| |
VOLUME 56: Sept 2007 | online
at www.cmha.bc.ca/enews/enewssept07.htm
| Welcome
to MIND MATTERS,
an
electronic newsletter produced by the Canadian Mental Health Association's
BC Division office (CMHA) and delivered monthly to your mailbox.
In MIND MATTERS, we provide new resources and programs offered
by CMHA BC Division, 20 CMHA branches across BC and news from
partner agencies and like-minded organizations committed to the
mental health of British Columbians. |
|
MIND
MATTERS
is completely free and your e-mail address is not shared with
any third party nor is it used for other purposes other than
delivering the e-newsletter. If you would like to know more
about our efforts to ensure your privacy is maintained, please
contact our office. Mind Matters wouldn't be possible without
support from donors and the help of gaming revenue from the
Province of British Columbia.
To subscribe/unsubscribe, visit www.cmha.bc.ca. |
CMHA
News
CMHA
BC's Annual General Meeting and Extraordinary Meeting
Beyond the Blues: Depression Anxiety Screening and Education
Day
New Project on Mental Health and the Justice System
New Planning Guide from Mental Health and Police Project
Mental Health Commission Appointments from the CMHA Family
Primer Fact Sheets Now Available in Russian
Volunteer Opportunities with Volunteers in Partnership
Program
Vancouver/Burnaby Branch Annual General Meeting
Vancouver/Burnaby Branch Special Events
North Shore Health Lecture Series
Featured
Program:
Diversion Project
on Mental Health and the Justice System
Canadian Research
Homeless More Likely to be Hospitalized for Mental
Illness
Active
Canadians Report Lower Stress
CMHA
Mailbox:
Changing Lives
with Volunteers in Partnership
Research
From Around the World
Worldwide
Mental Health Issues Largely Underlooked and Untreated
Depression Worsens Burden of Chronic
Disease
Report
on Mental Health Services in Later Life
Dramatic Increase in Youth Suicide Rates and Effects of Antidepressant
Warnings in US
Lived Experience is Essential in
Using Medication for Recovery
Most Providers Have Not Referred Clients to Consumer-Run
Programs
New Programs
and Resources
Learn to Identify
and Help Ease Back to School Anxiety
Preventing Depression Through Physical Activity
Support Group for Chinese Teens
Online
Support Groups for Family and Supporters of People With Mental Illness
Grip
Magazine on Navigating the Youth Experience
Workbooks for Teens Dealing with Parental Mental Illness
and Trauma
Correctional Services of Canada's New Mental Health Strategy
Announcements
Commission Launched
to Study Mental Health Care
New Mental Health Plan in the Works for BC
Arts in Healthcare Grants Available
2008 Hilton Humanitarian Prize Seeking Nominations
THEO BC Seeks Family Members to Participate in Focus Group
Participants in the International Bipolar Disorder Survey
Needed
Conference on Adolescents and Adults with FASD - Call
for Abstracts
Call for Papers on Collaborative Mental Health Care
Public
Education Events
Kids
in Control Support Groups in Burnaby, Vernon and Vancouver
Information Session on Mood Disorders in Punjabi
Frames of Mind Mental Health Film Series
MDA
of BC Education Evening - Update on Bipolar Disorder
The
Plastic Human Brain: Implications for Translational Neuroscience and
Education
Strengthening Families Together Program
Beyond
the Blues: Depression Anxiety Screening and Education Day
Largest Eating Disorder Event in Canada
Courses
and Workshops
Mental Health
Works Workshops
Substance
Use and Problem Gambling Certificates
Connecting
With Your Kids Program
Skills for Working
With People Who Have Mental Health and Addiction Problems
Conferences
Emerging Health and Safety Issues from Changing Workplaces
Showcasing New Initiatives in Psychosocial Rehabilitation
in BC
Cross-Cultural
Mental Health Symposium
The
Tip of the Iceberg: Medical Comorbidity Across the Spectrum of Psychiatric
Care
International
Conference on Schizophrenia in Toronto, ON
Canadian
Association for Suicide Prevention Conference in Yellowknife
Hearing
Voices Symposium in Toronto, ON
Western
Canadian Conference on Addictions and Mental Health
Psychiatrists
in Blue: Building on Success in Halifax, NS
CMHA News
CMHA
BC's Annual General Meeting and Extraordinary Meeting - September
14 [back to top]
CMHA BC Division
invites you to join us at our Annual General Meeting where you will
hear from Dr. Taylor Alexander, the new CEO of CMHA National, on "Mental
Health Issues on the National Landscape: Windows of Opportunity."
We will also be revealing results of the CMHA BC Division Board election,
as well as awarding the winners of the Lorne Fraser Educational Fund,
presented by Lorne Fraser himself during a 25th anniversary celebration
for the Fund. 4pm at the Best Western Sands by the Sea, Capilano Room,
1755 Davie Street (at Denman), Vancouver. See our AGM
notice and flyer,
and our Extraordinary
meeting notice in PDF format for details. Please RSVP to info@cmha.bc.ca
or call 604-688-3234 or 1-800-555-8222
(toll-free in BC) or by fax at 604-688-3236.
Details
on both meetings have been mailed to all current CMHA members in BC.
If you would like copies of meeting proxy forms or proposed bylaw changes,
please contact us at
604-688-3234 or toll-free at 1-800-555-8222.
Beyond
the Blues: Depression Anxiety Screening and Education Day – October
4[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
these treatable conditions, complete a brief questionnaire, speak one-on-one
with a clinician, and find out about the range of community resources
available to help. Many sites also feature workshops, videos, multilingual
information and screenings, and risky drinking checkups. If you can't
make it to one of the 65 sites across BC, you can call the event hotline
at 1-866-917-HOPE to book a confidential telephone screening. For more
information, or to find the site nearest you, visit the Depression Anxiety
Education and Screening Day website at www.heretohelp.bc.ca/events,
or call the event hotline at
1-866-917-HOPE (a free call in BC).
