Depression and Anxiety
Relief: Use Social Networking Sites! Radio PSA script
Use: Immediate
Time: 30
seconds
Agency: National
Alliance for Caregiving
Title: Depression
and Anxiety Relief: Use Social Networking Sites!
Do you provide care for a
loved one? Do you know someone who does? Protect yourself from depression and
anxiety by spending more time on social networking sites.
Caregivers often find
they do not have time for or live in rural areas that limit use of face-to-face
caregiver support classes. Social networking sites allow caregivers to engage
on their own time and in their own way.
Caregivers who spend over
3 hours a week on social networking sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram,
and Pinterest have lower rates of depression and anxiety.
Start spending more time
on social networking sites and reduce your risk of depression and anxiety.
Brought to you on behalf
of the National Alliance for Caregiving.
###
References
Asbury, T., & Myers, N. L. (2014). Therapeutic potential of
social networking sites for caregivers. Psychology
Research, 4(9), 749-753.
Laura,
ReplyDeleteGreat message! As someone who lives in a more rural area, I can see the benefit of such social networking sites. Even if rural caregivers had face-to-face support groups, they often lack the time or opportunity to attend such groups. If a person is the sole caregiver, they may find it impossible to leave their loved one (in rural areas, respite care is almost non-existent) but having the opportunity to participate in an web/technology based support group can be the answer. These sites can offer support at any time of the day so when their loved one may be resting, they can find support for their own needs.
Julie
Laura,
ReplyDeleteI think social media is a wonderful tool to help relieve the stress of caregivers. The caregivers do not feel the need to leave their loved one and can participate on their own time and in their own home. I also think this a great way for caregivers to exchange ideas of how they relieve their stress and socialize with others. Research has indicated individuals caring for their spouses are 63% more likely to die within four years due to the effects stress has on their health (Office on Women’s Health, 2012). Any method to decrease stress can have positive effects on caregiver’s health.
References
Office on Women’s Health. (2012). Caregiver stress fact sheet. Retrieved from http://www.womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/caregiver-stress.html#c
Julie & Christine,
ReplyDeleteThank you for your feedback. Great points! It is often hard for caregivers to find time to attend and in rural areas classes may not even be offered. The stress on spousal caregivers has been shown in numerous studies to be much higher than non-spousal caregivers. I know the Alzheimer's Association is starting to offer more online, asychronous caregiver support workshops but more that are accessible to caregivers of family with non AD and dementia diagnoses are needed.