Theme 1. Mental health and addictions
Presentation Details
Learning Objectives
Summary/Abstract
Collaboration between social work and dietitians (diabetes educators) in a group setting is a novel and innovative approach to diabetes management education. Currently, there is a gap in diabetes care as patients do not receive the adequate mental health support required to thrive. For example, many patients in diabetes education clinics struggle with stress, anxiety, trauma, and depression. Also, many patients with diabetes experience guilt and shame around their weight. All of these issues are barriers to diabetes self-care and unfortunately are not addressed in traditional diabetes education clinics. As a result, we brought dietitians and social workers together in order to develop and implement a group for diabetes management that incorporates nutrition science, mental health support, and an underlying philosophy that challenges weight bias.
This workshop will provide you with the tools needed to develop and implement this type of holistically-oriented diabetes management group. Through a combination of psychoeducational material and en vivo exercises, you will learn how to:
– Collaborate with other professionals to develop a multidisciplinary group for people living with diabetes
– Guide patients to challenge behaviours and patterns of thinking and that are at the root of their eating difficulties
– Help patients develop an accepting and self-compassionate approach to living with diabetes so they can improve the effectiveness of diabetes management education provided – Teach patients how to be more mindfully aware of their bodies and to be able to distinguish between thoughts physical sensations and emotions
– Overcome the barriers faced in facilitating a Health at Every Size-based group in a weight biased culture
Presenters