Raising Awareness — Instilling Hope — Combating Stigma

Carol Kivler will help you enter the world of depression through a patient’s perspective. Through her various presentations she will share her personal experience with four major, intensive bouts of depression; what she needed and continues to need from her family, friends, colleagues, and her treatment team; and how she dealt with the stigma that haunted her for the first eight years of her illness.

Carol’s presentations are available as a keynote (30 - 90 minutes) or as an extended workshop (3 hours)

Putting the Face of Hope on Depression

Summary: Depression is a debilitating illness that is widespread, yet often misunderstood, misdiagnosed, and whispered about with ridicule leaving those who truly have it shamed into depriving themselves the very treatment that will help them to recover.

Chances are you or someone you know is, or has been directly affected by depression. Major depression is not an attitude, a flaw in character, laziness or a call for attention; and it cannot be brought on or fought off by will. Depression is not something to be ashamed of and most importantly, it is not something that should be ignored because left untreated, serious depression can be life crippling and even lead to suicide.

One in four women will experience severe depression at some point in life. Depression is the number one cause of disability in women. Depression is more common than cancer, heart disease and diabetes combined. Most startling is that only about one-fifth of all women who suffer from depression seek treatment. Depression is at an epidemic level yet most women struggle in silence not seeking treatment. There is no better time to educate, support and advocate for an open dialogue around this debilitating illness.

Carol Kivler’s mission is to put the face of hope on depression. She is a courageous survivor and living proof that recovery from depression is not only possible, but probable. After years spent dealing with her own debilitating depression while managing a family and a business, Carol was inspired to create presentations that shine a light on the causes, stigmas and various treatment options associated with depression as well as the reactions of family members and health care providers towards the depressed individual. Carol presents a wealth of information about the illness, the lives it touches and the stigma that can threaten those very lives in an honest, riveting, informative and memorable style.

Objective: To create an awareness of a widespread yet misunderstood illness, to expose the most common stigmas attached to both the illness and its treatment options and to provide tips to enrich and enhance the lives of the depressed individual and those who interact with them.

Presentation Highlights Include:

  • Signs and symptoms that distinguish sadness from the depressive disorder
  • General overview of clinical depression
  • Various treatment options available
  • Tips for those who interact with a depressed individual
  • Courageous Recovery’s unique “Wellness Model” for consumers, loved ones and health care providers; out of the box ideas for enhancing recovery
  • Strategies to reach beyond the myths and stigma surrounding mental illness


Demystifying ECT: What You Don’t See in the Movies
Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT) is a potent therapeutic tool that has existed for quite some time in treating severe cases of mental illness. Originally known as “shock therapy,” ECT has evolved and is resurfacing as an effective treatment for those suffering with medication-resistant depression. Carol Kivler has received more than 50 ECT treatments over an 18 year period. For her, ECT provides the only option to treat periodic bouts of intense depression.

Carol discusses her own experiences as a patient who has successfully been treated with ECT numerous times and her initial reaction to the recommendation, preparation, treatment, side effects, and recovery from ECT and depression.



Don’t Tell Anyone I’ve had ECT - It’s My Secret
The stigma surrounding ECT (Electroconvulsive Therapy) is often worse than the therapy itself. ECT is often still portrayed as brutal therapy done without anesthesia. Although ECT today is performed utilizing modern technology and anesthesia, still little information about its uses is available to the healthcare community and general public.

Carol shares her own story and first-hand experience with Electroconvulsive Therapy. She speaks about “hiding” her diagnosis because of stigma and her decision to “come out” in order to combat the stereotypical image of ECT. She discusses ECT as a viable option for treating depression.



The Other Side of Psychosis
For many healthcare professionals, the frame of reference around depression is formed when individuals are in crisis. However, many living with a mental illness diagnosis have extended periods of time when they are not in crisis.

Carol presents an honest look at the myths surrounding mental illness and those diagnosed with the disease. She focuses on dispelling the myths around mental illness, helping patients to live with their diagnosis and disease, and creating a supportive healthcare/patient partnership.



The Darkest Moments of Depression: What you May Not Know
Depression is an illness that can strike anyone at anytime. It is an illness that not only paralyzes you but robs your ability to enjoy life but can often leave you feeling hopeless, sometimes leading to self harm and suicide.

Carol will help you enter the world of depression through a patient’s perspective. She shares her personal experience with four major, intensive bouts of depression; what she needed and continues to need from her family, friends, colleagues, and her treatment team, and how she dealt with the stigma that haunted her for the first eight years of her illness.

15% of all Speaker fees are donated to NAMI - Mercer of New Jersey.

For more information contact: Carol Kivler at (609) 882-8988 or email her here.