Mental Health Minutes

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Summary of the 2007 Budget
2007-03-20 20:11:00
(from the Canadian Mental Health Association)Mental Health Commission • $10 million over two years and $15 million a year thereafter to establish the Canadian Mental Health Commission, headed by Michael Kirby. • $400 million for Canada Health Infoway to support the development of electronic health records.• $22-million-per-year increase to the Canadian Institute for Health Information. Income Security Elements • A Working Income Tax Benefit of up to $1,000 per year for families or $500 for individuals will help people over the "welfare wall" and strengthen incentives to work for more than 1.2 million low-income Canadians. • A new Registered Disability Savings Plan to help parents and others save money to care for children with severe disabilities. • $10 million a year to expand the New Horizons for Seniors program, which will help prevent abuse and telemarketing fraud and to expand capital assistance for community buildings, equipment and furnishings. • $10 million a y...
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Local event: Aspirations / Autism Ontario Benefit Concert
2007-03-15 20:36:00
Understanding and Celebrating Asperger Syndrome through Music and ArtFriday, March 16, 2007 at 7PMThe Bronson Centre211 Bronson Avenue, OttawaFor more information on the event click here.Asperger('s) Syndrome (AS) is an Autism Spectrum Disorder. It is a developmental condition that can be detected in children although many individuals are not diagnosed until adolescence or adulthood. Individuals with AS have differing degrees of difficulty with social, communication, and behavioural skills. However, most of these individuals have average to superior levels of intelligence. But due to their difficulties they often rely on alternative learning methods customized to their needs. Visit the Aspergers Society of Ontario to learn more about this condition.
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Lilly-MDAO Moving Lives Forward Scholarship 2007
2007-03-13 19:51:00
Six scholarships will be awarded to recipients from across Ontario with mood disorders to help them resume their studies and achieve their goals. The amount is approximately $2,500 (for tuition and supplies). This year's awards may be taken up in September 2007 and are tenable for 12 months of study. Applications are due by Friday, April 27th, 2007.For more information, including application forms visit MDAO's site.
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Ontario's Health Plan: join the conversation
2007-03-05 20:29:00
"Make a difference in the future of health care. Have your say."How can the Ontario government improve health care for its citizens? What's important to you? Make your voice heard.The provincial government is in the midst of a campaign to get answers from you. Hey, it's your tax money so make sure it goes where you want it to! The campaign's site provides a form to submit suggestions for improving Ontario's health care system. The Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care will also be holding public consultations throughout the province. I will be attending the Ottawa session on Wednesday, March 7th and I will be advocating for the improvement of mental health services and increased funding. You may register online to attend (for free, but space is limited). There are also sessions being held this week in Kitchener, Oakville, Toronto, and Sault Ste. Marie.
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Life after death: coping with bereavement
2007-03-05 04:17:00
(article from the Public Health Agency of Canada)When someone close to us dies, it can sometimes feel as if we'll never get over the loss. As much as death is a part of life for everyone, it is also one of the most difficult things to cope with. But getting through grief and being able to move on with life is essential to our mental health and well-being. Fortunately, there are reasonably predictable stages of grief.An important thing to understand is that it is necessary to grieve a loss. It's tempting to try to find ways to step around grief, but the reality is you only get to the other side of grief by walking right through the middle of it.The three stages of grieving"You only get to the other side of grief by walking right through the middle of it."Even though grief is a process everyone goes through, no two people go through it exactly the same way. The way you show grief may depend on your culture, and how much grief you feel can depend on your relationship with the person ...
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Joni Boon
2007-03-04 00:47:00
(January 17, 1975 – February 16, 2007)Beautiful, intelligent, charismatic and creative. A teacher, wife, daughter, sister, and friend. Joni was truly a wonderful person.Like most people, Joni got sick from time to time. She lived with bipolar disorder, a mental and physical illness, but was otherwise very healthy. Joni did everything she could to look after herself.Unfortunately, bipolar disorder brought Joni into a deep depression – worse than anything she’d experienced before. Some people say she took her own life. They’re wrong. She did not want to die. She loved life more than anything else. She wanted to live it, give it, and make it – she wanted children. But, mental illness took it all away.Things I’ve learned from Joni:*Mental illness is nothing to be ashamed about*You are not your illness, it is only part of you*Once you’ve been diagnosed with mental illness, you gain control and can learn how to live better*If you have mental illness, research as much ...
