CKD and Mental Health

A diagnosis of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) or kidney failure (end-stage kidney disease) can be shocking for many people since there aren’t any symptoms until the disease is quite advanced. This shock is often accompanied by a feeling of grief for previous good health, a sense of loss of control, and isolation from family and friends who can’t understand what it feels like. Depression and anxiety are very common in people with CKD. Some estimates indicate that depression affects around 50% of people with CKD at some point.

This webinar topic is intended to remind people that what they are feeling is not unusual, that they are not alone in feeling overwhelmed by a diagnosis, and that there are resources available to help adapt to a life with CKD and cope with the challenges. Dr. Gavril Hercz, a nephrologist and member of the Canadian Psychoanalytic Society will present this webinar. Dr. Hercz practices in nephrology with a specialty in psychosocial impact of chronic illness.

Presenters 

Dr. Gavril Hercz

 

Dr. Gavril Hercz is a nephrologist at Humber River Hospital and Associate Professor of Medicine, University of Toronto. He completed his psychoanalytic training at the Toronto Institute of Psychoanalysis and is a member of the Canadian Psychoanalytic Society. His major area of interest is the psychosocial impact of physical illness on patients, families, and clinicians.
 

Ida Aspro 

My name is Ida Aspro. I was born with Polycystic Kidney Disease. I went into kidney failure in January of 2012. I was on home dialysis and in-centre dialysis for a total of almost six and a half years. In the Spring 2018 while under the care of my doctors I was told that an anonymous living kidney donor was a possible match for me. After a battery of tests, on June 13, 2018, I received a kidney from that donor. Post-transplant I am now living a next to normal life once again. I am very, very grateful to God, to my anonymous living donor and to my transplant doctors and nurses for giving me a second chance at life.

Watch the webinar on Youtube
 

The Kidney Foundation of Canada, would like to thank our sponsors for providing unrestricted educational grants to make this webinar possible: