VOLUME 53: June 2007 | online at www.cmha.bc.ca/enews/enewsjune07.htm

CMHA News
CMHA BC is Looking For a Few Good People – Call for Board Nominations
Supporting People with Chronic Illness and Depression or Anxiety
Be a part of this year's Beyond the Blues: Depression Anxiety Screening and Education Day
Sign Up for E-Visions! Email Version of Visions Journal to Reach Even More Readers
New Look and Resources for Mental Health Works Website
CMHA National Webcast on the Benefits of Mental Wellness at Work
Vancouver/Burnaby Branch Special Events
North Shore Health Lecture Series

Featured Program:
Feeling Overwhelmed? BC's Crisis Lines are Here to Help

Canadian Research
Mental Illness Hospitalization Rate Stays Steady
Reluctance to Seek Help Increases Incidence of Suicide Among Men
Depression Risk Higher for Divorced Men
Health Care Management, Follow-Up Improves Outcomes for Those with Depression
Jury Still Out On Fairness of Forcible Treatment for People With Mental Illness
More Than 30% of Canadians Say They are Workaholics
Reducing Workloads Key to Reducing Problem of Job Stress
Take a Vacation – It’s Good For Your Health
Despite Challenges, People With Schizophrenia See Sexuality As Essential Aspect of Identity
People With Schizophrenia More Likely to Move From Suburbs to Cities
Public Health Risks Too High for Direct-to-Consumer Advertising

CMHA Mailbox:
7 Years Later

Research From Around the World
Serious Mental Illness More Than Doubles Risk of Death from Chronic Heart Disease and Stroke
Marijuana Triggers Psychotic Symptoms in Some
Depression Relapse in Many Women Prevented by Monthly Interpersonal Psychotherapy
Direct Contact is Most Effective Anti-Stigma Activity
Early Psychosis Intervention Services Need to Involve Families
Trauma and PTSD May Lead to Psychotic Symptoms
Stress of SARS Risk Affects Hong Kong Health Care Worker

New Programs and Resources
Coping With Suicidal Thoughts
Hope and Healing: A Practical Guide for Survivors of Suicide
New Look and Video Resources for AnxietyBC Website
Depression Lifelines Website Connects Canadians to Depression Information
No Health Without Mental Health
Network Magazine on Social Inclusion
Family Matters – A Tool for Teens
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy: Core Information Document
New Website for Parents of Kids with Special Needs
Supporting Students: A Model Policy for Colleges and Universities
Family Physician Guide for Mental Illnesses
Working With a Client Who is Suicidal
Planning Guidelines for Mental Health Services for People with Developmental Disability
Working Effectively With Interpreters in a Mental Health Setting
Statistics Canada Guide to Finding Canadian Data on Women's Mental Health

Announcements
Mental Health Commission Priorities Outlined
BC Increases Mental Health Funding for Children
BC Launches Pilot Program for Parents of Children with Mental Illness
Great-West Life Establishes Centre for Mental Health in the Workplace
New Collaborative Occupational Safety Program Includes Mental Health
Yukon Government Announces Community Wellness Court
Physicians Urge Reduction of Psychiatry and Emergency Care Wait Times
Scientists Encouraged to Focus on Psychological Needs of Cancer Survivors
Mental Illness Targeted by Workplace Screening Program
Mad Pride Group Show Accepting Artist Submissions
Moving Lives Forward Scholarship Accepting Applications
Nominations Open for Spirit of Hope Awards in Immigrant Mental Health
Quality of Life in Bipolar Disorder Study Seeking Participants
Depression and Fatigue Study Seeking Survey Participants
Northern Health Seeking Public Input on Mental Health and Addictions

Public Education Events
Movie Mondays in Victoria
Integrated Treatment of Substance Abuse and Psychosis
After Deinstitutionalization: Designing Recovery-Based Services in Victoria
Frames of Mind Mental Health Film Series – I Have Tourettes But Tourettes Doesn’t Have Me
MDA Education Evenings – Stand Up for Mental Health

Courses and Workshops
Mental Health Works Workshops
Helping the Helper Non-Profit Management Workshops
Responsive Parenting for Concurrent Disorder Youth
New Writing Group for People With Mental Illness
Headlines’ Theatre for Living Training Workshop

Conferences
Living Well: Mental Health and Addictions Recovery in Victoria
No Health Without Mental Health – Mental Health Promotion Symposium
Housing Conference in Red Deer, Alberta
Urban Aboriginal Forum: The Path Forward
The Warrior in Me Leadership Seminar in Duncan

CMHA News

CMHA BC is Looking For a Few Good People – Call for Board Nominations - Due June 10 [back to top]
CMHA BC Division is currently seeking candidates for five positions on our Board of Directors. The position of Board Member is a volunteer position which requires a commitment of five hours per month in addition to attending regular meetings—roughly four per year—for a term of three years. Nominees are required to be a member of CMHA or willing to become a member. In addition to fulfilling the above requirements, we hope to recruit new board members with diverse experiences including youth, ethnocultural and BC regional perspectives; direct experience as a person with mental illness, or as a friend, family member, or service/care provider; and financial management or fundraising experience. If you would like to nominate a worthy individual or are interested in becoming a member of our board, see the PDF format poster or full details in our nomination package. Nominations are due June 10th, 2007.

Supporting People with Chronic Illness and Depression or Anxiety [back to top]
Announced during Mental Health Week, CMHA BC Division has received a $6 million grant from Primary Health Care of the Medical Services Division for a multi-year project to support people with chronic physical conditions that are accompanied by mental health conditions. Approximately one in three British Columbians suffer from chronic conditions such as diabetes, arthritis and congestive heart failure, which are often linked to mental health problems like depression and anxiety. We're looking forward to working together with the primary health care sector to support people with chronic physical conditions better address and manage both their physical and mental health. See the news release for details. Or check out the results of some past work we have been a part of in the area of primary care and mental health.

Be a part of this year's Beyond the Blues: Depression Anxiety Screening and Education Day [back to top]
Beyond the Blues: Depression Anxiety Education and Screening Day is coordinated annually in October during the first Thursday of Mental Illness Awareness Week by CMHA BC Division on behalf of the BC Partners for Mental Health and Addictions Information. Beyond the Blues is an opportunity to learn more about mood and anxiety disorders and their treatments, complete a brief questionnaire, speak one-on-one with a clinician, and find out about the range of community resources available to help. All sites also receive information on alcohol use, with many sites also offering screening for risky drinking because of its relationship often with mood and anxiety problems.
    Each year, there are 60-70 sites across BC hosted by public, non-profit and private partner organizations and individuals. Sites can be large or small, broad or targeted to a particular population. Site hosts provide some staffing or volunteer time to plan an event and find and coordinate a venue and clinicians. Province-wide planning and infrastructure support and materials and tools are all provided by CMHA BC, free of charge. If you're interested in learning more on how to host your own site for October 2007, please contact bcpartners@heretohelp.bc.ca. For more general information, see www.heretohelp.bc.ca/events.

