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Durango woman forming group to help those who are mildly depressed

A Durango woman has taken the first step to form a support group for people who are mildly to moderately depressed.

An initial meeting is scheduled from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday in an upstairs meeting room at Durango Public Library.

Support groups exist for almost every other ailment or cause, Leela Gill, who will act as meeting facilitator, said.

Gill wants people feeling down to know they’re not alone and to know there is a safe place to share feelings with others.

“It’s surprising there aren’t support groups for people suffering from depression,” said Gill, who has periodic bouts of depression.

The full page of support group listings published the third Sunday in The Durango Herald would seem to bear Gill out. Among the 56 listings are entries for Alzheimer’s, brain injuries, alcoholism, multiple sclerosis, suicide survivors, prostate cancer, Parkinson’s disease, smokers and attention deficit disorder.

Support groups have been formed even for stressed-out caregivers and therapists.

In reality, Axis Health System holds a weekly group session for people experiencing anxiety or depression. The session meets from 10:30 a.m. to noon Thursday at the Axis office, 281 Sawyer Drive in Bodo Industrial Park.

Gill, 61, a commercial real estate manager, wouldn’t be taken for a person suffering from depression.

She’s hale, happily married and, generally, a happy person.

“When I’m with people, I’m OK,” Gill said. “But when I try to go without my anti-depressants or I’m alone, I get weepy.

“I’m a healthy, well-rounded, successful, sometimes joyful person who also suffers from depression,” Gill said.

She can be reached at sleela@live.com or 759-2400.

The Depressed/Bipolar Support Alliance, headquartered in Chicago, has offices on the Front Range and in Montrose and Delta on the Western Slope.

Karen Fallahi, a resource for the depressed at the Colorado Springs office, said eight groups meet there weekly. The groups are oriented to specific constituencies such as the elderly, teens, families and adults, she said.

daler@durangoherald.com



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