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Ipsos Reid study on depression in the workplace released today
2007-02-16 03:36:00
(statistical references from The Ottawa Citizen, February 15, 2007)Overview-Fourteen per cent of Canadian adults have been diagnosed with depression by a doctor, with a higher incidence in women (18 per cent) than men (11 per cent). -Nearly three-quarters of those surveyed (72 per cent) know someone who has been diagnosed with depression.-Eight in 10 Canadians said they believe depression is a "life-threatening illness," while just 24 per cent think depressed people could "just snap out of it if they really wanted to."-Seventy-nine per cent of workers said they believe a person diagnosed with depression would keep the fact secret to avoid damaging their future opportunities at work, and nearly half believe someone missing work because of depression would be more likely "to get into trouble and maybe even fired." -Eighty-eight per cent of Canadians believe CEOs should make helping employees with depression "a key human resources priority."Shannon Proudfoot of The Ottawa Citizen inter...
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Addendum to "Nature/Nurture"
2007-02-12 02:34:00
(and in response to the comment from "Anxiety 2 Calm" in my previous post)Genetics is one of many factors influencing the development of mental illness. Whether someone develops a mental illness based on genetics alone is debatable and I would bet rare. Not everyone with a predisposition to mental illness will develop it. However, we can’t ignore that there are family patterns of mental illness. They could develop from a combination of genetic, environmental and social factors. However, regardless of cause, if a strong family history of mental illness is present, it should be discussed with younger generations. Children/youth should learn how to recognize the symptoms of mental illness for the sake of their own early intervention or for someone they know who is developing symptoms. Thus, knowing one's family history provides the opportunity to instigate change earlier and faster should complications arise.While genetics may be unchangeable how a person deals with mental illne...
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Nature/nurture: The stigma of inheritance and the inheritance of stigma
2007-02-05 06:48:00
For many who develop it, mental illness comes from a combination of factors. In my situation, I believe that genetics played a role. Knowing one’s family medical history is extremely important for the prevention and early treatment of a variety of health conditions. However, oftentimes mental illness isn’t discussed between family members. I call this phenomenon the “silent stigma”. The reasons for this are namely fear and weakness, or a combination of the two. A family member may fear for the state of their loved one or fear for developing an illness themselves. Secondly and sometimes concurrently, a family member may believe mental illness is a sign of weakness. For those in the boomer generation who some of which may hold this stigma, I don’t blame them a great deal. They were raised in a time when those with mental illness were locked away. This segregation only perpetuated stigma. It was a societal problem.Now, these folks are not off the hook. They have lots o...
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Me?
2007-01-31 04:36:00
I've been told by many people that it is time to tell my own story and, well, this would be a fine place to do it. I guess you could say that I hold a slight personal stigma (what a hypocrite!). As someone so passionate for the promotion of mental health, you'd think that it would be easy for me to do. I have no problem discussing my story with people face-to-face, even with people I hardly know. In fact, I enjoy the occasion to do so. I guess the act of writing evokes deeper feelings from inside and it also necessitates greater detail. How much would you like to know?My story is also quite long - at least to me! Where would I begin? The present? Childhood? I greatly respect others who tell their story. Thus, I should reciprocate with my own. Perhaps some of my readers can suggest what they would like to hear and I could take it from there. Considering it,Jennifer

Local: Well done Heather Hennigar
2007-01-29 04:24:00
Thank you Heat her for your enlightening four-part piece, Diary of Depression, published in the Ottawa Citizen. The act of sharing your story provides hope to those who are suffering and promotes the de-stigmatization of mental illness. Well done!
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News: A quicker cure for depression?
2007-01-19 14:29:00
Instant relief from unrelenting depression may someday be just a pinprick away...according to a small study by the U.S. group National Institutes of Health.
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Have Your Say!!
2007-01-17 21:21:00
Mental illness affects 1 in 5 Canadians: a family member, friend, colleague or perhaps you. That’s 1.6 million Canadians in total. Left untreated, the challenges of mental illness can lead to suicide for 4,000 Canadians each year. More Canadians die from suicide than motor vehicle accidents. Inform our Minister of Health that we need a well-designed Mental Health Commission - and soon - to address mental illness and mental health issues in Canada. Health Canada is asking for your input in a public consultation. The survey only takes a couple of minutes to complete.Donating a few minutes of your time will make a difference in the lives of many Canadians. Make your message heard.In this together,Jennifer
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News: One million adults depressed, 70% employed
2007-01-09 16:16:00
Excerpt from CharityVillage.comA study by Statistics Canada examined stress levels among the employed population, aged 18 to 75, and found that depression stands out as a major occupational health issue. Just over one million adults had experienced a major depressive episode in the year before the survey interview. Of these people, 7 in 10 were employed during that year. For workers of both sexes, high stress on and off the job was associated with depression. However, the mental health of male workers was more vulnerable to stress arising from the work environment. Men in high strain jobs were 2.5 times more likely than their counterparts in low strain jobs to have experienced depression; women were 1.6 times more likely. Male and female workers who considered most days to be quite a bit or extremely stressful were over three times as likely to have suffered a major depressive episode, compared with those who reported low levels of general stress. -- Report can be found at Statisti...