Sign Up for E-Visions! Email Version of Visions Journal to Reach Even More Readers [back to top]
You asked and we answered. A recent evaluation of Visions Journal revealed that many mental health and addiction service providers in particular would like to have a better way to have access to key articles in each issue. Now Visions, BC’s award-winning mental health and addictions journal, can be delivered straight to your inbox, a week before it hits the press! Four times a year you’ll receive an email summary of Visions articles with links to the full HTML article. Read only what you want, when you want and share it easily with others - no PDF readers needed! Best of all, eVisions is free! To subscribe or unsubscribe to E-Visions, simply visit www.heretohelp.bc.ca and click the eVisions button for the sign up form. Email addresses will be used for no other purpose than delivering eVisions.
   Visions: BC's Mental Health and Addictions Journal is produced by CMHA BC on behalf of the BC Partners for Mental Health and Addictions Information, through funding from BC Mental Health and Addiction Services, an agency of the Provincial Health Services Authority. Each issue is themed around a specific topic, providing in-depth forum for the many voices of people who care about mental health, mental illness and substance use issues - written by and for the mental health and addictions community.

New Look and Resources for Mental Health Works Website [back to top]
The Mental Health Works website has been expanded and revamped to include new articles and resources, plus a new home page which immediately addresses key questions about mental health in the workplace for managers and employees. Find the answers to questions such as: How can I approach an employee about their mental illness? How can I tell an employer that I’m ill? Do I have to tell my employer that I’m ill? How can I prevent mental illness in myself and my co-workers or employees? Get informed at www.mentalhealthworks.ca. If these issues interest you and you want training in your workplace, contact Mental Health Works in BC at mentalhealthworks@cmha.bc.ca.

CMHA National Webcast on the Benefits of Mental Wellness at Work [back to top]
Check out a new online video from CMHA National on mental health in the workplace and achieving work-life balance. In the short webcast, Alain Thauvette from Desjardins Financial Security and Renée Ouimet from the Canadian Mental Health Association comment on the results from the 2007 Desjardins Financial Security National Health Survey. Both the video and the special report, "A State of Mind. Work Well, Live Better," published in the Globe and Mail during Mental Health Week in May 2007 are available on the www.cmha.ca website.

Vancouver/Burnaby Branch Special Events [back to top]
CMHA Vancouver/Burnaby Branch's Recreation Services Program provides opportunities for adults who are living with mental illness to participate in recreation and experience the benefits of leisure. The following special events take place at or depart from the Vancouver Recreation Office at 175 West Broadway. Please call 604-872-3148 to register for two of the following events. Please note that residents of Vancouver will be given priority for registration.
June 8 – Health Nutrition & Smoothie Workshop
June 11 – The Naam Restaurant
June 18 – Bike Around Stanley Park
June 22 – Victoria Day Trip
June 25 – Jazz Festival Afternoon
June 29 – Capilano Watershed Bus Tour

North Shore Health Lecture Series [back to top]
The free weekly Health Lecture Series organized by CMHA North and West Vancouver Branch meets on the 2nd floor of the John Braithwaite Community Centre at 145 West 1st Street in North Vancouver (between Chesterfield and Lonsdale Avenue). All lectures start at 7pm. For more information please phone 604-987-6959 or visit www.cmhanwv.com.
June 6 – Play as an Expression of Our Soul
June 13 – Shadow Play
June 20 – The Brain as a Basis for Mental Health
June 27 – Zy Qigong

Featured CMHA Program: Feeling Overwhelmed? BC's Crisis Lines are Here to Help   Did you know that many of BC's crisis lines have been providing service for nearly 35 years and are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week? Did you also know that each year, some 1,200 specifically trained volunteers from 21 crisis lines in the province answer more than 145,000 calls and provide free, confidential support and resource information to those who are emotionally distressed? People phone crisis lines for numerous an varied reasons: suicide, mental health problems, relationship conflicts, family violence, grief, addiction issues, or just plain loneliness. During the call, they are invited to talk about the situation or problem causing the distress, explore possible options and determine what to do next. Together, the caller and volunteer can discuss strategies that might have worked in the past or review safety and action plans previously developed with other service providers. After talking with a volunteer, callers often report they feel less isolated and alone. In approximately 7,000 calls each year, the situation seems so hopeless that the caller is considering suicide. Thoughts like this can be very frightening and often result in increased feelings of isolation and helplessness. At other times though, a caller may require help beyond that which the crisis line is able to offer. In those cases, the volunteer can provide information about available community resources thus enabling the caller to seek additional help. If you or someone you know needs help, consult the inside cover of your local telephone book or www.suicideinfo.ca for the number of the crisis line in your area. CMHA branches provide 24-hour Crisis Lines in four BC regions: CMHA Kootenays Branch Crisis Line (250) 426-8407 or 1-800-667-8407 If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, contact Chris Foster at Volunteer Cranbrook at (250) 426- 8019, extension 36. CMHA South Okanagan Similkameen Branch Crisis Line (250)-493-6622 CMHA Williams Lake Branch Crisis Line (250) 398-8224 Prince George Branch Crisis Line (250) 493-6622 You can also call the province-wide crisis line at 1-800-SUICIDE (that's 1-800-784-2433) and to be connected to a crisis line in BC without a wait or a busy signal. Reprinted with permission from the Kootenay News Advertiser. (2007, April 6) Overwhelmed by pressure?, Kootenay News Advertiser, p.9. To learn more about services provided by CMHA branches in BC, visit the CMHA BC website at www.cmha.bc.ca.

Canadian Research

Mental Illness Hospitalization Rate Stays Steady [back to top]
The hospitalization rate for mental illness in Canada stayed largely unchanged in 2004-05 compared with the year before, according to a report from the Canadian Institute for Health Information. Canadian hospitals reported 147,642 separations, defined as the discharge or death of a hospitalized patient, related to mental illness in 2004-05, the latest report said. Since separations count events rather than patients, someone who is admitted and discharged three times during a year would be counted as three separations. The figure translates to 605 hospitalizations per 100,000 population, which is about the same as the 607 separations per 100,000 population reported in 2003-04, the institute said. See "Mental illness hospitalization rate stays steady: report," at www.cbc.ca. The report "Availability of Hospital Mental Health Data, 2004-2005," is available in PDF format at www.cihi.ca.

Reluctance to Seek Help Increases Incidence of Suicide Among Men [back to top]
A report in the April 2007 issue of SIEC Alert, published by the Centre for Suicide Prevention, explores the factors that place men 2 to 4 times greater risk of suicide than women. These factors include cultural attitudes, alcohol or substance use, individualism, availability of lethal methods, and reluctance to seek help for suicidal behaviours or other mental health issues. Studies have shown that men are less likely to recognize there is a problem and are more reluctant to seek help. Men often wait until they reach a point of crisis, and when they do seek help, there are barriers that often prevent them from getting treatment. See "Men and Suicide. Part 1: Risk Factors," at www.suicideinfo.ca.
   >> if the topic of men's mental health interests you, check out the issue of Visions Journal issue on Men on the HeretoHelp.bc.ca website.

Depression Risk Higher for Divorced Men [back to top]
When a man's marriage breaks down, he may be at higher risk of depression than people who remain together and women who divorce or separate, reports Statistics Canada. Using data from the National Population Health Survey, the study found that when a couple's marriage or common-law relationship ended, depression occurred in about 12% of cases, compared with 3% among people who remained in a relationship, two years after participants were first interviewed in 1994-1995. Men aged 20 to 64 who had divorced or separated were 6 times more likely to report an episode of depression than were men who remained married. The comparable depression figure for women left alone after broken marriages was 3.5 times more likely. See "Depression risk higher for divorced men: Statistics Canada," at www.cbc.ca.

