Living Life to the Full Interactive
Frequently Asked Questions
- How much does it cost to take this online course?
The course is free and we cover the cost for each individual Username. So if you find us asking you questions which you may wonder about, it is because we need to assess motivation and your ability to commit to a 6 week course.
- When can I start?
Before you are accepted on the course we go through a mood and anxiety scale with you to see if you would be suitable. As explained above we also need to ascertain motivation and your commitment to doing a 6 week course without interruptions e.g. holidays, special events or workplace projects which may mean you won't be able to fit it in. The course works best for those experiencing mild to moderate depression. If you can't fit it in just yet, you are always welcome to come back to us at any time in the future.
- How do I get on the course?
Just contact us by emailing info@actionondepression.org to register your interest.
- Do I need any special equipment?
All you need is access to a computer (home, library, community centre, friend’s house etc.), a broadband or 3G internet connection and email. It's preferable to have access to a printer as there will be workbooks to print-out, but we can send them to you in the post if needed. The course must be done using up-to-date browsers Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox (Google & Safari are incompatable).
- Why can’t I log-in?
In order to obtain a Username and Password you will need to contact us first to see if you are suitable for the course and to have a general chat about what it can offer you.
- How long does the course take?
The course can usually be completed in around 6 weeks when done once a week, If for any reason you are interrupted by something urgent or immediate we will strive to work round this so that you can complete the course.. We have a deadline so that the course is readily available to anyone who wants to take part and to make we don’t have ‘waiting lists’. The course is also designed to completed in 6 weeks as this has been found to be the most benefical way of tackling low mood.
- Is it for everyone?
The course is most suitable for those experiencing mild to moderate depression and anxiety. For those who score under 9 on the mood scale we would recommend www.llttf.com which you can do on your own. For those who score over 21, you will need to take one of our letters to your GP so that we know you will be supported by other means while doing the course. It is also suitable if you want to re-fresh CBT-based skills that you may have already done either with us or elsewhere.
- How could I benefit?
We all need life skills in our work, relationships and in every other aspect of our lives.
Probably we all have very different reasons for doing the course.
• Some of us may be experiencing depression/anxiety/stress or distress.
• Some of us may be caring/supporting people who are facing anxiety or depression.
• Some of us may be working with people with anxiety/depression.
Whatever your reason for wanting to learn these life skills we hope the content proves helpful. The skills taught cover general life skills that we can all use in our lives when we feel under pressure, stressed or distressed.
- What do I have to do?
You'll need to complete 6 online sessions lasting around 40 minutes each and in addition there will be resources for you to print off, read and use. You can also re-do any session that you've already completed. Each session is accompanied by a 15-20 minute support call to guide, motivate and encourage you.
- What if I start the course and it's not for me?
If you find, for whatever reason, the course is not for you, please do have a chat with your self-help coach first, as there may be something we could do to make things easier for you. It's worth giving it a chance though as the course uses this popular self-help format, and also the CBT model which has a proven effectiveness in helping people develop life skills that help them tackle feelings of low mood, stress and distress.
- What if I simply don't have the time?
The course takes just 40 minutes for each of the six sessions, that's the same time as an episode of your favourite programme. You don’t have to watch it all at once either; you can break this down into 2 x 20mins or 4 x 10mins. The workbooks are easy to read, with diagrams, spaces to fill in thoughts and ideas as you work through the programme. It’s worth finding a little time for something that could improve your life quite dramatically and skills that you can use for life.
- Where do I do the course?
You can do the online session anywhere where a computer or laptop has an internet connection. This could be at home, during your lunch break at work or even your local free internet cafe or library. Choose somewhere where you will feel comfortable and you can use headphones for privacy. For each of the six phone support sessions you don't have to be at your computer, it’s only for the log-in process, but please do have your workbook to hand.
- How will I know when it's working?
It's best not to focus too much on results or waiting for a 'change', though, you could try making mental notes of how you are feeling before and after each session. You could keep a small mood diary. Do you notice any small changes? At the beginning of the course a mood and anxiety scale is done and this is reviewed throughout the whole of the course, this can often give an indication of improvement. It’s important to remember though that this is not a ‘quick fix’ course and we hope that the skills and techniques you learn on the course will enable you to maintain good health and wellbeing.
- What do I do when the course has finished?
We hope that by doing the course you learn skills that can be used in your everyday life. That your ability to help yourself and build up some resilience and control over how you feel with the ups and downs that life often throws at you will help you live a fulfilling life.
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