July in the Playroom
With summer holidays now in full swing, the playroom is likely to get busier. Just a reminder to parents, the playroom is for children three months to six years of age. If the room permits, school-aged children may come in. Respite is not available in the summer, however, will resume again in September. Throughout the summer months the playroom will be hosting a few family fun events. Keep your eyes posted for these upcoming events. Lastly, we have some sad news from our fish tank. Our large black fish, which had been part of the playroom for numerous years, has passed away. One morning a child noticed that the fish had died. A mini discussion regarding the cycle of life followed this discovery. His suggestion was to feed it to the sharks. With no sharks available, staff had to scoop it out. This fish normally would hide in the back throughout the day, however, occasionally it would come out to the excitement of the children. Its presence will be missed.
Music Circle
On Mondays at 11:30 a music therapist joins us and she leads parents and children in a ½ hour of singing and stories. Children learn songs, do a little dancing and make a lot of wonderful noise. July’s dates are the 8th, 15th, 22nd and 29th.
Cooking Class
Would you like to learn more about food and discover new ways of cooking for you and your family? If you are a parent of children under 6, come and join us on July 17th and 31st, 2018 @ 1:30-3:00 (sign-up sheet will be out at 1pm.)
New Executive Director
We would like to welcome Emma Fineblit to Wolseley Family Place as our new Executive Director. Emma comes to us with lots of community experience and a heart for West Broadway. Feel free to come in and introduce yourself to her and make her feel welcome. We are really looking forward to working together to keep Wolseley Family Place a vibrant resource in the neighborhood.
How to relate to a person with depression – Centre for Mental health and Addition
Family members often do not know how to talk to a person who is depressed. They may be afraid to ask too many questions and inadvertently upset their loved one. At the same time, they do not want the ill person to feel that they are not interested or are avoiding him or her.
Try to be as supportive, understanding and patient as possible. Just recognizing that depression is an illness can help your relative to feel less guilty about his or her impaired functioning.
Tips for communication
- Speak in a calm, quiet voice.
- Focus on one subject at a time. Your relative or friend may have trouble concentrating.
- If the person is quiet and withdrawn, break the ice with neutral, non-threatening statements, such as “It seems a bit warm in here.”
- Be patient and wait. It may take a while for your loved one to respond.
- Your ability to listen is a valuable resource to your relative. Depression causes people to talk a lot about how bad they feel, yet they may not be ready to discuss solutions to their problems. Listening and letting the person know, in a neutral manner, that you have heard what he or she has said, is valuable and supportive. You do not have to offer immediate solutions.
- If the person is irritable, you probably need to slow down, adjust your expectations and use a very neutral approach. Neutral comments about the weather, what you are making for dinner or other routine subjects are the safest way to develop a dialogue. Listen for opportunities to acknowledge or add to your relative’s responses. At these times, conversations about important decisions or issues are unlikely to be productive. You may need to plan to discuss important issues at a later date.
- Avoid quizzing people about what made them feel depressed. Do not blame them for the way they feel, or tell them to snap out of it. People who are moderately depressed may be able to hear your helpful suggestions, but be unable to act on your advice. Quizzing or blaming them will only reinforce their guilt, loneliness and isolation. Often, people with depression cannot identify what made them depressed or what will be helpful.
- Pace yourself. If your relative is severely or more chronically depressed, it is normal for you to find his or her company very draining. Brief, frequent contacts are often the best way to re late to someone with severe depression. If your relative is hospitalized, family members might take turns visiting.