New
Project on Mental Health and the Justice System
[back to top]
CMHA BC Division
is excited to announce the launch of a new one-year project, supported
by a grant from the Law Foundation of BC. By the project's end next
summer, a new guide will have been completed to support diversion of
people with mental illness out of the criminal justice system. Read
more about the project in this month's Featured Program
section.
New
Planning Guide from Mental Health and Police Project
[back to top]
The second phase of the Building Capacity:Mental Health and Police Project
winds up this summer in Kelowna, Salmon Arm and Prince George, joining
the six communities who went before in Phase 1. The provincial project
to improve collaboration and responses to mental health emergencies
would like to share elements of success with other communities who may
be interested in starting their own local projects. This new
CMHA BC police project planning guide by the project's provincial
coordinator outlines the steps and considerations.
Mental
Health Commission Appointments from the CMHA Family [back to top]
Congratulations to Glenn Thompson, former Interim CEO of CMHA
National and former Executive Director of CMHA Ontario Division,
who has been appointed Interim President of the Mental Health Commission
of Canada. Congratulations also to Louise de Bellefeuille, who has given
many years and time as a volunteer on both the Quebec Division and National
CMHA boards, and Steve Lurie, well known through his role of Executive
Director of the Toronto Branch of CMHA, on appointments to their respective
roles on the Commission. See more about the appointments in our Annoucements
section.
Primer
Fact Sheets Now Available in Russian [back to top]
Thanks to the Provincial Health Services Authority's (PHSA) Provincial
Language Service, several Primer fact sheets on mental health topics
including anxiety disorders, depression, and getting mental health help,
are now available in Russian. Other languages available include Chinese,
Farsi (Persian), French, Korean, Punjabi, Spanish and Vietnamese, with
Arabic and Japanese to come. The fact sheets are available free of charge
from the www.HereToHelp.bc.ca
website.
Volunteer
Opportunities with Volunteers in Partnership Program
[back to top]
Would you like an opportunity to: Work one-on-one with adults experiencing
a mental illness? Help someone achieve their individually set goals?
Learn about the mental health system? CMHA
Vancouver/Burnaby Branch's Volunteers in Partnership Program is
looking for adult volunteers who can offer 2 to 4 hours per week to
adults in the Vancouver area who are experiencing a mental illness.
Volunteers assist participants with improving their skills, increasing
their independence and exploring new activities. Volunteers and participants
are asked to commit to their partnership for a minimum of 6 months.
This is an opportunity to volunteer off-site in the community with support
and guidance from the program coordinator. For more information on this
volunteer program please contact the VIP Program Coordinator at 604-872-4902
ext. 290 or email katy.vinson.vb@cmha.bc.ca.
Vancouver/Burnaby
Branch Annual General Meeting - September 17
[back to top]
CMHA
Vancouver/Burnaby Branch cordially invites you to attend their Annual
General Meeting, where they will be sharing a few of their success stories.
Refreshments will be served. 6:30 - 8:30pm at the Shadbolt Centre for
the Arts, Deer Lake Park, 6450 Deek Lake Avenue, Burnaby. RSVP by phone
at 604-872-4902, email charles.liard.vb@cmha.bc.ca,
or in-person at 175 W. Broadway, Vancouver.
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.
September 20 - Fall Program Planning Night
September 21 - Harrison Sandcastle Competition
September 24 - Seattle Day Trip to Experience
Music Project/Science Fiction Museum
September 27 - Bead Workshop
September 28 - Sasamat Lake Hike
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.northwestvancouver.cmha.bc.ca.
September 12 - Relationships and Boundaries
from a Psychotherapy Perpective
September 19 - The Roadmap to Naturopathic
Wellness in 6 Steps
September 26 - Write
from the Heart and Exercise Your Mind
|
Featured CMHA Program:
Diversion Project on Mental
Health and the Justice System
| |
|
CMHA
BC Division is excited to announce the launch
of a new one-year project, supported by a grant
from the Law Foundation of BC. By the project's
end next summer, a new guide will have been completed
to support diversion of people with mental illness
out of the criminal justice system.
|
"We
know that too many people with mental illness are going
through the justice system— some of them time and
time again—without their mental illness being properly
addressed," says Bev Gutray, Executive Director of
CMHA's BC Division. "The courts and corrections system
are not the place to help people change their illness-related
behaviours; these need to be addressed in the community,
with supports. This project will help communities develop
better processes for addressing these behaviours, and
at the same time prevent the criminalization of people
who are not criminal, just mentally ill."
The
project will research promising ways to divert people
at multiple possible points within the justice system—such
as before arrest, before charges, before and during sentencing,
and in corrections. The intent of diversion is to help
those people address their mental-illness-related problem
behaviours, so as to better prevent reoccurrence of criminal
behaviour.
The
research will be presented to a provincial mental health
and justice advisory committee and regional forums to
evaluate and make recommendations. A best practices guide,
based on the research findings and reviews, will then
be available for community stakeholders (including police,
justice system personnel, mental health service providers
and consumers/family members) to develop a model of diversion
which best fits their community.
"This
is a natural extension of our work with the CMHA's Mental
Health and Police Project," says Camia Weaver, Justice
Coordinator for CMHA BC Division. "We have heard
over and over from police that they do not want to take
individuals with mental illness to jail, because it isn't
where they should be. We hope to develop mental health
and justice collaboration on diversion at a provincial
level, and a useful guide that will help communities throughout
BC—big and small—find the best means to steer
people with mental illness away from the criminal justice
system to more effective alternatives within the community."
