out what is good and bad
Investigate the FODMAPs diet.

IBD Forum Topics?

There will be an IBD forum in May. I have been asked to see if anyone has any specific topics or issues related to IBD that they want covered. I need to pass this information on by the end of the month so please let me know before 28th March.

PS. When I get details about this forum I will pass them on.

World IBD Day - Cocktail Party

                                                World IBD Day May 21

Cocktail Party

Background

In November the CCA Parliamentary Friendship Group (PFG) hosted a lunch in the Sir Frederick Holder Room in Parliament House to promote Crohn’s and Colitis Australia (CCA).  The PGF is co chaired by Bernie Ripoll (Queensland Labour MP) recently appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasurer, and Andrew Laming, (Queensland Liberal MP). The lunch featured talks by Dr Paul Pavli, a gastroenterologist from Canberra Hospital, Luke Escombe, entertainer with Crohn’s, one of CCA’s ambassadors (see current CCA Autumn magazine) and Francesca Manglaviti, CEO of CCA.   A number of MPs and Senators attended the lunch which was sponsored by 5 leading pharmaceutical companies.   

Following this lunch Francesca prepared a major CCA pre Budget submission to Treasury seeking Government funds for 3 projects (with the support of, and advice from PFG members).

Cocktail Party Details

Good afternoon Stephen

We have now confirmed details for the coktail party:

* Monday May 21 6 - 8 pm

* Venue Parliament House - I think the Representative's Alcove

* Cost - Nil (being sponsored by our pharmaceutical company corporate supporters)

* Celebrities: Minister for Health Tanya Plibersek - confirmed for 6pm to 6.30

Other MPs who are members of the Parliamentary Friendship Group

Luke Escombe entertainer - will perform after 6.30

* I need names to send to Elushka from caterers: final nos probably Tuesday 15th May

Please ask attendees to provide details of special dietary requirements

I think one of the people on your listing attended the lunch we had in 2011 .....

* Gather after getting though security in main foyer - I will be near reception and will have a list of attendees; as discussed, if people could arrive by 5.45pm - someone will come and collect us and take us as a group say at 5.55 ....

Please let me know if any other queries come to mind,

Warm regards & looking forward to seeing you all on the 21st.

Cheers

Matthew

Above are photos from the event.

iPhone App

CCA would like to inform you that,

The National Public Toilet Map is now available for Apple's iPhone. Just go to the App Store on your iPhone or use iTunes to download the National Public Toilet Map App. It's free.

This service aims to improve the independence and quality of life for the estimated 3.8 million Australians who are affected by incontinence by providing access at any time to:

- the location of the five nearest public toilets
- details of opening hours, accessibility, parking and other features.

The National Public Toilet Map is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing as part of the National Continence Management Strategy.  www.toiletmap.gov.au

Discussion Topics

These are suggestions for future meetings:

• May 2012 - Medications and side effects
• Operations and surgeries
• Impacts on family life
• Alternative medicines and therapies
• Coping with Crohn's and Colitis, Emotional stress and the Psychological impacts
• Publicising and promoting the group
• Fundraising
• Inspiring stories
• Related illnesses and side-effects of the disease
• Travelling with Crohn's and Colitis

Topics from past meetings:

• Mar 2012: Communicating about the disease with friends and colleagues
• April 2012 - Diet and nutrition

Support Group Activities

These ideas were generated at are meeting on 1 Feb 2012:

• Discussion groups
• Videos and information
• Guest speakers - alternate therapies, ACCA, latest research and trials
• Buddying and mentoring
• Social gatherings
• Facebook page
• Hints and tips
• Develop a mission statement

Why join a support group?

On 1 Feb 2012, the group brainstormed this topic. The reasons included:

• To ask each other questions
• To know that you are not alone
• To talk about the disease with others
• To ask each other questions
• To find out things that work
• To give something to others
• To see the range of the disease
• To find out about services that are available

Meetings

Support group meetings are held on the first Wednesday of each month.
The venue is the Hughes Community Centre - Wisdom Street, Hughes, ACT, Australia
Meetings run from 7pm to 9pm.
To join please contact Crohns and Colitis Australia: info@crohnsandcolitis.com.au or 1800 138 029