Health Care Management, Monitoring and Follow-Up Improves Outcomes for People with Depression [back to top]
A review of the literature published in the February issue of Canadian Journal of Psychiatry concludes that changing the way primary health care settings provide care has a significant impact on outcomes for people with depression. The report found that incorporating mental health care coordinators, visiting psychiatrists, changes in treatment protocols to include screening and routine follow-up, and support to enable people to better manage their own problems improves care. The evidence also suggests that system changes that reinforce the impact of each of these elements in combination improve care further. For example, screening only leads to better outcomes if it is linked with treatment, and the care manager's role is more effective if there is regular communication with the primary care provider. See "Chronic Disease Management for Depression in Primary Care: A Summary of the Current Literature and Implications for Practice," available in PDF format at www.publications.cpa-apc.org.
   >> if the topic of access to quality health care interests you, you might also be interested in the results of Improving Primary Care Mental Health Services, a National Quality Care Project available at www.cmha.bc.ca.

Jury Still Out On Fairness of Forcible Treatment for People With Mental Illness [back to top]
Community Treatment Orders are one of the most contentious legal provisions in Canadian psychiatry. The relatively new measure allows doctors to force uncooperative patients to submit to treatment in the community or be detained and hospitalized against their will. Yet, in spite of the controversy that surrounds them, CTOs are a rising trend in Canada. They are currently used in Ontario and in Saskatchewan, are under consideration in Alberta and in Newfoundland, and will become an option in Nova Scotia this summer. The Ontario law was subject to a formal review after five years. The results of that review were released this month, and they show that CTOs have done more to help the mentally ill in Ontario than hurt them. The review also found that CTOs are only as effective as the services available to support the person with mental illness involved. See "Jury still out on fairness of forceable treatment for mentally-ill Canadians," at www.canada.com. See also "Report on the Legislated Review of Community Treatment Orders, Required under Section 33.9 of the Mental Health Act," available at www.health.gov.on.ca.

More Than 30% of Canadians Say They are Workaholics [back to top]
Nearly a third of Canadians see themselves as workaholics and they are more likely than others to be dissatisfied with their work-life balance, says a Statistic Canada study. The study, "Time escapes me: Workaholics and time perception," found that nearly one-third, or 31 per cent of Canadians aged 19 to 64, identify themselves as workaholics. A full 65 per cent of workaholics, expressed concern that they do not spend enough time with family and friends while only 45 per cent of non-workaholics reported this worry. Workaholics were also more likely to report that the state of their health was generally fair or poor, they had trouble falling and staying asleep and surprisingly, they did not enjoy their jobs more than other workers. See "More than 30% of Canadians say they are workaholics: StatsCan," at www.cbc.ca.

Reducing Workloads Key to Reducing Problem of Job Stress [back to top]
Based on interviews with 600 employers and 2,000 a new report by EAP provider Wilson Banwell looks at the scope and nature of the problems Canadian employers and employees face in achieving work-life balance. The report indicates that while the most common human resource challenges employers face are work-life balance and employee stress, less than one-third of employers have taken any action on these issues. The report says that employers can address these issues by reducing workloads and improving the quality of supervision, actions that have the potential to reduce the causes of job stress. A key message from the report is that organizations face difficult challenges in addressing stress when the people who are the most stressed, and have the least time, are the managers and professionals who are expected to implement work-life balance programs and policies. See "Under Pressure: Implications of Work-Life Balance and Job Stress, Human Solutions Report, 2006-07," at www.grahamlowe.ca.
    >> interested in improving mental health in your workplace? Learn about Mental Health Works workplace training workshops at www.cmha.bc.ca.

Take a Vacation – It’s Good For Your Health [back to top]
Of all the ways that summer rejuvenates us, vacation has to be one the most powerful. It's the only one that employers insist on anyway. You can see why. Relaxing at the beach or cottage, digging in the garden, reading, socializing, hiking, swimming; these are all wonderfully renewing. But vacation also prevents health problems. Researchers from the State University of New York at Oswego conducted a survey of more than 12,000 men ages 35 to 57 who had participated in a large heart disease prevention trial. The results suggest that men who take vacations every year reduce their overall risk of death by about 20 percent, and their risk of death from heart disease by as much as 30 percent. The researchers concluded that vacations have a protective effect because they allow people to take a break from the everyday stressors of the workplace. See "Sun-Sational," at www.canada.com.

Despite Challenges, People With Schizophrenia Experience Sexuality As An Essential Aspect of Identity [back to top]
A study published in the June issue of the Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing found that people with schizophrenia experience their sexuality as an essential aspect of their human identity. The authors conducted in-depth interviews with 10 people with schizophrenia-spectrum disorders living independently in the community. Using grounded theory methods, the authors found that participants defined themselves by identifying their sexuality at the core of their human identity, despite challenges created by their illness, such as symptoms, side-effects of medication, social stigma and difficulty forming intimate relationships. However, the authors say that in counselling, discussing issues of sexuality was not easy for the participants, and sexuality is not commonly addressed by clinicians, who tend to wait for clients to bring up the topic. The authors say that clinicians need formal training to help them overcome their ambivalence and discomfort in dealing with sexuality issues with clients in psychiatric treatment. See "Uncovering the Sexual Self in People with Schizophrenia." An abstract with paid access to the full text is available at www.blackwell-synergy.com.

People With Schizophrenia More Likely to Move From Suburbs to Cities [back to top]
A Canadian study led by researchers at the University of Manitoba found that people with schizophrenia were more likely than their non-mentally ill peers to move from suburban areas to the city core. Using population-based administrative health data from Winnipeg, the authors suggest that the higher rate of moves by people with schizophrenia can be explained by the need to be close to service-rich areas. Published in the June issue of Health and Place, the study revealed that the percentage of people studied who moved during the 3-year study period was higher among the group with schizophrenia - 35 percent versus 22 percent – and that they were most likely to move from suburb to inner core, rather than the other way around. The authors conclude that their findings reinforce previous studies that have linked this pattern of movement to cumulative factors specific to disadvantaged groups, such as a higher prevalence of unemployment, income support and poverty. See "Mental Health and the City: Intra-urban Mobility among Individuals with Schizophrenia." An abstract, with paid access to the full text, is available at www.sciencedirect.com.

Public Health Risks Too High for Direct-to-Consumer Advertising [back to top]
A recent analysis published in Open Medicine on direct-to-consumer advertising (DTCA) and consumer spending on prescription drugs in Canada and the United States concludes that this form of advertising poses too high a risk for the Canadian health system to be accepted within public policy. DTCA is cited as a prime reason that American drug manufacturers' profits increased by 408 percent between 1996 and 2004. While Canada does allow some forms of drug advertising, it does not permit ads that combine brand-name promotion and specific claims about drug effectiveness. In 1996-99, Health Canada conducted public consultations on the issue and decided not to relax the regulations on this level of drug marketing because the health impact of allowing DTCA influence on prescription drugs was not known. More recently, the Health Council of Canada released a report that recommends enforcing the current prohibition on all industry-sponsored public ads for prescription drugs. See "Direct-to-Consumer Advertising and Expenditures on Prescription Drugs: A Comparison of Experiences in the United States and Canada," available at www.openmedicine.ca. See also "Level 3 Case Study: Direct to Consumer Advertising," in "The Health Canada Policy Toolkit for Public Involvement in Decision Making," at www.hc-sc.gc.ca and "What Are the Public Health Implications? Direct-to-Consumer Advertising of Prescription Drugs in Canada," available in PDF format at www.healthcouncilcanada.ca.