The
new Diversion Project builds on the momentum of CMHA's
work in the area of criminal justice and ‘first
responders' over the last eight years since the association's
participation in a Coroner's Jury in 1999 into the police-shooting
death of a man with mental illness. Since that time, CMHA
has completed a groundbreaking research report on interactions
between people with mental illness and police. This work
continued with the Building Capacity: Mental Health and
Police Project, also led by Weaver, which over two cycles
saw nine BC communities develop local working groups and
action plans to improve collaboration between mental health
and law enforcement stakeholders during responses to psychiatric
emergencies.
Learn
more about CMHA BC Division's work in the area of mental
health and criminal justice at www.cmha.bc.ca/advocacy/justice.
|
Canadian Research
Homeless More Likely to be Hospitalized
for Mental Illness [back to top]
According to a recent report by the Canadian Institute for
Health Information, mental disorders accounted for more than half of
acute care hospitalizations among the homeless in 2005-06. The report,
Improving the Health of Canadians: Mental Health and Homelessness provides
an overview of the latest research, surveys and policy initiatives related
to mental health and homelessness and, for the first time, presents
data on hospital use by homeless Canadians. In Canada, over 10,000 people
are homeless on any given night. People experiencing homelessness are
at high risk for compromised mental health, mental illness, suicide
and addictions. The pathways linking mental health and homelessness
are interrelated. Mental health can be influenced by various individual,
social, cultural, physical and socio-economic determinants. These factors
can, in isolation or combination, be related to homelessness. Further,
while various mental health issues can precede homelessness, others
can develop or worsen with continued homelessness. View the report in
PDF format at secure.cihi.ca/cihiweb.
See also "Homeless hospitalized more often for mental illness:
study," at www.cbc.ca.
Active
Canadians Report Lower Stress
A new study published in StatCan's Health Reports
found that Canadians who were active in their leisure time were more
likely to rate their health as excellent or very good, and reported
lower levels of stress, were less likely to report high blood pressue,
and were less likely to be overweight or obese than those reporting
lower levels of activity. While the percentage of active Canadians is
rising, almost one-half of those aged 12 or older were classified as
'inactive' - defined as the equivalent of less than half an hour of
walking each day - during their leisure time in 2005. BC residents were
the most active, with 59% being at least moderately active in their
leisure time. See "Study: Physically active Canadians," at
www.statcan.ca.
The Health Reports (Vol. 18, No.3) is available in PDF format
at www.statcan.ca.
| CMHA Mail Box:
Changing Lives with Volunteers in Partnership
When I originally became a volunteer it was in part to gain
hours as a social service volunteer, a requirement for Douglas
College’s Community Social Service Worker program. I
was paired with Sarah who lived reasonably close to me.
The VIP program has enabled me to develop a greater understanding
of what some people suffer with, as well as showing me ways
to help an individual deal with their challenges. I think
it has also helped me develop a greater sense of compassion
and empathy. The ongoing support available, as well as the
training sessions at monthly meetings that a volunteer can
participate in, has really helped in my understanding and
growth.
Over the past five years I have seen a large change in my
VIP partner/client. When we first began working together she
was very isolated, rarely leaving home. For the first while
we just playing games or watched videos, eventually going
a few blocks to for a coffee. Now she regularly goes out for
extended periods, sometimes for more than 5 hours, on her
own. He is much more comfortable going to movies, restaurants,
the PNE, and other social environments. Although he still
struggles with his mental health, and sometimes ends a session
early because of feeling bad, he does enjoy a greater quality
of life, and I’d like to think that I played some part
in that. Being in the VIP program has expanded both my personal
horizons and professional understanding of mental illness.
I encourage you to try it for a time. I’m certain you
will benefit from it, and touch another person positively
in the process.
Volunteers In Partnership Program volunteer
|
Research from around the World
Worldwide
Mental Health Issues are Largely Underlooked and Untreated
[back to top]
A new series of papers on global mental health launched recently by
The Lancet calls for more resources for global mental health
and more recognition of the impact of mental illness on other health
problems. According to a London team of health experts, mental illness
is a neglected, marginalized, and under-resourced issue, especially
in the developing world, which often can't afford basic life-saving
health interventions. Mental illness accounts for about 14 perfect
of global disease, higher than both cancer and cardiovascular diseases,
and approximately 800,000 suicides every year. People living with
mental illness are more likely to develop physical health problems,
as well, which can lead to heart disease, cancer, strokes or diabetes.
In another study published in The Lancet, US researchers
found that in
developed nations, only half of those with serious mental
illness receive treatment, while most people with mental illness
worldwide receive no treatment at all. See "Mental Health Struggles
to Compete" at news.bbc.co.uk
and "Most mentally ill people in the world
get no treatment," at www.canada.com.
Read the full text articles, with free registration, at www.thelancet.com.
Depression Worsens Burden
of Chronic Disease [back to top]
In a World Health Organization study involving over 200,000 adults
from 60 countries, between 9 and 23% of participants had one or more chronic diseases
along with depression, a significantly higher percentage than likelihood
of having depression without a chronic physical disease. Those
with depression combined with one or more chonic diseases had the
worst health scores of all disease states. The study's authors conclude
that being depressed significantly worsens a person's health if they
also suffer from another chronic illness. The authors note that despite
the dramatic impacts of depression on health, it has traditionally
not been factored into the overall health picture. See "Depression makes chronic disease worse:
WHO," at www.cbc.ca.
>> if this topic
interests you, you may be interested in learning about CMHA
BC's new
project to support people with chronic
physical illness accompanied by depression or anxiety.
Report
on Mental Health Services in Later Life [back to top]
Over 3.5 million older people who experience mental health problems
do not have satisfactory services and support, according to the final
report from the UK Inquiry into Mental Health and Well-Being in Later
Life - a major independent inquiry supported by Age Concern. The report
reveals that mental health problems affect many more people in later
life than previously believed, and that the nature of the problems
is wider than often recognized. It reveals that up to 2.6 million
older people - 1 in 4 people over 65 and 2 in 5 people over 85 - are
suffering depression or serious symptoms of depression and one in
five people over 80 suffer dementia. It also highlights that older
people with mental health services are often ignored and receive little
support services, and there exists a poor level of services for people
growing older with longstanding mental health problems such as schizophrenia.
