"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)
The LiveWell Program®
Leveraging Social Networks to Promote Widespread Individual Behavior Change
A holistic psychosocial educational model designed to meet the needs of a diverse population
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.
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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.
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.
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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
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Philadelphia Neighborhood Groups
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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."
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- 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."
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- 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].
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- 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)
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Journal of Affective Disorders
Social interventions: An effective approach to reduce adult depression?
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American journal of community psychology
Meta-analysis of the effects of peer-administered psychosocial interventions on symptoms of depression
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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
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CBT guided self-help compares favourably to gold standard therapist-administered CBT and shows unique benefits over traditional treatment
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Mental Health and Social Inclusion
An update on the growing evidence base for peer support
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The International Journal of Psychosocial Rehabilitation
The theories, mechanisms, benefits, and practical delivery of psychosocial educational interventions for people with mental health disorders
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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.
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