Updated Support Partners Program helps people with depression to build support group

Mar 31 2010

The Support Partners Program offered by Lilly USA is introducing several updated educational resources for people with depression and the people who care for them.

Each person experiences depression differently and may need support in different ways. The Support Partners Program shows individuals with depression ways to build their own support group, which, in turn, can help them better deal with their depression symptoms. The Support Partners Program can also help people better understand the illness and the importance of seeking help from a health care professional.

Available at SupportPartnersProgram.com, all materials are available in both English and Spanish and address a variety of topics related to depression, including a step-by-step guide that may help with the possibility of getting better.

"Lilly is proud to introduce its updated Support Partners Program as part of our extensive health education offerings," said Alex M. Azar II, vice president, Lilly USA. "We believe it is vital that we work together with patients and others in the health care system to improve patient care and overall public health. Providing these resources for patients is just one of our many initiatives."

Program components in the Support Partners Kit include: Managing Your Depression, which provides helpful tips, tools and steps to follow on building a support group and managing symptoms; Being a Support Partner, which includes information for the selected partner on everyday steps to help their friend or loved one with depression; Shared Guidebook, which features information designed for the patient and his or her Support Partner to focus on setting goals, tracking progress and noting important information; Ages and Stages, which outlines how women's experiences with depression can change during their lives; Canine Companions, which offers information about how dogs can have a positive effect on the overall health and emotional well-being of patients with depression.

In addition to Support Partners, Lilly offers a number of other educational materials online at lillyforbetterhealth.com. A few of these include:

• A Healthy You! – America's Guide to Healthy Living is a 148-page book that brings together a wide variety of health information from reliable sources in a simple, easy-to-use format. What makes the book unique is an extensive list of resources available to the public in each state. These state-specific resources help connect people to health programs and agencies in their area, making the search for health information easier. The book is available in English and Spanish.
• F.A.C.E. Diabetes Campaign is a grassroots movement focused on targeting African-Americans to help individuals and families overcome key barriers to success in living with diabetes.
• Healthy Family Home is a national program designed to help families make moderate changes in how they eat, play and spend time together. The program encourages families to choose healthy goals that make sense for them and that lead to sustained improvements. Materials are in English and Spanish.
• Lilly's patient assistance programs provide access to medications for patients in need. Over the past three years, Lilly has assisted more than 510,000 patients in the United States and distributed medications, valued at over $765 million.

SOURCE Lilly USA