The inquiry makes recommendations and calls for action to improve
mental health services for older people. The final report is available
from www.mhilli.org.
Dramatic
Increase in Youth Suicide Rates and Effects of Antidepressant Warnings
in US [back to top]
Two reports released in The American Journal of Psychiatry
and the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention's Morbidity
and Mortality Weekly Report recently revealed significant increases
in youth suicide rates between 2003 and 2004 following a steady decline
since the early 1990s. Mental Health America believes this new data
illustrates the importance of carefully communicating the full range
of costs, risks and benefits for anti-depressants. Suicide claims
the lives of more than 30,000 Americans each year, with an estimated
19 million Americans suffering from depression in any given year.
Because half of all Americans with mental health conditions do not
seek treatment, the danger of untreated depression far outweighs any
danger associated with antidepressants. To read the full text journal
article, please visit ajp.psychiatryonline.org
or for the full report, visit www.cdc.gov/mmwr.
Lived Experience
is Essential in Using Medication for Recovery [back to top]
The lived experience of people with mental illness and survivors is
essential in deciding how and when to use medication in recovery,
according to a recent article in the Psychiatric Rehabilitation
Journal. The authors suggest that a combination of traditional
medical knowledge and 'personal medicine' (one's understanding of
how medicine may be incorporated into one's recovery) need to work
together if psychiatric medication is to be effective in the recovery
process. This shared decision-making approach has been integrated
into a pilot project at a community support program with three tiers:
a peer-to-peer workshop (which helps the person identify their goals
for life and how to use medication to achieve them), a peer-run decision
support centre in a medication clinic, and training for case managers
to support clients in their use of medication. See "The Lived
Experience of Using Psychiatric Medication in the Recovery Process
and a Shared Decision-Making Program to Support It." An
abstract with paid access to the full text is available at
prj.metapress.com.
Most
Providers Have Not Referred Clients to Consumer-Run Programs
[back to top]
A survey of mental health care providers across America shows that
less than half of the respondents have referred clients to programs
run by people with mental illness, says a study published in the Community
Mental Health Journal. In fact, slightly less than half of the
301 respondents even knew of consumer-run programs in their area.
While 95% agreed that trained and licensed professionals provide the
best mental health services, 78% also believed that consumers should
be given the opportunity to provide services. However, only half of
the respondents saw consumer-run programs as "viable mechanisms
for the delivery of primary mental health care." Researchers
recommended that mental health providers hire consumers as employees,
look into local consumer-run service options and establish relationships
with consumer-run programs. Consumer-run organizations should also
look for opportunities to improve their profile by linking with mental
health providers. See "Referral to Consumer-Run Programs by Mental
Health Providers: A National Survey." An abstract with paid access
to the full text is available at www.springerlink.com.
New Programs and Resources
Learn to Identify and Help Ease Back-to-School
Anxiety [back to top]
For many, September means back to school. The heightened stress of
academics and social pressures can spell out heightened anxiety for
kids and teens, starting in elementary school and peaking in high
school. As early as Grade 1, the transition to a full-day learning
environment can be overwhelming; for 12-15 year olds, peer pressure,
increased workloads, and relationships with the opposite sex are often
triggers of anxiety. To learn how to recognize typical signs and symptoms
of back to school anxiety and get tips on how to help your child,
see "School Anxiety! What you can do to help your child" at
www.canadian-health-network.ca.
>> check
out more featured back to school tips on the HeretoHelp.bc.ca
website.
Preventing Depression Through Physical
Activity [back to top]
About 11% of Canadians are likely to experience a major depressive
disorder in their life, and growing evidence indicates that physical
activity may be an important factor in the treatment and prevention
of depression. In fact, studies have shown that exercise may be as
successful as psychotherapy or medication in treating clinical depression.
Just 30 minutes a day of moderate exercise most or all days of the
week is ideal. For more information, see "Mental Health: Yet Another
Reason to Promote Physical Activity," in PDF format, at www.centre4activeliving.ca.
Support Group for Chinese Teens
[back to top]
The Chinese Mental Wellness Association of Canada is offering two
upcoming groups for Chinese teenagers who are concerned and want to
learn more about the mental health of a family member. Topics to be
covered include: concepts and terms, healthy attitudes towards mental
illness, early detection, coping strategies, and resources. Group
1 runs from September 18 - October 30; group 2 runs from November
6 - December 18. Both consist of seven sessions and are conducted
in English, Tuesdays 5:00-6:30 pm at #250 5726 Minoru Blvd., Richmond,
BC. Please email teensupport@gmail.com
or visit www.cmwac.org
for more information.
Online Support Groups
for Family and Supporters of People With Mental Illness
[back to top]
The
BC Schizophrenia Society and the Mind Foundation have launched of
a series of new online support groups for people caring for a loved
one with mental illness. Designed specifically for people who might
find it hard to get to an in-person family support group, they are
anonymous, private and available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
There are three groups in the series: for family members, spouses,
parents, siblings, or friends; for persons who are lesbian, gay, bisexual
or transgendered; and for families living in rural areas.
For more information on joining a support group, please visit www.bcss.org.
Those interested in volunteering to stimulate discussion and welcome
new members, please contact Sophia Kelly at psychosis@bcss.org.