Research from around the World

Serious Mental Illness More Than Doubles Risk of Death from Chronic Heart Disease and Stroke [back to top]
Based on primary care data available for 46,136 people with serious mental illness, a British study published in the February issue of the Archives of General Psychiatry has found that people with serious mental illness are two to three times more likely to die from chronic heart disease and stroke than people without serious mental illness. The research found that mortality is only partly explained by antipsychotic medication, smoking and social deprivation. The same study also looked at cancer deaths and found no increase of cancer mortality other than death from respiratory tumours, which were partly explained by smoking and social deprivation. The authors call for more research on prevention of heart disease in people with serious mental illness and more holistic clinical care that includes physical health monitoring. See "Relative Risk of Cardiovascular and Cancer Mortality in People with Severe Mental Illness from the United Kingdom's General Practice Research Database." An abstract with paid access to the full text is available at www.archpsych.ama-assn.org.

Marijuana Triggers Psychotic Symptoms in Some [back to top]
New findings on marijuana's damaging effect on the brain show the drug triggers temporary psychotic symptoms in some people, including hallucinations and paranoid delusions. British doctors took brain scans of 15 healthy volunteers given small doses of two of the active ingredients of cannabis, as well as a placebo. Even small doses of the compound tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, produced temporary psychotic symptoms in people, including hallucinations and paranoid delusions, doctors said. Another compound, cannabidiol, or CBD, made people more relaxed and in a separate study, was found to have the potential to form the basis of new treatments for psychotic symptoms. The researchers warned that THC and CBD compete with each other biochemically, so the current rise in THC levels of street-level marijuana would likely blunt any positive impact of CBD.See "Pot triggers psychotic symptoms, brain scans show," at www.cbc.ca. See also "Cannabis ‘disrupts brain centre,’" at news.bbc.co.uk.

Depression Relapse in Many Women Prevented by Monthly Interpersonal Psychotherapy [back to top]
Most women with recurrent depression may be able to prevent subsequent depressive episodes with monthly maintenance interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT), say researchers from the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine in a study published in the May issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry. Researchers found that once-per-month maintenance IPT, a form of therapy which focuses on relationships and interpersonal events that tend to trigger depression, was effective in preventing recurrence of depression in women who achieved remission through IPT alone. See" Relapse of Depression Prevented In Many Women By Monthly Interpersonal Psychotherapy," at www.medicalnewstoday.com.
    >> if the topic of women's mental health interests you, check out the Visions Journal issue on Stigma and Discrimination on the HeretoHelp.bc.ca website.

Direct Contact is Most Effective Anti-Stigma Activity [back to top]
Anti-stigma programs that involve people with mental illness telling their stories are the most effective way to change negative attitudes over the long term, according to an article in the June issue of Australian Psychologist. The authors explain that stigmatizing attitudes held by the general population can be challenged by three methods: protest, education, and contact. Protest is the least effective way to reduce stigma. Education, on the other hand, only seems to have a lasting effect on people who are already aware of and inclined to change their perception. Personal interaction with those who live with a mental illness builds a sense of familiarity and is the most effective in changing negative attitudes. Another article in the same issue found that the active participation in planning mental health advocacy activities resulted in longer term positive changes in attitude, as a consequence of sharing a cause in common. See "Changing Mental Illness Stigma As It Exists in the Real World," and "Using Group-Based Interaction to Change Stereotypes about People with Mental Illness." Abstracts, with paid access to the full text, are available at www.informaworld.com.
    >> if the topic of mental illness and stigma interests you, check out the Visions Journal issue on Stigma and Discrimination on the HeretoHelp.bc.ca website.

Early Psychosis Intervention Services Need to Involve Families [back to top]
A literature review published in the June issues of Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing found that research on early psychosis intervention has not included family involvement, resulting in a lack of evidence-based understanding of best practices for integrating families. The authors found that the family is an essential part of the positive management of early psychosis recovery, and that evidence suggests that early intervention services should recognize the emotional grief and isolation that families face, provide non-jargon psychoeducation geared to young people, avoid poor prognosis messages, and train service providers to be family-inclusive. See "Family Work in First-Onset Psychosis: A Literature Review," Journal of Psychiatric and Mental. An abstract with paid access to the full text is available at www.blackwell-synergy.com.

Trauma and PTSD May Lead to Psychotic Symptoms [back to top]
Australian researchers found that people who experience trauma and develop post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are more likely to experience psychotic symptoms. Using data from the 1997 National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing, the authors examined the association between multiple forms of trauma, PTSD, and delusional episodes. Published in the British Journal of Psychiatry, the study suggests that treatment immediately after a trauma to reduce the risk of developing PTSD may help to prevent delusional experiences and possibly prevent later psychosis. They also point out that psychotic symptoms in someone with PTSD may lead to an incorrect diagnosis of psychotic illness and result in inappropriate treatment. See "Association between Trauma Exposure and Delusional Experiences in a Large Community-Based Sample." An abstract, with paid access to the full text, is available at bjp.rcpsych.org.
   >> if the topic of trauma and mental illness interests you, check out the issue of Visions Journal issue on Trauma and Victimization on the HeretoHelp.bc.ca website.

Stress of SARS Risk Affects Hong Kong Health Care Workers [back to top]
Two studies published recently in the April issue of Canadian Journal of Psychiatry found that health-care providers who worked in areas of high risk for contracting SARS had significantly high levels of stress, depression and anxiety one year after the outbreak whether they contracted SARS or not. Using data from self-reporting questionnaires at the time of the outbreak in 2003 and one year later, the authors measured stress, depression and anxiety among people at two Hong Kong hospitals that were seriously affected by the SARS outbreak. One study found that one year after the outbreak, health care workers had significantly higher stress scores than the non-health care workers, as did high-risk healthcare workers, compared to low-risk health care workers. The authors suggest that psychological services could be an important part of the rehabilitation phase after an outbreak like SARS, and that stress management for front-line health-care workers is an important part of outbreak preparedness. See "Stress and Psychological Distress among SARS Survivors 1 Year after the Outbreak," available in PDF format at www.cpa-apc.org and See "Immediate and Sustained Psychological Impact of an Emerging Infectious Disease Outbreak on Health Care Workers," available in PDF format at www.cpa-apc.org.



New Programs and Resources

Coping With Suicidal Thoughts [back to top]
Coping with Suicidal Thoughts is a short guide for individuals who are currently experiencing suicidal ideation and/or have had a plan or made an attempt to hurt themselves. The document is designed to offer resources, information, support, and practical steps to help cope with suicidality. Developed by the Centre for Applied Research in Mental Health and Addictions (CARMHA) at Simon Fraser University, the guide is available in PDF format at www.carmha.ca.

Hope and Healing: A Practical Guide for Survivors of Suicide [back to top]
Hope and Healing: A Practical Guide for Survivors of Suicide, is a guide that focuses on the practical matters that survivors need to deal with after a suicide. Includes practical information on arranging funeral and legal matters, information and advice on working through grief, as well as a guide to survivor support resources. This resource was developed by the Suicide Response Initiative of the Calgary Health Region, with support from the Alberta Mental Health Board, and adapted by the Centre for Applied Research in Mental Health and Addictions (CARMHA) at Simon Fraser University with permission for use in BC. The guide is available at www.carmha.ca.

