Breathe Easy with CMHA
Friday, February 8, 2008
This is a unique program specially designed for people with mental illnesses who want to quit smoking. This is a highly supportive 6-week program. A trained facilitator, participant manuals, peer support and Nicotine Replacement Therapies will be provided.
Our next 6 week program starts in March 2008 (one meeting per week).
- Are you a smoker living with mental illness?
- Are you serious about wanting to quit?
- Do you access PWD/CPP (disability benefits)?
If yes, you would be a great fit for the Breathe Easy program.
To find out more about Breathe Easy or to sign up for registration, call Amanda at CMHA: 861-3644, ext 105.
Please click here to download the Breathe Easy poster.
© 2007, Canadian Mental Health Association.
Breathe Easy with CMHA
Kelowna CMHA - Friday, February 08, 2008
Two Kelowna Organizations Work Together to Combat Homelessness
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
CMHA Kelowna and BrainTrust Canada are working together to bridge a service gap for homeless individuals who are disabled as a result of a brain injury.
With this innovative collaboration, one staff member from BrainTrust Canada will join forces with the CMHA Outreach Services team. Together, they will provide affordable housing solutions for persons with brain injury and life skills training to prevent future homelessness in the Kelowna area.
For the full story, please click the following link:
CMHA%20Homeless%20Outreach%20Newsrelease%20Feb08.pdf
© 2007, Canadian Mental Health Association.
Two Kelowna Organizations Work Together to Combat Homelessness
Kelowna CMHA - Wednesday, January 30, 2008
Mood Disorder Support Group
The Mood Disorder Association will meet Wednesday, the 27th of February, 7 - 9 pm at CMHA. This is a peer support group for anyone living with a mood disorder over the age of 19. Refreshments provided.
For more information, please call Amanda at CMHA 861-3644
© 2007, Canadian Mental Health Association.
Mood Disorder Support Group
Kelowna CMHA - Wednesday, January 30, 2008
New Guide for Mental Health Services in the Okanagan
Thursday, October 4, 2007
A new guide about mental health, mental illness and where to find help has been developed by the Canadian Mental Health Association, Kelowna Branch. The first week of October is Mental Illness Awareness Week and to mark this week, the guide will be delivered for free to 54,000 homes in the Central Okanagan with the Capital News.
The Canadian Mental Health Association Kelowna Branch exists to promote the mental health of all and support the resilience and recovery of people with mental illness through education, advocacy, research and service. Mental illness affects one in five people in Canada but mental illness really affects everyone sooner or later. Those of us who do not have a mental illness know a friend, colleague or family member who is dealing with a mental health issue. Taking care of our mental health can help combat or prevent mental health problems that are sometimes associated with a chronic physical illness.
Mental illness has a huge impact on our community. Every year, more than 500 people commit suicide in British Columbia. It’s one of the leading causes of death among young people aged 15 – 24 years, particularly young men. Mental illness is one of the costliest conditions in Canada. Over $14 billion is lost each year to the Canadian economy due to lost productivity and days off work due to depression. It’s the fastest rising cause for worker absenteeism. People are suffering.
When people receive appropriate treatment and support, they can and do recover and lead meaningful and productive lives. The sad irony is that less than two thirds actually receive treatment because of a lack of knowledge, understanding or the stigma associated with dealing with a mental health issue.
It is our hope that this Guide provides the general public with valuable information about mental illness, mental health and where to go to for help.
We are interested in hearing from you about whether this document is helpful. Please email us at CMHA Kelowna: kelowna@cmha.bc.ca. You can also find the guide and other great resources on line : http://www.kelowna.cmha.bc.ca/ and http://www.heretohelp.bc.ca/
Contact: Charly Sinclair, CMHA Kelowna 861-3644
© 2007, Canadian Mental Health Association.
New Guide for Mental Health Services in the Okanagan
Kelowna CMHA - Thursday, October 04, 2007
Supporting Families With Parental Mental Illness Workshop
The Supporting Families with Parental Mental Illness workshop was held on September 20th. Various agencies in Kelowna, with support from the Interior Health Authority sponsored a one-day information and community-planning event regarding the needs of families where there is a parental mental illness. The aim of the workshop and SFWPMI committee is to promote integrated community planning to support families where there is parental mental illness.
The event was well attended by a diverse representation of parents, family members and service providers. Renowned psychologist and author from the University of Massachusetts Medical School, Dr. Joanne Nicholson, presented on Families with Parental Mental Illness: Impact and implications, challenges and opportunities; Mr. Mark Littlefield of Littlefield and Associates presented on Advance Planning (Ulysses Agreements): Implementation between different mandates (adult services to child services). Dr. James Chin, a local psychiatrist provided a thorough overview of mental illnesses and how symptoms of these illnesses can impact the parenting role. A panel with representation from the Canadian Mental Health Association, Interior Health’s Mental Health Team, the Ministry of Child and Family Development, Access to Employment and Public Health, greatly assisted in mapping resources available presently as well as provided a vision for future.
The audience heard from family members and two adult parents living with mental illness. Their stories were powerful and profound. It seems like families with parental mental illness routinely struggle without basic supports like respite, affordable child care options, without a mental health system that recognizes that people are more than clients, that they are parents too. There is intense stigma and discrimination regularly meted out to individuals and families that live with mental illness.
The workshop also highlighted what services and supports were working well in our community as well as ways to enhance collaboration and integration in order to better support families where a parent may be living with mental illness. Want to learn more about the Supporting Families With parental mental illness?
Call Charly Sinclair or Amanda Swoboda at 861-3644
© 2007, Canadian Mental Health Association.
Supporting Families With Parental Mental Illness Workshop
Kelowna CMHA - Thursday, October 04, 2007
BC Mental Health Guide Provides Support and Information to Community
Thursday, September 6, 2007
If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health problem, you may not know where to turn for information, help or support.
The new BC Mental Health Guide has been created to assist individuals, families, friends or professionals in accessing information on the variety of services and supports that are available in the Okanagan region.
The Consumer Development Project at Canadian Mental Health Association has done a terrific job at organizing and simplifying resources available in the Okanagan so that the information is accessible to all.
The guide can be downloaded from the CMHA Kelowna website at:
http://kelowna.cmha.bc.ca/files/kelowna/BC MH Guide 2007.pdf
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Charly at CMHA at Ph: 250-861-3644
© 2007, Canadian Mental Health Association.
BC Mental Health Guide Provides Support and Information to Community
Kelowna CMHA - Thursday, September 06, 2007
New Commission Seeks to Erase Stigma Attached to Mental Illness
Wednesday, September 5, 2007
The Mental Health Commission of Canada was officially launched by Stephen Harper August 31st.
It will seek to erase stigma, improve the quality of life, and ensure families and individuals dealing with mental illness can access the best prevention, diagnostic and treatment practices.
For the full story, please click the following link:
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20070831/mental_health_070831/20070831?hub=Canada
© 2007, Canadian Mental Health Association.
New Commission Seeks to Erase Stigma Attached to Mental Illness
Kelowna CMHA - Wednesday, September 05, 2007