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Fear of Flying?
2007-01-02 17:23:00
Phobias affect 1 in 10 Canadians and fear of flying, also known as aerophobia, is one of the top reported phobias. Did you take to the air for travel over the holidays? I was lucky to have visited family in my birth city, Regina. On my return, I flew Air Canada from Regina to Toronto and had quite an interesting experience. Luckily, I am *almost* over my fear of flying. In fact, I don't mind the mechanical aspect of flying and I really enjoy peering out the windows at the scenic views below. Rather, its sitting on a plane for a long period of time (claustrophobia) that I don't enjoy. My last flight proved to be quite the test of mental power. The plane was due to take off at 8:40pm. My family and I arrived at check-in to find out the CRJ we were originally to fly was having "mechanical difficulties". In that case, I don't mind waiting for another plane to use.Once we boarded our fully booked plane, baggage and all, we were told that due to snow on the runway and that the plane wa...
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When shopping is stressful
2006-12-22 19:52:00
Christmas holidays can be stressful! Whether you are hosting an event or traveling to one, there are so many things you need to think about. One of them is buying gifts. I find one of the most stressful events at this time of year is going to the shopping malls.I have decided this year to avoid shopping malls as much as possible. The buildings are crowded and everyone seems rushed. It's not the type of atmosphere that gets me in the holiday mood. I am not pessimistic, really. I just think that my mental health (and perhaps my wallet too) would benefit from removing myself from that environment. There are lots of great independent stores that I like to go to. I find I often receive better service from them, too. We try to save ourselves money and find convenience in shopping at big-box stores and shopping malls when really they can be just plain stressful. It's quite the paradox.Some of you are laughing right now because you either 1) did your shopping in August; or 2) did your s...
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Local News: Dancing with Schizophrenia
2006-12-09 20:58:00
I was very pleased to attend this year’s Christmas celebration put on by the Friendship Support Group, a recovery network run by Cynthia of the Schizo phrenia Society’s Ottawa Chapter with the help of some wonderful volunteers. The evening was filled with holiday cheer and includes the singing of Christmas carols, a large turkey buffet, and a visit from Santa. The spirit in the room was remarkable. Once the band took stage, these folks immediately popped out of their seats and let loose like no one was watching. It was incredible to be a part of this experience. Volunteers and consumers alike had me dancing and twirling across the room which –in turn - had me bursting from the seams in laughter. What a blast! I only wish more people would worry less about appearances and just have a great time.Congratulations Cynthia, son Justin, and team for a great event and thank you again for inviting me.
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If it were only that simple, here's hoping...
2006-12-06 03:11:00
Clue to mental illness all in the noseFrom the New Zealand Herald Predicting the onset of mental illness could soon be as simple as smelling a scratch-and-sniff card loaded with the aroma of roses or a whiff of petrol. Scientists have taken the same technology popular in children's books and designed a test to help diagnose brain disorders before the onset of any symptoms. The test can be used for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, obsessive-compulsive disorder and schizophrenia, as well as some illnesses affecting adolescents. It originated in a discovery by Melbourne University researchers of a link between these illnesses and a poor ability to identify smells. To test their theory, they developed a set of 40 scratch-and-sniff cards and asked people to identify the smell from a list of four possibilities, such as coffee, roses, oranges and petrol. Professor Warwick Brewer, from the university's Orygen Research Centre, said the people who later went on to develop a brain dis...
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Stand Up for Mental Health, It's Funny
2006-12-04 04:10:00
Last Thursday I attended Stand Up for Men tal Health , a comedy fundraiser for lessening public stigma around mental illness. The project was started by David Granirer, a B.C. counsellor, writer, and stand-up comic. The event included local stand-up comics, mostly new to the scene, who are past or current consumers of the mental health system. According to Granirer:“We use comedy give consumers a voice and help reduce the stigma around mental illness,” says Granirer. The idea is that laughing at our setbacks raises us above them. It makes people go from despair to hope, and hope is crucial to anyone struggling with adversity. Studies prove that hopeful people are more resilient and also tend to live longer, healthier lives.”Eight courageous comics took to the stage, some for their debut. The program is already having success in Vancouver and Toronto and now gaining momentum in Ottawa. David is looking for volunteers, both on stage and behind the scenes to help out. Of course...