New Look and Video Resources for AnxietyBC Website [back to top]
The Anxiety Disorders Association of British Columbia (AnxietyBC) has recently launched a new look for its website with new resources, including online videos of interviews with experts on childhood anxiety disorders and self-help resources. AnxietyBC is a group of consumers and professionals who work to increase awareness about anxiety disorders; promote education of the general public, affected persons, health care providers; and increase access to evidence-based resources and treatments. Check out the new website at anxietybc.com.

Depression Lifelines Website Connects Canadians to Depression Information [back to top]
DepressionLifelines.ca is a new website that connects you to the knowledge accumulated by mental health organizations across Canada. The website includes general information on depression, screening and self-help tools, the range of traditional and non-traditional treatment options and support groups. This project is titled Lifelines because it reaches out to those who are depressed and feeling alone. Developed by community Health Promotion Network Atlantic, project partners include CMHA Nova Scotia Division and CMHA Alberta Division.

No Health Without Mental Health [back to top]
Learn about the benefits of mental health promotion for people with mental illness, as well as for the general population in this two-part article from the Canadian Health Network. No Health Without Mental Health includes information on mental health promotion in special communities, such as children and seniors, as well as links to helpful resources such as CMHA National’s Mental Health Promotion Tool Kit.

Network Magazine on Social Inclusion [back to top]
The latest edition of CMHA Ontario Division's Network magazine, now available online, reflects on the theme of social inclusion. Articles look at participation in elections, reducing barriers of stigma and discrimination in the workplace, academic accommodation for post-secondary students with mental illnesses, and the importance of community belonging. A profile of the Stand Up for Mental Health program reveals how humour can promote recovery, and mental health advocate Sandy Naiman talks about the long list of psychiatric labels that have been used to define her. Read the latest issue at www.ontario.cmha.ca/network.

Family Matters – A Tool for Teens [back to top]
This new online resource from mindyourmind.ca uses a 30-point checklist to help youth evaluate their relationships with their parents and the strength of their family support systems. The interactive tool encourages at-risk teens to seek support and information from the list of resources provided. Check out the new Family Matters tool at www.mindyourmind.ca.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy: Core Information Document [back to top]
Cognitive-Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a psychological treatment that addresses the interactions between how we think, feel and behave. This core information document, designed to inform policy makers, health administrators, health service providers, people with mental illness and their families, provides a brief overview of CBT and summarizes evidence supporting the effectiveness of CBT for a variety of psychological problems. The document is part of a series of best practice documents developed for the BC Ministry of Health by the Centre for Applied Research in Mental Health and Addictions (CARMHA) at Simon Fraser University, available in PDF format at www.healthservices.gov.bc.ca.

New Website for Parents of Kids with Special Needs [back to top]
Our Special Kids is a web resource for parents of children with special needs who are looking for information relevant to their situation and understanding from others. OurSpecialKids.com features book reviews of special needs topics, profiles of people making contributions to the special needs community and articles not typically found in mainstream parenting magazines such as choosing a camp for your child with special needs or the best way to visit national parks with a child who has mobility challenges. The website is run by Debbie Feit, a former advertising copywriter turned magazine editor turned freelance journalist whose own world was turned upside down when her son was diagnosed at two-and-a-half with apraxia, a neurological speech disorder that affects one's ability to speak.

Supporting Students: A Model Policy for Colleges and Universities [back to top]
Washington-based Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law has developed a model policy to help colleges and universities develop a non-discriminatory, non-punitive approach to students in crisis because of mental health problems. The document offers a response to serious mental health problems among college and university students and schools' lack of consensus on what to do when such students are in crisis. Supporting Students: A Model Policy for Colleges and Universities was developed by Bazelon Center attorneys after consultation with mental health experts, higher education administrators, counselors and students. It is a collection of best practices that all colleges and universities can adopt and is available in PDF format at www.bazelon.org.

Family Physician Guide for Mental Illnesses [back to top]
Depression, Anxiety Disorders, Early Psychosis and Substance Use Disorders for Family Physicians is a practical, office-based tool for dealing with these conditions in day-to-day practice. It is not meant to be all-inclusive, but to serve as an overview and rapid reference for family physicians in the office setting. Topics covered include shared mental health care, diversity issues, diagnosis, screening, early detection, crisis, treatment, management, and support, as well as multi-lingual information sheets for patients and families. The document is part of a series of best practice documents developed for the BC Ministry of Health by the Centre for Applied Research in Mental Health and Addictions (CARMHA) at Simon Fraser University, available at www.healthservices.gov.bc.ca.

Working With a Client Who is Suicidal [back to top]
Working With the Client Who is Suicidal: A Tool for Adult Mental Health and Addiction Services provides an overview of empirically supported assessment and intervention methods for working with suicidal adults in mental health and addiction settings. It is intended to serve as an information and planning tool and support clinicians by highlighting the key practice principles, therapeutic tasks and treatment strategies considered by the research literature to be most effective in the assessment, management and treatment of suicidal adults. The document is part of a series of best practice documents developed for the BC Ministry of Health by the Centre for Applied Research in Mental Health and Addictions (CARMHA) at Simon Fraser University, available in PDF format at www.healthservices.gov.bc.ca.

Planning Guidelines for Mental Health Services for People with Developmental Disability [back to top]
These BC Ministry of Health guidelines are intended to support the planning and development of mental health and addiction services for children, youth, and adults with developmental disabilities and co-occurring mental health disorders in BC. When compared to the general population, individuals with developmental disability have a higher rate of mental health disorders: 39 percent in children and 30 percent in adult. Despite this, many are typically under-diagnosed, misdiagnosed, and underserved. This document describes a client-centred system of care that supports positive long-term mental health outcomes for these individuals. Planning Guidelines for: Mental Health and addiction Services for children, Youth and Adults with Developmental Disability is available in PDF format at www.healthservices.gov.bc.ca.

Working Effectively With Interpreters in a Mental Health Setting [back to top]
For mental health workers, conducting a meeting with the assistance of an interpreter introduces a number of challenges and difficulties. The Victorian Transcultural Psychiatry Unit in Australia has developed a series of guidelines intended to assist mental health workers to understand the characteristics of interpreted meetings and to develop the knowledge and skills that are necessary for working in partnership with interpreters. Guidelines for Working Effectively With Interpreters in a Mental Health Setting and the companion quick reference poster are available at www.vtpu.org.au.

Statistics Canada Guide to Finding Canadian Data on Women's Mental Health [back to top]
Statistics Canada has published a new resource guide to help users find data on women. Although, the guidebook is not exhaustive, it provides a wide-ranging overview of the available data on both women and men collected by Statistics Canada. The publication is intended for policy analysts, women's groups, organizations, researchers and other data users A list of surveys and analytical articles discussing mental health can be found in the guidebook. Finding Data on Women: A Guide to Major Sources is available in PDF format at www.dsp-psd.pwgsc.gc.ca.
   >> if the topic of women's mental health interests you, check out the issue of Visions Journal on Women on the HeretoHelp.bc.ca website.

