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By Alyssa Rudolph

information event

‘It’s not a life sentence’: an evening learning about depressive response

Dec 12, 2025 | 12:01 PM

“The hardest years of my life were in high school in Meadow Lake when I didn’t know if I wanted to be alive,” said Barry Samson, a local personal coach who now uses his own experience to help others cope.

Samson took his own life lessons and combined it with formal training to spend his time helping people manage depression.

Barry Samson, leader of the event on depression being held in Meadow Lake. (submitted/BarrySamson)

“We want people to begin to talk about depression in a new way, not something to just be afraid of and suffer through,” said Samson.

During the event, participants will learn about how their mood is based on a depressive response. Samson believes that this response is a symptom of something that needs fixing or attention in the person’s life.

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“Life can be difficult, and we have lots of people in our world, and certainly in the town of Meadow Lake, and areas that are struggling with depression,” he said.

The organizers hope the event will target three separate groups of people; individuals who suffer from depression, family members of people who suffer, and business leaders.

After the event, participants will be introduced to a free virtual group pod process where people meet once a week. The program helps make those suffering feel empowered, knowing they can make changes in their lives and deal with the push back from their emotions.

“In the past, we’ve run two different pods. One we call the pit pods for those in the pit of depression and then also loved one pod for those who live with or work with or are related to someone who is struggling with this thing we call depression,” Samson said.

The three-month program is a compilation of knowledge that Samson learnt from both schools he attended. It encourages participants to generate homework that is meant to help identify changes that need to made in the person’s life. The group then helps to come up with a strategy to follow through with those changes.

“For example, you have a brother that you haven’t spoken to in 10 years, and you want to present that as homework, then you bring that to the pod, say ‘I got a homework piece; this is what I’m going to do.’ Real rubber on the road, not just talk,” said Samson.

The information class will take place on Jan. 8 at 7:00 p.m. located at the Old Provincial Building, 201 2nd Street West. Anyone wanting to attend the free event is asked to contact Positively Parenting or Barry Samson as there is limited room available.

Information event on depression held in Meadow Lake on Jan. 8. (submitted/BarrySamson)

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alyssa.rudolph@pattisonmedia.com