Motivational Speaker Addresses Staying Positive Despite Chronic Illness

Online, July 1, 2012 (Newswire.com) - Both of the guest speakers at the July 15 meeting of the Hamilton Chapter of the PKD Foundation of Canada will address the psychosocial impact of chronic disease and how to mitigate it.

An expert on chronic illness and workplace engagement, Jason Reid was diagnosed with Crohn's disease and arthritis at an early age, but lived his dream of becoming an award-winning journalist, television producer and news manager. He recognized that many of his colleagues had health challenges and coached them to achieve record levels of productivity.

Susan Anderson began her career as a Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator. Today, as a leader for the "Take Charge!" program and a faculty leader for the Institute for Healthcare Communication's Choices and Changes workshop, she oversees the delivery of programs for people living with chronic conditions, as well as providing coaching support for health care providers.

"Balancing the demands of work, family and a social life is no easy task when one is also coping with the extra stress of a chronic condition," Shiona Mackenzie-Morrison, the PKD Foundation of Canada's Hamilton Chapter Coordinator, said.

"Patients diagnosed with a chronic illness like Polycystic Kidney Disease, for example, may be in denial or struggling with feelings of anger, helplessness, inadequacy, grief or resignation. It isn't easy to maintain your emotional wellbeing while physically sick. That's why it is so important to learn about local resources and to find role models and mentors in the community who can suggest useful self-management strategies. Susan and Jason will offer guidance and helpful techniques in their presentations at St. Joe's."

This presentation is part of an ongoing series of two-hour informational support meetings hosted by the Hamilton Chapter of the PKD Foundation of Canada. They are open to the public, free of charge and the venue is wheelchair accessible.

The PKD Foundation of Canada was founded in 1993 as a grassroots organization. The Hamilton Chapter launched in 2011. Our mission is to promote awareness, patient support and Canadian PKD research in order to discover treatments and a cure for Polycystic Kidney Disease.

More information is available online [ http://www.endpkd.ca/Hamilton/index.asp ].