Announcements

Mental Health Commission Priorities Outlined [back to top]
At a Vancouver Board of Trade event on May 8, Michael Kirby, the chair of the new Canadian mental health commission, outlined three initial activities for the commission: implementing an anti-stigma campaign, creating a national knowledge exchange centre, and facilitating the development of a national mental health strategy. He said that a national mental health strategy will involve a coordinated, multi-government approach to mental health issues involving the private, not-for-profit and government sectors. In addition to national mental health reform, Kirby also spoke about the importance of addressing mental health in the workplace. In what is now a "brain-based" economy, Kirby noted that employee morale and well-being have become leading indicators of financial performance. Highlights from Kirby’s speech, "Mental health is the business of business," is available at www.boardoftrade.com.
The creation of a national mental health commission was recommended in the report Out of the Shadows at Last: Transforming Mental Health, Mental Illness and Addiction Services in Canada a May 2006 report of the Standing Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology. Michael Kirby was the chair of this committee. The report is available at www.parl.gc.ca.

BC Increases Mental Health Funding for Children [back to top]
With one in seven BC children affected by a mental illness, the provincial government plans to increase the number of child and youth mental health workers across the province by nearly 15 per cent this year. A national and international recruitment campaign aims to hire 75 psychologists, nurses, psychiatric nurses, counsellors and clinical social workers. More than half of those will be aboriginal child and youth mental health workers. The campaign will build on the province's Child and Youth Mental Health Plan - the nation's first when it was rolled out in 2003. The Ministry of Children and Family Development estimates that 140,000 children and youth are affected by a mental illness, making it the number one health concern for children in terms of sheer numbers. See "B.C. increases mental health funding," at www.canada.com. See also the news release "New Investment in Child and Youth Mental Health," in PDF format at www.mcf.gov.bc.ca.
   >> if the topic of child and youth mental health interests you, read the recent issues of Visions: BC's Mental Health and Addictions Journal on treatments and first responders for children and youth, available at www.heretohelp.bc.ca.

BC Launches Pilot Program for Parents of Children with Mental Illness [back to top]
The BC government will provide $50,000 for a pilot program in Vancouver to help parents of children with mental illnesses get the support services they need. It will include the development of an information package and the establishment of a parents' support group. Children and Family Development Minister Tom Christensen made the announcement at the National Child and Youth Mental Health Day on May 7. See "New approach to help deal with menatally ill children," at www.cbc.ca.

Great-West Life Establishes Centre for Mental Health in the Workplace [back to top]
Great-West Life’s Group Insurance Division has announced the establishment of the Great-West Life Centre for Mental Health in the Workplace. Through the Centre, Great-West Life’s Group Insurance Division will focus on research and projects to create greater employer awareness and understanding of the issue of mental health and productivity in the workplace. As well, the Centre will develop and promote programs that employers can use to better help employees who are experiencing a mental health issue. See the press release in PDF format at www.greatwestlife.com.

New Collaborative Occupational Safety Program Includes Mental Health [back to top]
The Occupational Health & Safety Agency for Healthcare in British Columbia (OHSAH) is launching a new Collaborative Occupational Safety and Health Assistance, Resources, and Expertise (CO-SHARE) program to assist in providing prevention services to affiliate facilities throughout BC. Expanding upon the success and lessons learned from the PEARS program (Prevention and Early Active Return-to-work Safely), CO-SHARE will be designed to encompass all injuries and illnesses, including mental health concerns, musculoskeletal injuries (MSI), chemical and biological exposures and injuries due to aggressive behaviour. Six long-term care facilities and five home & community care agencies have been chosen to participate in a pilot program which is scheduled to run for one year beginning in 2007. For more information, visit www.ohsah.bc.ca.

Yukon Government Announces Community Wellness Court [back to top]
The Yukon government has opened a special court for people with mental health or addictions problems or Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder. The court will be for offenders willing to participate in a comprehensive treatment plan that includes court-supervised substance abuse treatment, random drug testing, incentives and sanctions, clinical case management and social services support. The Yukon government and the federal government provided funding for this initiative. The Yukon government says that the Community Wellness Court will evolve through regular community input from local non-government organizations, First Nations and service providers. See the press release, "Yukon Government Announces Community Wellness Court," at www.gov.yk.ca.

Physicians Urge Reduction of Psychiatry and Emergency Care Wait Times [back to top]
The Wait Time Alliance for Timely Access to Health Care (WTA) is calling on governments to establish wait time benchmarks for more areas of health care than their current focus on five wait time priorities, and has made a commitment to doing its own work on establishing benchmarks for psychiatry and emergency care. The WTA Spring Report Card expresses concern about the "balloon effect" — the reduction of resources for other health care services as a result of focusing too narrowly on the five priority areas agreed to by federal and provincial governments (cancer, heart, diagnostic imaging procedures, joint replacements, and sight restoration). The WTA itself will begin by establishing benchmarks in psychiatry, emergency care, gastroenterology, anesthesiology and plastic surgery. The Wait Time Alliance (WTA) is an alliance of physician associations formed to monitor progress on wait times. See "Time's Up! Achieving Meaningful Reductions in Wait Times," is available in PDF format at www.waittimealliance.ca.

Scientists Encouraged to Focus on Psychological Needs of Cancer Survivors [back to top]
National Cancer Institute of Canada (NCIC), the research arm of the Canadian Cancer Society, is urging researchers to focus on increasing the knowledge base on the medical needs and quality of life issues for the 60% of patients who survive cancer. According to the BC Cancer Research Centre website, cancer survivors are at risk for serious ongoing health problems, including secondary cancers and chronic conditions of all major organ system, as well as psychosocial, educational and performance limitations. See "Help needed for survivors as more people beat cancer," at www.canada.com.

Mental Illness Targeted by Workplace Screening Program [back to top]
Vancouver's private Copeman Healthcare Centre is launching a new corporate health-screening program that is designed to diagnose managers and employees for both mental and physical health risks and conditions. The new program - which will charge about $100 per session per employee - already has three companies signed up with 200 to 300 employees expected to be assessed. Company founder and CEO Don Copeman says information about employees' mental health will be confidential and that any information supplied to the company will be in aggregate form. See "Mental illness targeted by screening program," at www.canada.com.
   >> interesting in raising awareness of mental health issues in your workplace? Consider hosting a Beyond the Blues: Depression Anxiety Screening and Education Day site at your workplace this October. For more information, contact bcpartners@heretohelp.bc.ca.

Mad Pride Group Show Accepting Artist Submissions – Due June 15 [back to top]
Local artists are invited to participate in an interdisciplinary call for work addressing mental health issues, art and healing, and human rights and psychiatry. The objectives of this month-long group show include challenging stigmas of people living with mental health issues, providing a forum for discussion and education on these issues, and contributing to dialogue on mental health human rights through the sharing and showcasing of artistic expression on these themes. All artistic mediums will be accepted, including live performance, spoken word, video, painting, drawing, photography and mixed media. Please drop off 1-2 submissions during gallery hours (12pm – 6pm) between June 6 – 15. For more information contact Gallery Gachet at 604-687-2468 or madpride@gachet.org.

Moving Lives Forward Scholarship Accepting Applications – Due June 30 [back to top]
Eli Lilly Canada, MDA Mood Disorders Association of BC and the BC Schizophrenia Society are offering the "Moving Lives Forward Scholarship" which is open to people who have a severe and persistent mental illness. There are 6 scholarships of $750.00 and 2 scholarships of $1,500.00 to be awarded by lottery to people who meet the criteria. The goal of the Moving Lives Forward Scholarship is to help people acquire the educational and vocational skills necessary to reintegrate into society, secure jobs and regain their lives. Download the application at www.mdabc.net or contact MDA at 604-873-0103 or training@mdabc.net.