Grip
Magazine on Navigating the Youth Experience [back to top]
The Alberta Mental Health Board (AMHB), in conjunction with Venture
Publishing presents Grip, a unique, free magazine which targets
youth between the ages of 13 and 18. Its goal is to provide support,
encouragement and information to help youth navigate through the challenges
during this stage of their lives and to break down misconceptions
and stereotypes. Grip magazine recognizes that youth don’t
want to be "talked down to" or lectured by adults on topics
that are relevant to them, so it takes a peer-driven approach with
most articles written by teens themselves. Teens are given the opportunity
to express their own thoughts on a range of issues including relationships,
peer pressure, academic life, and self-esteem. If your organization
regularly works with or hosts youth, you may be interested in copies
of Grip so that they may pick it up at their leisure. There
is no cost for ordering this magazine, even if you are a BC organization,
as it is sponsored by the AMHB, though there is a minimum order of
10 magazines. To view the online version visit www.griponlife.ca.
For ordering information, email getgrip@griponlife.ca.
Workbooks
for Teens Dealing with Parental Mental Illness and Trauma
[back to top]
I'm Not Alone: A Teen's Guide to Living with a Parent Who Has
a Mental Illness and Finding My Way: A Teen's Guide to Living
with a Parent Who Has Experienced Trauma are two new workbooks
for families who are dealing with mental illness and trauma. The books,
written by a psychologist and her mother, a teacher, provide facts,
coping tips, and interactive writing exercises to encourage readers
to reflect on their experiences. The workbooks are available to purchase
for $20 US from www.seedsofhopebooks.com.
Correctional
Services of Canada's New Mental Health Strategy [back to top]
A recent issue of Correctional Service of Canada's Let's Talk
newsletter provides an overview of their comprehensive mental health
strategy, which proposes a continuum of mental health services, from
the time offenders arrive at an institution, to their release into
the community. The authors note that over the past 10 years, the proportion
of male offenders coming into the federal correctional system with
a diagnosed mental health problem has increased by 71%. The newsletter
is available at www.csc-scc.gc.ca.
Announcements
Commission Launched to Study Mental Health Care [back to top]
A new national five-year, $55-million Mental Health Commission has
been launched by the federal government to figure out how Canada can
better care for its mentally ill and to fight what Prime Minister
Stephen Harper calls the 'stigma' attached to such patients. The commission
will be chaired by former Liberal senator Michael Kirby, and is composed
of 17 people from across the country, including BC representative
Madeleine Dion Stout, a nurse and native leader from Delta. Also from
BC are Advisory Committee Chairs, Bill Mussell, Presedient and Chair
of the Native Mental Health Association of Canada, and Elliot Goldner,
founding director of the Centre for Applied Research in Mental Health
& Addiction (CARMHA).
In 2006, Kirby co-authored a a Senate report on
the state of mental illness care in Canada, pointing out that Canada
is one of the few industrialized nations not to have a national health
care strategy for mental illness and calling for a national commission
as a first step toward writing a new mental illness strategy and integrating
health care services across the country. It also suggested the commission
should undertake a campaign to educate Canadians about mental illness
in order to spread the message that diseases such as depression or
schizophrenia are not only common, but should not be accompanied by
the discrimination often suffered by people who have them. To read
more, please see "Commission Launched to Study Mental Health
Care" at www.canada.com
or visit the Mental Health Commision website at www.mentalhealthcommision.ca.
>> workplace mental
health is one of the major priorities for the Commission, as
Kirby told the Vancouver Board of Trade at the Mental Health is the
Business of Business Luncheon in May, sponsored by CMHA BC's Bottom
Line Conference and Scotiabank. If you are interested in learning
more about mental health in the workplace, sign up for Bottom Line
Conference
e-alerts at www.bottomlineconference.ca.
New
Mental Health Plan in the Works for BC
[back to top]
According to an article in 24 Hours, a new mental health
plan for BC will be developed over the coming months. Health Minister
George Abbott explained that the government is writing "a new
10-year plan for mental health," updating one released in 1998.
According to Abbott, the government plans to work with advocacy organizations
and professionals to "incorporate any changes around how best
ot manage issues in the mental health area." See "Libs to
develop mental-health plan," at vancouver.24hrs.ca.
Arts
in Healthcare Grants Available - Due September
19 [back to top]
Johnson & Johnson working in partnership with the Society for
the Arts in Healthcare, seeks to promote the use of the arts to enhance
the healthcare experience for patients, their families, and caregivers.
Proposals are now being sought from healthcare and/or arts organizations
that have established arts in healthcare programs operating in or
warranting replication in underserved communities. Letters of inquiry
are due September 19. For more information and eligibility requirements,
please review the guidelines available at www.thesah.org.
2008
Hilton Humanitarian Prize Seeking Nominations -
Due November 6 [back to top]
The Conrad N. Hilton Foundation invites nominations for the 2008 Conrad
N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize for organizations that have made extraordinary
contributions toward alleviating human suffering anywhere in the world.
The $1.5 million prize - the world's largest humanitarian award - is
presented annually to an established nonprofit, charitable, or non-governmental
organization. Nominated organizations must have an operating budget
greater than USD$500,000. Nominations must be received or postmarked
by November 6, 2007. For more information and eligibility requirements,
visit www.hiltonfoundation.org.
THEO BC Seeks Family Members to Participate in Focus Group
- September 24
[back to top]
THEO BC provides training, education, and job placement services to
people with disabilities and those with mental illness. THEO BC is presently
reviewing its services and needs feedback from family members on what
would benefit their family or client. Family members interested in participating
are invited to attend a focus group on Monday September 24, from 6:30
- 8:30pm at 520 W. 6th Ave., ROOM 202. To register, please email Sherry
Gable at sgable@vch.ca or call 604-708-5289.
Participants in the International Bipolar Disorder Survey Needed
[back to top]
Equilibrium - The Bipolar Foundation is a recently-established international
non-profit organization seeking to improve treatment and understanding
of the causes and effects of bipolar disorder. It is currently conducting
an online International Bipolar Disorder Survey, which the foundation
anticipates will be the largest survey of its type for the development
of greater insights into the illness. The survey has been designed by
people with bipolar disorder working with professionals in the field.