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The stress of moving
2006-11-27 05:23:00
I apologize for the past week’s hiatus. I’ve recently moved with my partner Julian. While the new digs and living arrangement are great I have been overwhelmed with the amount of work there is to do. It feels like a never-ending list. Boxes upon boxes – most put away now – but some are still in the hallway to serve as a reminder to empty them. It’s not laziness by any means. There are simply a million and one things to do and the miscellany-filled boxes in the hallway are not at the top of my list (although Julian might have a different viewpoint!). Luckily, I’ve had the help of friends and family to facilitate the process. Although moving is considered by most people to be a stressful life event there are things you can do to decrease your stress level before and during your move. I would like to share with you what I have learned (some of it the hard way). Prior to your move, do as much preparation as possible. Some sites provide helpful moving lists. Canada Post h...
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Guest Blog: Hopeful Aspirations by Tara Timmers
2006-11-18 19:50:00
The journey to recovery has been Full, full of learning’s, expression and love. As I gathered my self esteem and pride in who I am I evolved from a creature with potential to suffer to an outstanding contributor to the mental health community. My message is filled with Hope for the future, my future and yours. As a participant in mental health services, I have truly found myself and become what I aspire to be: compassionate, healthy, caring and giving. I have attained a lifestyle that enables me to help others and grow into my rightful stance. Through acceptance of my illness and gaining an insightful repertoire of knowledge I am more able to see the light of day, metaphorically speaking, and gather a will for peaceful interludes and personal reflection. In the past five years, I have gone to school and graduated from Business Administration with 97% honours - demonstrating that mental illness will not hinder intelligent dialogue or being able to be fully present in the learning ...
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Discarded by society
2006-11-13 16:03:00
Last week I reluctantly approached a woman on the street to ask about her story. She said she was only 21 years old and working the corner for money to pay her pimp. I have seen many prostitutes walking the streets Ottawa, but this case was somewhat exceptional since the woman was quite young - although I’m sure there are some in their teens doing the same. However, this story was personally touching because I had actually intercepted this young woman from taking a trick. I felt empowered in my own little way. As she was approaching the vehicle / john I called to her. She chose to walk over to me instead. I found this interesting – either she was scared I would call the authorities or she was opening herself up to receive help. Either way, I appreciated her choice.I asked her name and she told it to me. She asked me for spare change. I said no. However, I asked repeatedly how I could help her. She said she was fine. Clearly she wasn’t. She smelled of booze and appear...
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Autistic, stigma or blessing?
2006-11-10 05:01:00
Please see the article Redefining Autism from the National Post on October 7, 2006.I find the language in this article interesting with respect to the term autistics, which is used frequently throughout the text. The footnote examples illustrate that the term autistic is preferable to people with autism. However, after doing my own research, I’ve found that this is not the case for most people. The Autism Society of Canada, the Autism Society of Ontario, and the Autism Canada Foundation, all generally use the term people with autism. The same terminology applies to people with Schizophrenia. This is the politically correct term that is used over the term schizophrenics. Of course, the same goes for any condition connected to mental health. Think about it. We wouldn’t use similar words to describe people with “physical illnesses" such as cancer (canceric?), heart disease (heartie?), etc. Really, this doesn’t make sense, does it?The important thing to note is that pe...
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Measuring one's own mental health
2006-11-06 17:46:00
A couple of my blog readers have asked about self-diagnostic tools. I recommend visiting CMHA's website or the links on my blog for more information. However, it is very important to speak to a health professional if you may be experiencing symptoms of mental illness. If you do not have a doctor, you should visit your local walk-in clinic or hospital. You may also consult with a psychologist for immediate treatment. In Ontario, your doctor's services are covered under OHIP. However, for psychologist's services you may want to check your employee health benefits plan, if you have one, to see if it is covered.Likewise, if you are worried about a family member or friend, please encourage them to see a health care provider. This is much easier said than done (more to come on this). But, if you think he/she may harm themselves or others, you should call 911 or your local police service promptly.Remember, you are not alone. One in five Canadians experiences a mental illness in their li...
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