Nominations Open for Spirit of Hope Awards in Immigrant Mental Health – Due September 4 [back to top]
The Cross-Cultural Mental Health Conference is seeking nominees for the 3rd Annual Spirit of Hope Awards. The awards recognize individuals, programs, non-profit agencies or public institutions in BC that have made a significant impact on improving the mental health conditions of immigrants and refugees. The winner will have $1,000 donated to a mental health program of their choice. The deadline for nominations is September 4. For more information, please contact Janey Chang at symposium@shaw.ca.

Quality of Life in Bipolar Disorder Study Seeking Participants [back to top]
The University of British Columbia Mood Disorders Centre is developing a scale to measure Quality of Life in Bipolar Disorder. In order to participate you need to have been previously diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder be at least 19 years old be willing to complete a series of questionnaires on two occasions, one week apart (total time approx. 1 hour). If you have been diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder and would like to help in the development of this scale please call 604-822-8045, for more information.

Depression and Fatigue Study Seeking Survey Participants [back to top]
An international research study of fatigue in people living with a chronic illness is seeking participants with depression or other chronic illnesses to complete a 15-minute online survey. The researchers are interested in hearing from people with chronic illness who are aged 18 or over, with mild, moderate or severe fatigue. The aim of the study is to describe fatigue in chronic illness and how people manage their fatigue. The study can be accessed at www.fatiguestudy.org.

Northern Health Seeking Public Input on Mental Health and Addictions [back to top]
Northern Health wants to hear from local residents about their thoughts on addictions and mental health services across Northern BC. Starting mid-May, a discussion guide with comment form will be available online or for pickup at your local health facility. Northern Health will also hold community meetings across the region during the last part of May to the end of June. To participate and for more information visit www.northernhealth.ca.

Public Education Events

Movie Mondays in Victoria [back to top]
Every Monday at 6:30pm, Bruce Saunders' Movie Monday project presents free movies at the Eric Martin Pavilion at the 1900 block of Fort Street in Victoria. More details at www.moviemonday.ca.
June 9 – Unrepentant
June 11 – Charlotte’s Web
June 18 – History Boys
June 25 – So Much So Fast
July 2 – The Journals of Knud Rasmussen

Integrated Treatment of Substance Abuse and Psychosis – June 7 [back to top]
Free and open to everyone, this talk will include interactive discussion on issues related to mental health and addictions for people living in the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver. Dr. McGarvey will present the model of ‘Stage- based’ treatment for people with severe mental illness and co-occurring substance abuse, with a focus on how this is different from both harm reduction models and abstinence models. She will review the literature on evidence-based treatment for the severely mentally ill with severe substance abuse and present case examples of successful use of stage-based treatment to enable clients with co-occurring disorders to move forward in their lives. At 1pm the Strathcona Mental Health Team, 330 Heatley Ave., Vancouver. View the PDF format flyer at www.spotlightonmentalhealth.com.

After Deinstitutionalization: Designing Recovery-Based Services in Victoria – June 7 [back to top]
REES Network is pleased to host a FREE presentation with Dr. Mark Ragins, Medical Director and Staff Psychiatrist at the MHA Village Integrated Service Agency in Long Beach, California. The Village supports and teaches adults with mental health and substance use challenges to recognize their strengths and power to successfully live, socialize and work in the community. This presentation is open to all members of the community, including consumers, family members, physicians, health professionals and interested community partners. Dr. Ragins will offer a general discussion on how the community can address the gaps in services, supports and resources in Mental Health and Addictions Services that have resulted from the health care system shift from institutionalization to community care. Admission by donation. 7 – 9pm at the Downtown Community Activity Centre, 755 Pandora Ave., Victoria. For more information and registration, please call (250) 595-8619.

Frames of Mind Mental Health Film Series – I Have Tourettes But Tourettes Doesn’t Have Me – June 20 [back to top]
Frames of Mind is a monthly film event utilizing film and video to promote professional and community education on issues pertaining to mental health and illness. This month’s feature, the highly acclaimed documentary I Have Tourette’s But Tourette’s Doesn’t Have Me presents a candid look at the lives of children growing up with this baffling condition. The film demystifies and humanizes what it's like to have the disorder by giving a voice to children ages 8 to 13 who do. With Life’s a Twitch and post-screening discussion with Dr. Diane Fast, Staff psychiatrist, BC Children’s Hospital Neuropsychiatry Clinic. At Pacific Cinémathèque, 1131 Howe Street, Vancouver. Tickets: $9.50 regular / $8 for students and seniors. Eligible for 1.0 hour Section 1 of Royal College's Maintenance of Certification Program. For more information visit www.psychiatry.ubc.ca or www.cinematheque.bc.ca.

MDA Education Evenings – Stand Up for Mental Health – June 21 [back to top]
The Mood Disorders Association of BC monthly Education Evening series is presenting Stand Up for Mental Health. Come and enjoy an evening of stand up comedy by people with mental illness who take a look at the lighter side of taking meds, seeing counsellors, getting diagnosed and surviving the mental health system. The event begins at 7pm and takes place at the Sunrise Hall (1950 Windermere St., East Vancouver) Tickets are $5 and there is limited seating. Please contact MDA at 604-873-0103 or info@mdabc.net for tickets or for more information.

Courses and Workshops

Mental Health Works Workshops [back to top]
Mental Health Works provides organizations with the tools and resources they need to effectively address issues involving mental illness in the workplace. Informational presentations and skills building workshops are available for various audiences in the workplace - from employees at all levels, to union representatives to senior management. Learn more at www.mentalhealthworks.ca or contact Margaret Tebbutt at 1-800-555-8222 or mentalhealthworks@cmha.bc.ca for more information.

• "Complex Issues. Clear Solutions" Management Workshop (full-day 7-hour workshop, or three 3-hour workshops) - Learn to effectively address the complex issues around mental health problems in the workplace. This award-winning workshop is a practical and interactive multimedia learning experience. Includes materials and resources. Full-day workshop $210 per participant, plus expenses for 12 - 16 participants; or series of three 3-hour workshops $350 per participant, plus expenses for a minimum of 12 participants.
• Awareness of Workplace Mental Health (1 hour) - An engaging look at what it is like to experience conditions such as depression or anxiety at work. Cost: $800, plus expenses.
• Workplace Influence (3 hours) - Employees consider ways to positively influence both their own mental health and that of their co-workers. Cost: $1500, plus expenses.
• Issues and Solutions (2 hours) - Provides a quick overview of the Mental Health Works approach to building awareness, recognition and strategies around mental health issues in the workplace. Cost: $1500, plus expenses.
• Assisting Workers with Mental Health Issues (3 hours) - For union representatives and stewards. A unique look at the role of the union in helping members through workplace conflict, accommodation and disability. 3-hour workshop $1500, plus expenses.
• Affecting Workplace Mental Health (3 hours) - Looks at the systemic and organizational factors that affect the mental health or workers and asks participants to create action plans for those factors that affect their own workplace situation. Cost: $1500, plus expenses.
• Human Resources: Return-to-Work Strategies (3 to 4 hours) - For human resource personnel involved in the return-to-work or performance management of people with mental health issues. Case studies engage participants in considering approaches to the more difficult situations. Cost: $1500, plus expenses.
• Occupational Health Strategies: Return-to-work after Mental Illness (3 to 4 hours) - Addresses challenges such as working with physicians, uncooperative supervisors or management, and employees who do not seem able to access effective treatment. Cost: $1500, plus expenses.
• Managing the Return-to-Work (3 hours; minimum of 12 participants) - For managers and supervisors who have a good working knowledge of mental health and communication skills, including those who have attended previous Mental Health Workshops and want to get more 'hands on' in how they juggle the competing interests of the returning employee, co-workers, organizational demands and their own time management. Cost: $200 per participant.