It is looking for people living with bipolar disorder to complete a
confidential, 20-minute online survey at www.survey.bipolar-foundation.org.
Conference
on Adolescents and Adults with FASD - Call for Abstracts - Due
September 15 [back to top]
Adolescents and adults with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) have
a high frequency of emotional and behavioural problems that can range
from difficulty coping with life's challenges to severe psychological
and psychiatric disorders. In the absence of empirically validated effective
treatment approaches, professionals and caregivers have been developing
a 'Wisdom of Practice' response to both the unique and common needs
of individuals, their families, and service providers. This conference
will highlight what has been shown through this 'Wisdom of Practice'
to be most effective in the diagnosis and treatment of mental health
issues in individuals with FASD, and treatment and support for their
families and service
providers. April 10 - 12, 2008 in Vancouver, BC. For more information,
see the call for submissions in PDF format at www.interprofessional.ubc.ca.
Call for Papers on Collaborative Mental Health Care - Due
December 15 [back to top]
The Canadian Journal of Community Mental Health invites
health care providers to submit papers for a special issue called "Advancing
Collaborative Mental Health Care in Primary Care."
The Fall 2008 issue will cover new approaches to collaboration among
mental health care providers, primary care providers, people with mental
illness and family members.
Submissions can discuss descriptions and evaluations of new programs
and practices in clinical care, the organization of health service delivery
models, training of health care providers, and new partnerships with
community agencies, among other topics.
The submission deadline is December 15, 2007. For details on how to
prepare manuscripts, see www.socialsciences.uottawa.ca.
Send English manuscripts to nkates@mcmaster.ca
and French manuscripts to mgagne@pharmacists.ca.
Public Education
Events
Kids
in Control Support Groups in Burnaby, Vernon and Vancouver [back to top]
The Kids in Control Support Group Program gives information, education
and support to children 8 - 13 years old who have a parent with a serious
mental illness. It helps provide the tools and coping skills that they
need to grow up happy and healthy despite their challenges and risks.
An important goal of the group is to let kids see that they are not
the only ones in the world that are having this experience, and helps
them learn that their experiences are shared by others. A variety of
activities and games are used to educate and provide a means for the
group to support each child. The program offers eight weekly sessions
between and is
free for families. For
more information on the Kids in Control Program please visit www.kidsincontrol.bcss.org.
Burnaby/New Westminster
- Sept. 12 - Nov. 7 - 3:30 - 5pm at the
Lower Mainland Purpose Society, 40 Begbie Street, New Westminster. Contact
Devina Cruickshank at
604-270-7841 or devina_cruickshank@hotmail.com.
Vernon - Oct.
10 - Nov. 28 - 3:15 – 4:45 pm at The People Place Building
Room 003 3402 27th Avenue, Vernon. Contact Dianne at 250-260-3233.
South Vancouver - Oct.
- Nov. - 4 – 5:30pm. Transportation will be provided to
South Vancouver residents. Contact Carolina Romero at the South Mental
Health Team at
604-266-6124.
Information
Session on Mood Disorders in Punjabi - September
16 [back to top]
Mood Disorders Association of BC is presenting an information session
for punjabi speaking people with mood disorders and their family members,
with Dr. Nirmal Kang, Psychiatrist and Dr. Rajpal Singh, Psychologist.
5pm at The Days Inn, 9850 King George Hwy, Surrey. For more information
contact 604-873-0103 or mdabc@telus.net.
Frames
of Mind Mental Health Film Series - The Self-Made Man - September
19 [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 Self-Made Man,
intercuts videotaped footage of an apparently lucid, successful man
contemplating suicide with his family’s memories of a life lived
large right to the end. Ultimately, the film is a poignant, thought-provoking
and personal exploration of whether one has the "right to die."
Includes post-screening discussion Dr. Michael Myers, Clinical Professor,
Department of Psychiatry, UBC, and the Director of the Marital Therapy
Clinic at St. Paul’s Hospital. 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
of BC Education Evening - Update on Bipolar Disorder - September
20 [back to top]
Join Mood Disorders Association of BC for their monthly Education Evening
for the community. Dr. Ron Remick, a Psychiatrist at St. Paul's Hospital,
will present an Update on Bipolar Disorder for 2007. A question and
answer period will follow the talk. The free event starts at 7pm at
Sunrise Hall, 1950 Windermere St., Vancouver. The hall is wheelchair
accessible. Call
604-873-0103 or email info@mdabc.net
for more information.
The
Plastic Human Brain: Implications for Translational Neuroscience and
Education - September 27 [back to top]
The UBC Institute for Mental Health is sponsoring an interdisciplinary
colloquium series for 2007-08. This colloquium will be presented by
Alvaro Pascual-Leone, Associate Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical
School; Director, Laboratory for Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation; Director
of Research, Behavioral Neurology Unit; and Associate Director, Harvard-General
Clinical Research Center, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. All
talks are on Thursdays at noon in room 2NA/B in Detwiller at UBC, 2255
Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver. A light lunch is provided. For a full listing
of topics and speakers in PDF format, visit www.mhanet.ca.
Strengthening
Families Together Program - October
3 [back to top]
The BC Schizophrenia Society is now offering a free, 10-session group
for families and friends of someone living with mental illness. Strengthening
Families Together provides support, information about mental illness,
treatment options, and services, as well as problem solving and coping
tools. The program starts October 3 and runs evenings. For more information,
visit www.bcss.org
and to register, contact Jessica Smits, Vancouver/Richmond Coordinator,
at jessicasmits@bcss.org or at 604-247-1884.
