2025 Fall ICD Support Group

Welcome to our FALL 2025 ICD support group session. This event is offered exclusively to patients with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator or for those patients who are considering an ICD. The purpose of this event is to gather patients with similar cardiac illnesses to share stories, advice and struggles involved with living with an ICD.

Our opening session will focus on the Top 10 questions/tips/techniques for coping/mental health with an ICD. These will be answered in a Q&A format with open discussion to follow.

Following our opening session, patients will be able to engage in small group sessions which will allow patients to meet other patients and members of the cardiology and psychiatric care team to discuss specific topics of interest. This will be offered in person and virtually via Zoom breakout group function.

The event’s tentative agenda is below:

5:30-5:40PM: Opening remarks

5:40 - 6:40PM: Top 10 questions/tips/techniques for coping/mental health with an ICD.

• What does talk therapy look like?
• Are antidepressants safe?
• Strategies for insomnia
• Mindfulness techniques
• Common reasons to see a cardiac psychiatrist

6:40 - 7:10PM: Patient panel - pts who have sought out help for mental health and would be willing to talk about their experience (3-4 patients if possible)

7:10-7:25PM: open Q&A (in person and virtual)

This event will be offered in person at BWH Zinner Breakout Room in Shapiro Building 1st Fl, 70 Francis St Boston, MA and virtually via Zoom (see separate RSVP for virtual attendance).

The live event will provide light refreshments with parking ticket validation for the 80 Francis St Parking Garage. Each patient is allowed to bring 1 support person to the event; please include them in the invite. Contact [email protected] with any questions.

Host or Publisher Brigham and Women's Electrophysiology / Cardiac Device Team