Helping the Helper Non-Profit Management Workshops [back to top]
This series of workshops, sponsored by Coast Capital Savings and The Centre for Non Profit Management, is designed to provide leaders in the non-profit sector with the skill and knowledge they need to be successful. From 9am - 4pm, registration at 8:30am. Workshop fee: $65 per session. Includes refreshments, materials and lunch. Coast Capital Savings member and group rates available. For information on bursaries, email info@cnpm.ca. For the full workshop schedule or to register www.cnpm.ca.
Lower Mainland - The Diamond Alumni Centre, SFU Burnaby Campus, 8888 University Drive
June 14 – Powerful Communication: Positioning Your Agency for Long-Term Success
Victoria - Room 150, 1515 McTavish Road, Sidney
June 12 – Powerful Communication: Positioning Your Agency for Long-Term Success

Responsive Parenting for Concurrent Disorder Youth – May 31 – July 19 [back to top]
Vancouver Coastal Health’s Centre for Concurrent Disorders presents a series of workshops for parents of children aged 14-24 who have co-occuring substance use and mental health problems. The eight workshops will focus on topics such as identifying goals, learning positive and negative reinforcement, communication, problem solving, violence and high-risk behaviours. Thursdays 5:30 – 7pm beginning May 31 for 8 weeks at the Centre for Concurrent Disorders, 255 East 12th Ave., Vancouver. To register, call Lori Rock at 604-255-9843, ext.238.

New Writing Group for People With Mental Illness – June 11 – August 13 [back to top]
If you or a family member with mental illness who is interested in creative writing, the Consumer Initiatives Fund has a project headed by a writer with mental illness who will be leading a 10-week writing program called Write From the Heart. The group will meet Mondays from 12:15 – 4:45pm. FREE to attend. Please contact Susan Katz at CIF Office 604-708-5252 for more information or to register.

Headlines’ Theatre for Living Training Workshop – August 8 - 13 [back to top]
Theatre for Living, also known as forum theatre, uses theatrical techniques as a way of investigating alternative approaches to controversial issues. Unlike regular theatre, Theatre for Living stimulates audience participation and discussion and 'rewriting' of the scenario to create solutions for social problems. In this 6-day workshop, trainees will learn how to educate and engage audiences through the Theatre for Living technique. Workshop fee: $400. 9am – 5:30pm daily, from August 8 to 13 at the Hastings Dance Centre, 828 E. Hastings St., Vancouver. For more information or registration, visit www.headlinestheatre.com or contact 604-871-0508 or info@headlinestheatre.com.

Conferences

Living Well: Mental Health and Addictions Recovery in Victoria – June 7 [back to top]
The REES Network is pleased to announce their 2007 Partnership Conference on living well in the context of mental health. Keynote speaker Mark Ragins, MD, Medical Director and Staff Psychiatrist at the MHA Village Integrates Service Agency in Long Beach, California will present a of recovery-based mental health and addictions care that supports and teaches adults with mental health and substance use challenges to recognize their strengths and power to successfully live, socialize and work in the community. Conference fee; $70; Mental Health and Addictions Clients $5; Students/Family $35. 9am to 4:15 at Hotel Grand Pacific, 463 Belleville, Victoria. For more information contact Lori Ferguson or Sue Cambridge at 250-595-8619 or email reesnetwork@coolaid.org.

No Health Without Mental Health – Mental Health Promotion Symposium – June 10
[back to top]
No Health Without Mental Health: Community Approaches to Mental Health Promotion is a pre-conference event of the 19th International Union of Health Promotion and Education (IUHPE) World Conference June 10 to 15th, 2007. BC Mental Health and Addiction Services, an agency of the Provincial Health Services Authority, is the lead sponsor of the symposium. The symposium sponsors have dedicated some resources to a travel bursary program to ensure that people working in mental health promotion in smaller Canadian communities have the opportunity to attend. Registration fee: $150. For more information on the mental health symposium, please visit www.utoronto.ca or contact Melody Monro mmonro2@bcmhs.bc.ca. For additional information on the IUHPE conference please visit: Health Promotion Comes of Age: Research, Policy & Practice for the 21st Century at www.iuhpeconference.org. Registration for the mental health symposium is separate from the main IUHPE conference.

Housing Conference in Red Deer, Alberta – June 12 + 13 [back to top]
This conference is designed to bring together organizations and individuals who want to "learn from each other and experts" on practical and innovative housing solutions developed by communities across Canada and the United States. Hosted by City of Lethbridge & Canadian Mental Health Association Lethbridge Region; City of Red Deer & Canadian Mental Health Association Central Alberta Region; and City of Grande Prairie & Canadian Mental Health Association Grand Prairie Region. Registration fee: $275. For details and registration visit www.socialhousing.ca/cmha or email lethbridge.cmha@shaw.ca.

Urban Aboriginal Forum: The Path Forward – June 13 + 14 [back to top]
It is time to bring together community leaders and activists, policy-makers, and other stakeholders from across Canada to respond to the unique challenges and opportunities facing urban Aboriginal people today. This conference will provide an opportunity to explore the experience of Aboriginal people living in urban centres and seek out ways to overcome the struggles and address the specific needs that come with urban life. Some of the important issues to be addressed at this event include empowering youth and women, providing access to adequate housing and healthcare, strengthening community, and creating more opportunities for education, employment and economic development. Conference fee: $495. At the Renaissance Vancouver Hotel Harbourside, 1133 W. Hastings St., Vancouver. For details and registration, visit www.pbli.com/650.

The Warrior in Me Leadership Seminar in Duncan - June 27 – 29 [back to top]
Awaken The Spirit would like to invite all caregivers and frontline workers, including youth and suicide prevention workers, social workers, residential school and support workers, police, foster parents and alcohol and drug counsellors to attend and learn some new approaches to working in any stressful situation. This seminar will allow participants to look at life’s lessons with gratitude, build confidence and self-esteem through humour and new approaches to recovery and healing. Conference fee: $180; $75 per day. At Cowichan Theatre in Duncan. Visit www.awakenthespirit.ca or call Denise at (250) 760-0661 or Fred at (250) 667-0661 for details.

DISCLAIMER
This newsletter contains information collected from a wide variety of sources, individuals and organizations which we consider reliable. However the content of the news delivered as well as referred to does not necessarily represent the official view of CMHA, BC Division. Under no circumstances shall CMHA, its employees, directors, volunteers, or the authors of information provided in this newsletter, be liable for damages, losses, demands, or claims.

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The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), BC Division is a provincial non-profit charitable organization which has, for the past 50 years in BC, been concerned with promoting the mental health of all British Columbians and changing the way we view and treat mental illness in BC. We are part of a national association with over 80 years of experience in Canada. CMHA staff and volunteers focus on four major responsibilities: policy, public education, community-based research, and mental health service and support resources. We are located at: 1200-1111 Melville St., Vancouver BC, V6E 3V6 Phone: 604-688-3234 or 1-800-555-8222 (free within BC); Fax: 604-688-3236; General email: info@cmha.bc.ca; MIND MATTERS email:mindmatters@cmha.bc.ca; Web: www.cmha.bc.ca