Beyond
the Blues: Depression Anxiety Screening and Education Day – October
4
[back to top]
Beyond the Blues is an opportunity to learn more about these treatable
conditions, complete a brief, confidential questionnaire, speak one-on-one
with a clinician, and find out about the range of community resources
available to help. All sites this year will also have information on
alcohol use, with a dozen sites offering screening for risky drinking.
There are 65 sites across BC. Beyond the Blues is coordinated annually
in October by CMHA BC Division on behalf of the BC Partners for Mental
Health and Addictions Information. For more information, or to find
the site nearest you, visit the Depression Anxiety Education and Screening
Day website at www.heretohelp.bc.ca/events,
or call the event hotline at 1-866-917-HOPE.
Largest Eating Disorder Event in Canada - October
11 [back to top]
Until Your Heart's Content is an awareness event featuring international
and local speakers, as well as musicians and performers who have struggled
with eating disorders themselves. Renowned author and co-founder of
the Anorexia and Bulimia Center of Hawaii, Anita Johnston, will be holding
her Soul Hunger workshop on October 13, as well as be the keynote speaker
of the evening. Proceeds from the event will be donated to Shelley's
Angels Society, a non-profit organization dedicated to helping those
without the financial means afford private counselling for an eating
disorder. The event will be held from 7 to 10pm at the Red Robinson
Show Theatre at the Boulevard Casino in Coquitlam. Tickets are available
through www.ticketmaster.ca.
For more event information, please visit www.untilyourheartscontent.com
or contact Shelley Jensen, "S" Team Counselling Services and
Event Coordinator at 604-552-4363 or at shelley@shelleysteam.com.
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.
Substance Use and Problem Gambling Certificates
[back to top]
The Justice Institute of BC is offering new fall courses. The Substance
Use Certificate Program and Courses certificate starts September 21
for management and staff of health, criminal justice, and social service
agencies whose clients include people using substances sessions are
led by experienced professionals and grounded in a harm reduction approach.
Problem Gambling - Clinical Assessment, Treatment and Prevention is
a 42 hour certificate starting October 4, offered in partnership with
BC's Problem Gambling Program and is a prerequisite for anyone wanting
to become a problem gambling counsellor in BC; it is useful for allied
professionals such as addiction counsellors, mental health workers,
educators, or other interested in integrating issues of problem gambling
into their work. To register, please call 604-528-5590 or toll free
at 1-877-528-5591. For more information, please visit www.jibc.ca/cfcs
or contact Caroline White, Program Coordinator, at 604-528-5620 or at
caroline@jibc.ca.
Connecting With Your Kids Program - September
17+24, October 1+15
[back to top]
Jessie's Hope Society is offering a 4-week program following its highly
popular Parenting Workshop earlier this year. Connecting With Your Kids
focuses on parents' and caretakers' own inner resources and discusses
the role and power of our own state of mind as it impacts ourselves
and the connection we have with our children. It examines what creates
a calm or stressed state of mind and whether we have control over our
states of mind no matter what the circumstances. The program takes place
September 17, 24, October 1 and 15 from 7-9 pm at Jessie's Hope Office,
11739 223rd St, Maple Ridge. The cost is $35 per person and $60.00 per
couple. To RSVP, call Heather at 604-466-4877. For more information,
please visit www.jessieshope.org.
Skills
for Working With People Who Have Mental Health and Addiction Problems
- Info session: October 17 [back to top]
Douglas College is offering a new Advanced Citation in Co-Occurring
Disorders to workers in the helping professions. This program - the
first in BC - provides those with a certificate,diploma, or degree in
social services and allied professions or related experience the tools
to understand the challenges of co-occurring disorders. An information
session will be held on October 17 at 6:30 pm in Room 2802, Douglas
College New Westminster Campus, 700 Royal Ave. Classes start January
2008; register early for limited seating evening courses. For more information,
please contact John Fox at 604-220-9114 or Bob Shebib at 604-527-5139.
Conferences
Emerging
Health and Safety Issues from Changing Workplaces - September
17 + 18 [back to top]
The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS) is hosting
a tripartite, national event to explore health and safety issues that
are emerging from changing workplaces. With Emerging Health &
Safety Issues in Changing Workplaces: A Canadian Discussion as
the theme, this 2-day event will bring together subject experts, workers,
employers and governments to share their knowledge and experience around
this pan-Canadian issue, and to discuss problems and solutions. Topics
include the evolving workplace, technology, protecting workers, and
employee well-being, Conference fee: $500; Single-day rates available.
At the Marriott Pinnacle Hotel, 1128 W. Hastings St., Vancouver. For
more information and registration, visit www.ccohs.ca/events.
>> mark the date
for the 2008 Bottom Line Conference on mental
illness in the workplace, on February 20, and Mental Health
Works workshops on February 21. Stay tuned for more details or sign
up for conference updates at www.bottomlineconference.ca.
Showcasing
New Initiatives in Psychosocial Rehabilitation in BC -
September 21
[back to top]
Psychosocial Rehabilitation of BC is offering a conference showcasing
psychosocial initiatives. Featured speakers include Elly Litvak with
her fast-paced, one-woman play, Now Who's Crazy Now? and Regina
Casey, on her Masters' thesis on promoting recovery within Vancouver
Community Mental Health Services. Breakout topics include wellness recovery
action plans (WRAP), collaborative supported education programs for
students with a mental illness, and Hospital Bridges, a peer-led psychosocial
education program in the psych ward. 8am - 4pm at the HEY Building,
Riverview hospital, Coquitlam. Conference fee: $50; Students $25; People
with mental illness and family members $10; Free for PSR members. Please
contact Gill.Walker@vch.ca 604-983-6020
for more info. Register by emailing sstenning@bchousing.org
Cross-Cultural
Mental Health Symposium - September 27 + 28
[back to top]
Intended
to promote ongoing dialogue between the mental health and addictions
system and cross-cultural communities by exploring current issues and
potential solutions/promising practices, the 12th annual Cross-Cultural
Mental Health Symposium will focus on the topic of Social Cohesion:
Building Capacity for Cultrually Responsible Communities. Presented
by The Cross-Cultrual Psychiatry Program, Department of Psychiatry,
Vancouver General Hospital/Vancouver Community Mental Health Services;
Vancouver Coastal Health; Immigrant Services Society of British Columbia;
SOS; and SUCCESS. Conference fee: $170; Employee, Student, Not-for-profit
Organization and Sponsor Rates available. At Simon Fraser University
at Harbour Centre, 515 West Hastings Street, Vancouver. For more information,
view the program/registration form in PDF format at www.psychiatry.ubc.ca,
or contact Janey Chang, Symposium Coordinator by email at symposium@shaw.ca
or by fax at 604-676-2660.
