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Depression has been associated with end-stage kidney disease, a study published in the American Journal of Kidney Diseases, the official journal of the National Kidney Foundation, found that 20% of patients with early-stage chronic kidney disease (CKD) also suffered from depression. Patients with chronic kidney disease should understand that they are at increased risk for depression and ask physicians to monitor them regularly for signs of depression.

 

To address this problem, the “Stepping Back Into Life”(SBIL) program is administered by a trained social worker and includes a self-guided exercise for each patient. Focusing on providing coping mechanisms after a traumatic event/natural disaster, understanding more about living with CKD, managing depression and stress, keeping relationships strong, and maintaining levels of activity with kidney disease are the main objectives of "Stepping Back Into Life."

 

The "Stepping Back Into Life" (SBIL) program aims to provide emotional rehabilitation to kidney patients dealing with trauma and stress from a disaster. The program does this through guided modules administered by the dialysis unit social workers to help kidney patients cope effectively. In addition to helping kidney patients better understand their feelings, manage depression, and lower stress, the program aims to develop the range of communication by providing brief therapy to help individuals identify and solve problems that can arise after trauma or disasters. This program aims to improve the mental health and well-being of kidney patients by giving them tools to handle the psychological impact. 

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To learn more about SBIL; please contact Ingrid Amador at ingrid@kidneyla.org 

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For more immediate support for patients, please visit: 

NKF PEERS: https://www.kidneyla.org/nfk-peers

NKF CARES: https://www.kidneyla.org/nfk-cares