Tampa, Fla., October 23, 2008 – The American Association of Kidney Patients (AAKP) is pleased to announce the upcoming AAKP HealthLine conference call, titled Understanding and Coping with Depression. The conference call takes place Tuesday, November 18, from 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. ET.

AAKP HealthLine is a FREE, one-hour conference call designed to educate kidney patients on a variety of topics affecting them and their families. Conference calls feature kidney healthcare experts from across the country and provide patients with the convenience of gaining knowledge from the comfort of their home or office.

The conference call features presentations by AAKP Board Member Renee Bova-Collis, MSW, LCSW. She is the Patient Services Coordinator for the Mid-Atlantic Renal Coalition. Also, listeners will hear from Sean Harvey, DO, a nephrologist and psychiatrist. Dr. Harvey is currently the Medical Director of the Mental Health/Addictions Recovery Unit as well as the Pain and Palliative Medicine service at Lakeland Regional Medical Center in Lakeland, Fla. 

During the Understanding and Coping with Depression HealthLine call, patients will learn: 

• What is depression?
• The difference between clinical depression and everyday stress.
• Factors that may contribute to depression.
• Common emotional responses to depression and stress.
• Coping methods and support networks for individuals experiencing depression.

Conference calls are organized by AAKP. Participation is FREE and no phone charges apply. To learn more about AAKP HealthLine or to register for the upcoming call, contact AAKP at (800) 749-AAKP or visit www.aakp.org, and click the “Educational Programs & Events” button. Patients can also listen to archived calls on the AAKP Web site.

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AAKP is the voluntary, patient organization, which for more than 35 years, has been dedicated to improving the lives of fellow kidney patients and their families by helping them deal with the physical, emotional and social impact of kidney disease. The programs offered by AAKP inform and inspire patients and their families to better understand their condition, adjust more readily to their circumstances, and assume more normal, productive lives in their communities.