Raising Awareness – Instilling Hope – Combating Stigma Carol Kivler will help you enter the world of depression through a patient’s perspective. Through her various presentations she will share her personal experience with four major, intensive bouts of depression; what she needed and continues to need from her family, friends, colleagues, and her treatment team; and how she dealt with the stigma that haunted her for the first eight years of her illness. Carol’s presentations are available as a keynote (30 - 90 minutes) or as an extended workshop (3 hours) Demystifying ECT: What You Don’t See in the Movies Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) is a potent therapeutic tool that has existed for quite some time in treating severe cases of mental illness. Originally known as “shock therapy,” ECT has evolved and is resurfacing as an effective treatment for those suffering with medication-resistant depression. Carol Kivler has received more than 50 ECT treatments over an 18 year period. For her, ECT provides the only option to treat periodic bouts of intense depression. Carol discusses her own experiences as a patient who has successfully been treated with ECT numerous times and her initial reaction to the recommendation, preparation, treatment, side effects, and recovery from ECT and depression. Don’t Tell Anyone I’ve had ECT - It’s My Secret The stigma surrounding ECT (Electroconvulsive Therapy) is often worse than the therapy itself. ECT is often still portrayed as brutal therapy done without anesthesia. Although ECT today is performed utilizing modern technology and anesthesia, still little information about its uses is available to the healthcare community and general public. Carol shares her own story and first-hand experience with Electroconvulsive Therapy. She speaks about “hiding” her diagnosis because of stigma and her decision to “come out” in order to combat the stereotypical image of ECT. She discusses ECT as a viable option for treating depression. The Other Side of Psychosis For many healthcare professionals, the frame of reference around depression is formed when individuals are in crisis. However, many living with a mental illness diagnosis have extended periods of time when they are not in crisis. Carol presents an honest look at the myths surrounding mental illness and those diagnosed with the disease. She focuses on dispelling the myths around mental illness, helping patients to live with their diagnosis and disease, and creating a supportive healthcare/patient partnership. The Darkest Moments of Depression: What you May Not Know Depression is an illness that can strike anyone at anytime. It is an illness that not only paralyzes you but robs your ability to enjoy life but can often leave you feeling hopeless, sometimes leading to self harm and suicide. Carol will help you enter the world of depression through a patient’s perspective. She shares her personal experience with four major, intensive bouts of depression; what she needed and continues to need from her family, friends, colleagues, and her treatment team, and how she dealt with the stigma that haunted her for the first eight years of her illness. 15% of all Speaker fees are donated to NAMI - Mercer of New Jersey. For more information contact: Carol Kivler at (609) 882-8988 or email her here.