The Tip of the Iceberg: Medical Comorbidity Across the
Spectrum of Psychiatric Care - September 28
[back to top]
This full day conference addresses the highly prevalent but often unrecognized
problems of mental comorbidity in psychiatric patients across all care
settings. It will consist of two plenary sessions by world renowned
authorities Drs. Kisely and Gardner presenting scientific evidence on
issues of medical comorbidity. This will be followed by key front line
clinicians presenting medical comorbidity stories in their psychiatric
patients across the spectrum of primary, secondary (acute), and tertiary
care. Following will be concurrent workshops on diversity issues, in-depth
clinical case studies across various care settings, and a workshop on
barriers, challenges, and opportunities for improvements. Finally, the
day will end with a panel discussion by key people who influence our
health care system. The conference will take place September 28 at Paetzold
Health Education Centre Auditorium, Jimmy Pattison Pavilion, 855 W.
12 Ave., Vancouver. To register, please visit www.confmanager.com.
International
Conference on Schizophrenia in Toronto, ON - September
28 - 30
[back to top]
Join delegates and speakers from around the world at Lighting the Path:
Hope in Action, hosted by the World Fellowship for Schizophrenia &
Allied Disorders (WFSAD), in partnership with the Schizophrenia Society
of Ontario and the Schizophrenia Society of Canada. This conference
will inspire innovations in the field by bringing together families,
consumers, mental health practitioners and community leaders to share
ideas, research and stories. Lighting the Path: Hope in Action is an
extensive 3-day program focused on our shared dedication to deliver
a brighter future for those living with schizophrenia; promoting research
and better treatment solutions, and the action we must take to end discrimination.
In Toronto, Ontario. Conference fee: $425; Single-day rates available.
For more information visit conference.world-schizophrenia.org.
Canadian
Association for Suicide Prevention Conference in Yellowknife -
October 5 - 8 [back to top]
The theme for this year's conference is Embracing Life - Choosing
Your Future. Speakers and workshop presenters will address suicide
prevention, intervention and postvention areas that pertain to survivours,
caregivers, community development, research, youth, culture and traditional
healing. Conference fee: $295; early bird, member, student, elder and
single-day rates available. For more information and to download a registration
form, visit www.casp2007.ca.
Hearing
Voices Symposium in Toronto, ON - October 15 [back to top]
The Community Health Systems Resource Group at the Hospital
for Sick Children is hosting a symposium entitled "Hearing Voices:
The Utilization of Qualitative Research in Early Psychosis." It
will focus on international qualitative research that reveals the voice
of young people affected by psychosis, their families and the practitioners
who serve them. Given the growing interest in moving qualitative research
findings into practice, the utility of qualitative health research findings
in first episode psychosis will be featured. Innovative methods of knowledge
translation and exchange will also be highlighted.
The symposium will be
held at St. Andrews Conference Centre, 150 King Street West, Toronto,
ON. For information, please please visit www.sickkids.ca
or contact Sarah Bovaird, Project Coordinator, at sarah.bovaird@sickkids.ca.
Western Canadian Conference on Addictions and Mental Health
- November 14-16
[back to top]
The
Western Canadian Conference on Addictions and Mental Health is a three-day
gathering of addiction and mental health professionals exploring practical
tools and techniques they can use now to help their clients and themselves.
This year, the conference will feature a youth-focused concurrent session
each afternoon. It runs from November 14 to 16, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm at
the Best Western Richmond Inn Hotel and Conference Centre, 7551 Westminster
Highway, Richmond. For more information, please visit www.jackhirose.com.
Psychiatrists
in Blue: Building on Success in Halifax, NS -
November 18 – 20
[back to top]
Police officers, policy leaders and trainers, mental health workers,
members of the justice system, and mental health or law students are
invited to attend 6th annual conference on Police/Mental Health Systems
Liaison Conference, hosted by The Halifax Regional Police and The Mental
Health Crisis Team. Keynote speaker Dr. Duncan Chappell will speak on
major developments in Australia affecting policing and people with mental
illness. Conference fee: $375. At the Delta Halifax, Halifax, Nova Scotia.
For more information and registration, visit www.cacp.ca.
|
 Health
promotion helps us to understand the many influences on our
health from social and environmental factors such as housing,
income, education, clean air and a sense of belonging, to our
everyday choices about diet and exercise. Understanding what
affects our health can help us take action to make it better.
So can the Canadian Health Network (CHN). It is a wealth of
information to help you prevent disease and make healthy choices
for yourself and your community. CMHA is the official Mental
Health Affiliate of CHN. |
If
you like what you've just read and would like to support our work,
you can donate to our charity by clicking on the image above or send
your gifts to CMHA BC, 1200-1111 Melville Street, Vancouver, BC V6E
3V6, Tel: 604-688-3234 (1-800-555-8222), Fax: 604-688-3236.
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.
To
subscribe or unsubscribe from MIND MATTERS, visit www.cmha.bc.ca.
If
you have any ideas or content for MIND MATTERS, please send them to
mindmatters@cmha.bc.ca.
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 |
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