Two new workshops start this year at the North Shore's only mental health promotion and community development centre, Raeburn House. Groups co-ordinator Lisa Ducat says the courses, Energy Healing for Change and Art Therapy, were successfully trialled last year. ``It's a beginning point for people who might want to go off anddo more in that area. Ours is a community one and very low-cost,'' she says. The Energy Healing for Change course help people learn to do things for themselves. ``It means physically doing things, not just talking. People can learn emotional freedom techniques.'' Ms Ducat says people come in with all kinds of mental health issues, from major life crises like a marriage break-up to long-term depression. ``Stress is a big one. Depression is quite common. The World Health Organisation has said that within the next 10-20 years, depression is going to be the biggest burden of disease. One in five people suffer from it at some time in their life.'' Ongoing groups include Men in Change, the only men's support group on the Shore, and New Horizons, a group for older people who participate in activities and outings. ``We do referral too. If you don't know where to find a counsellor we have databases and directories to help people.'' Info: Raeburn 441 8989, info@raeburnhouse.org.nz or www.raeburnhouse.org.nz. - by Kirsten Grant
