Epilepsy support line to connect remote Tasmanian patients to help

Epilepsy Tasmania says a new telephone service will provide vital support for many people living with the disorder in remote parts of the state who cannot drive to face-to-face meetings.

The peer supporter service was launched in Hobart today and will connect people affected by epilepsy to trained volunteers also affected by the disorder.

Epilepsy Tasmania chief executive officer Wendy Groot said the service was the first of its kind relating to epilepsy in the world.

She said face-to-face support groups were run in Hobart, Launceston and Burnie, but people who lived outside those centres were missing out.

"A lot of people [with epilepsy] do not have a licence, so this enables them to make a phone call to be able to talk to somebody in their location rather than be isolated and alone," Ms Groot said.

"If you are living remotely and you are isolated, one of the biggest issues is people living with epilepsy can be four times higher across the population in terms of developing anxiety and depression.

"It helps them connect with people and understand that they are part of a community and not completely isolated in their patch."

Ms Groot said they hoped the service, Epilepsy Connect, would be picked up by other states.

Trained volunteers 'with shared experience'

Epilepsy Connect volunteer Katie Dineen was diagnosed with the disorder about five years ago after a seizure.

She said at the time she did not have anyone to talk to who understood and shared the experience.

"It was an enormous shock, a giant change in life," Mrs Dineen said.

"I was in my mid-30s, living life, two kids, working, and it turned everything upside down for me."

Mrs Dineen said she had "come to this point in my journey now where I hope I can contribute something, if [people with epilepsy] want to talk to somebody who has a shared experience".

"I want to be able to sit and listen and talk and have people share their experience with me."

All of the volunteers have been trained to provide telephone-based peer support and are backed by a team of health professionals.

The service was developed in partnership with the Centre for Rural Health and the University of Tasmania and is funded by a Tasmanian Community Fund grant.

Article Resources:http://www.abc.net.au/