Meetings are held remotely via Zoom so that you can join from wherever you are. Due to generous sponsorship, this 15-week group is provided at no cost for participants affiliated with University of Michigan, Helen DeVos Children's Hospital and Beaumont Hospital.

**Parents affiliated with the University of Michigan, please use coupon code UMPC200 upon registration.

**Parents affiliated with Helen DeVos Children's Hospital, please use coupon code DV200 upon registration.

**Parents affiliated with Beaumont Hospital, please use coupon code BM200 upon registration.

We help you care for yourself, while you care for your family

Parenting can be challenging under the best circumstances. However, parents of chronically ill children have extraordinary amounts of stress that affects them and their whole family’s well-being. This is due to both extra logistical demands on parent’s time such as doctor or therapy appointments, medical treatments, and hospitalizations but also emotional demands on parents, such as watching their child be in pain, worrying about the child’s vulnerability, or explaining the health problems to those outside the family. We believe that parents of chronically ill children deserve emotional support to help cope with these extra stressors.

Many parents’ first response might be, “I don’t have time to take for myself!” Or, “my needs are not as important as my child!” As they say on airplanes, it’s essential that you put your oxygen mask on before you help others. We believe the same is true for mental wellness. We think that not only do you deserve to feel happy and healthy, you will be better able to care for others when you are taking care of yourself.

Therefore, we invite you to take part in a program that focuses on self-care, mental wellness, and identifying strategies to better cope: Mood Lifters. Mood Lifters is an innovative program that was developed by researchers at the University of Michigan, that brings together small groups of parents who will discuss strategies to improve their mental health and overall well-being. Our goal is to help people live the life they’ve always wanted: one with deep meaning, less anxiety and depression, more joy and contentment, and better relationships.

We understand that it is a commitment on your part – it takes time, determination, and effort to learn new skills. We believe this will be worth it for you and your family. We hope you will consider participating in Mood Lifters to focus on self-care, self-compassion, and connecting with parents and leaders who will understand your journey.

For participants unaffiliated with University of Michigan, Helen DeVos or Beaumont (Codes listed above), the cost for the 15-week program is $249.

Evidenced-based = It Works

Mood Lifters was tested in a randomized control trial, the gold standard for scientific research. Participants show statistically significant decreases in depressive and anxiety symptoms and negative emotions.

How do I get started?

Register and fill out a Pre-Survey
Come to the Meetings
Practice the Skills
Feel the Difference

Peer-level Help

All groups are led by a specially-trained peer leader — a previous program participant who has experience with some of the same care-giving stressors you may be experiencing.

You are not alone in this journey — 8-15 other parents will join you every week! While each will have their own unique challenges and concerns — you share a common goal — to live a happy and healthy life! Support from your group is just another ingredient in the recipe for improved mental fitness.

Mood Lifters - Online - Palliative Care