"The LiveWell Program has helped so many people deal with their chronic depression and anxiety. I would certainly refer my patients to attend the LiveWell groups."ā
"The LiveWell Program has helped so many people deal with their chronic depression and anxiety. I would certainly refer my patients to attend the LiveWell groups."ā
The LiveWell Program®
for the treatment and prevention of depression
"The LiveWell Program has helped so many people deal with their chronic depression and anxiety. I would certainly refer my patients to attend the LiveWell groups."ā
--Dr. Aaron T. Beck , founder of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
LiveWell was founded, and continues to thrive, on the basic principle that people with depression can live healthier lives when they are supported by a caring community of peers, and when they can learn effective coping skills for directing their own healing journeys and celebrating their resilience.
ā
Utilizing this powerful combination of Peer Support and educational-based Guided Self-Care, we’re spearheading the way evidence-based depression services are delivered in this country - and helping countless people of all ages and backgrounds with depression to transform the lives and live well.
The LiveWell Program®
Leveraging Social Networks to Promote Widespread Individual Behavior Change
The LiveWell Program® is a GUIDED SELF-CARE behavioral health program strategically designed to empower people with depression to take longterm control of their own mental health. Our unique curriculum-based program teaches people the skills they need to reduce their own symptoms and relapses of depression, and to live more meaningful, connected, and productive lives.
ā
Because depression results from various factors and symptoms can affect every aspect of life, we know that treatment cannot be a one-size-fits-all approach. So we've combined aspects of evidence-based therapies with wisdom gained from diverse peers with lived experience of depression and resilience into a one-of-a-kind holistic, psychosocial educational program.
LiveWell support groups are organized around the LiveWell Strategies; and personal change is effected through social support, challenging thinking patterns, guided discussion prompts, behavioral activation and modeling, stigmatization and shame reduction, positive reinforcement, and mental health advocacy.
A holistic psychosocial educational model designed to meet the needs of a diverse population
LiveWell Programs: At A Glance
To better serve our diverse community, we continue to create new research-based versions of the skill-based, LiveWell curriculum. Our current peer-led support groups include:
Trusted Research
Guided Self-Care & Peer Support
Research shows that Guided Self-Care performs as well as psychotherapy for the treatment of depression, and will actually determine the benefit of other treatment options, such as therapy and medication. And peer-led interventions score better than psychotherapy for depression recovery, offering greater levels of self-efficacy, empowerment, and engagement. Link to relevant articles.
ā
ā
Community Support
Strength-Based Empowerment
Because social isolation - and/or silence and secrecy - will always make depression worse, we know that treatment and care must happen in community. And that's what we are - a community of supportive peers with shared experience of depression and resilience who are dedicated to helping each other live well. ā
ā
Philadelphia Neighborhood Groups
ā
ā
What people are saying about LiveWell...
"LiveWell has given me tools to improve not just my depression. I can honestly say it has changed my whole life."
ā
ā
- Shira (Philadelphia, PA)
"I didn’t expect a depression support group to have such a positive vibe. I like how we focus on solutions rather than problems. It has helped me a lot."
ā
- Ryan (Miami, FL)
"LiveWell literally saved me in a really dark time. The skills I learned, and the people I have met, are now helping me to not go back there [to the dark depression].
ā
- Helen (Dublin, Ireland)
Informing the LiveWell Program®
Research Articles and Publications
āTreatment Resistant Depression
Expanding services for patients with treatment resistant depression: the role of peer support (Chapter 14)
ā
Journal of Affective Disorders
Social interventions: An effective approach to reduce adult depression?
ā
American journal of community psychology
Meta-analysis of the effects of peer-administered psychosocial interventions on symptoms of depression
āā
Psychological Medicine (Cambridge University Press 2010)
Is guided self-help as effective as face-to-face psychotherapy for depression and anxiety disorders? A systematic review and meta-analysis of comparative outcome studies ā
ā
CBT guided self-help compares favourably to gold standard therapist-administered CBT and shows unique benefits over traditional treatment
āā
Mental Health and Social Inclusion
An update on the growing evidence base for peer support
ā
The International Journal of Psychosocial Rehabilitation
The theories, mechanisms, benefits, and practical delivery of psychosocial educational interventions for people with mental health disorders
ā
Psychiatric Rehabilitation Journal
Developing the evidence base for peer-led services: Changes among participants following wellness recovery action planning (WRAP) education in two statewide initiatives.
āā
