Strengthening Families Together: Kings County Chapter of the Schizophrenia Society of Nova Scotia

Do you have a relative or friend with a serious mental illness?

Would you like to learn more about his or her illness?

Strengthening Families Together, a 10-session group for families and friends,

provides information, skill building and support.

You will learn about:

• Getting help early and recovering
• Treatment and Supports
• Coping with challenges of daily living
• Finding your way through the mental health system
• The importance of taking care of yourself, too.

The Schizophrenia Society of Nova Scotia - Kings County Chapter

is hosting the next group.

Starting: Tuesday, March 16

Register today.

Phone Pat at 678-8458 or Penni at 678-1229

SESSIONS ARE FREE

Schizophrenia Society of Nova Scotia: Kings County Chapter Announcement

Last nights meeting was cancelled due to weather conditions. The meeting has been rescheduled. Here is the information.

JIM MORTON MLA TO SPEAK:

"Mental Health Issues

and our Provincial Government"

Wednesday, January 27th, 2010, 7.00 pm

At the Lions Club of Kentville, 78 River Street

Open to the Public --- Refreshments

Mental Health Commission of Canada: Update

Hello all:

With the initiatives of the Mental Health Commission of Canada well underway with widely profiled launches, here is a bit of an update.

1. October 2nd was the launch of OPENING MINDS, the 10 year national anti-stigma campaign. The Opening Minds launch took place atop the Calgary Tower, the flame burning from 6am-8:30am to symbolize bringing mental illness out of the shadows forever. The campaign will focus on youth 12-18 and health professionals. Seewww.mentalhealthcommission.ca

2. November 23rd was the launch of the 5-city crosscountry AT HOME / CHEZ SOI HOMELESSNESS and MENTAL HEALTH DEMONSTRATION PROJECT in which 1325 people will be given a place to live (already some of these homes have been provided). We are using the Housing First model by Pathways to Housing. Seewww.mentalhealthcommission.ca

3. November 30th, at the MHCC Into the Light Conference in Vancouver, was the launch of TOWARDRECOVERY AND WELL BEING: A FRAMEWORK FOR A MENTAL HEALTH STRATEGY FOR CANADA(a document widely consulted by the people of Canada that is the first step towards a national mental health strategy). For either electronic copy or hardcopy see www.mentalhealthcommission.ca

4. March 8th, 2010 will be the launch of STAND IN THE LIGHT: PARTNERS FOR MENTAL HEALTH, which will be a nation wide campaign connecting people to build strong and meaningful action for mental health. The trial run of the interactive website is looking for input and is now live for a limited time.www.standinthelight.ca

5. November 29th-December 1 MHCC Into the Light conference was held in Vancouver. Over 700 people attended to learn more about the MHCC and other important mental health topics.

www.mentalhealthcommission.ca

www.standinthelight.ca

Radio Interview

Donna Methot, president of the HRM Chapter of the SSNS will be interviewed live at 6:25 am tomorrow morning (Tuesday) on the CBC Radio 1 show, Information Morning. She will be talking about the 10-week session of Strengthening Families Together which begins tomorrow evening at 7:00 pm in the Conference Room at the Sackville Sports Stadium.

Updating the DSM

A new DSM in the works which will be known as DSM-V will be released in 2013. Here is the link to a couple of articles about this revision and the history of the DSM from it's beginnings up until the DSM-IV. I personally agree with some of the things discussed on this web page. The DSM definitely needs improvement from the current state it is in right at the present moment. I have read the whole page and it was quite an eye opener. Give it a read and it definitely make you think.

http://www.dana.org/NEWS/CEREBRUM/detail.aspx?id=23560

Family Outreach and Response Program

Here is the link to an organization in Ontario dedicated to helping families affected by mental illness. I put this link on my blog for family members of consumers that read my blog. Check it out. I personally believe you might some of the information useful and helpful.

http://www.familymentalhealthrecovery.org/

Family Education & Support Meeting

The HRM Chapter of the Schizophrenia Society of Nova Scotia

Family Education & Support Meeting

Monday, January 11^th, 2010

7:00 pm to 9:00 pm

Room 6015, Halifax Infirmary

QEII Health Sciences Centre

1796 Summer Street

Halifax, Nova Scotia

Presenting:

7:00 - 8:00 pm

An Overview of Mental Health Services in the Capital Health District

Mr. Peter Croxall

Director

Capital District Mental Health Program

8:00 - 8:10 pm

Refreshment and Socializing Break

8:10 - 9:00 pm

Group Discussion

For more information, please contact Donna Methot at (902) 462-8658, or send an email tohrmchapterssns@accesswave.ca.

Strengthening Families Together - Jan 12 - Bedford - Sackville

In partnership with Bedford/Sackville Community Mental Health, and with funding provided by the Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia, the HRM Chapter of the SSNS will deliver Strengthening Families Together in Lower Sackville beginning at 7:00 pm on Tuesday, January 12th, in the Conference Room at the Sackville Sports Stadium, 409 Glendale Drive, and continuing for nine consecutive weeks at the same time and location.

To register (free), or for more information, please contact Donna Methot at 462-8658 or send an email tohrmchapterssns@accesswave.ca.

Become Suicide Alert

BECOME SUICIDE ALERT

suicide alertness for everyone

Learn four basic steps to recognize persons with thoughts of suicide and connect them with suicide helping resources.

This three-hour training

can help you make a difference.

Why come to safeTALK?

Most people with thoughts of suicide invite help. Often these opportunities are missed, dismissed or avoided—leaving people more alone and at greater risk. safeTALK training prepares you to help by using TALK (Tell, Ask, Listen and KeepSafe) to identify and engage people with thoughts of suicide and to connect them with further help and care.

Who should attend safeTALK?

safeTALK is for everyone who wants to help prevent suicide: front line workers, clergy, volunteers, parents, youth*, teachers, law enforcement, … anyone who wants to be a suicide alert helper.

How can I get safeTALK training?

To register for a safeTALK training in your area, contact the organizer below.

safeTALK is brief, affordable and internationally recognized.

*safeTALK is for anyone age 15 and older. Younger persons may attend with the consent of parents or guardian.

There will be a course held at the Bloomfield Center, 2786 Agricola St., Halifax, Friday the 12th of February from 1 to 4 pm and the same course repeated from 6 to 9 pm

The cost of this course is $30.

Your facilitator will be Keith Brumwell a registered trainer with Livingworks and a Master Trainer who has facilitated over 40 ASIST Courses(Suicide Intervention Courses) and is also a safeTALK trainer. Keith works with the mentally ill and has extensive experience in suicide intervention and working with persons at risk for suicide.

Certificates are given to those completing this training.

This is an excellent course and is a life skill anyone can use.

Please contact Keith Brumwell at brumwell@ns.sympatico.ca if you are interested and I will give you registration information.

You may also get further information on safeTALK by visiting the following website; http://www.livingworks.net/

Making Music

I have had an electric keyboard for over a year now but I haven't been playing it much. I have also received a guitar this year for x-mas. Many many years ago I used to play both the guitar and the keyboards. There was also a time when I was a professional musician playing the drums. I have a gift for playing music. It just comes natural to me. To my knowledge I have never taken a music lesson in my whole life except for one or two piano lessons when I was very young. I was so young I don't even remember taking the lessons. Mom told me I did.

I have made a New Years resolution. I want to learn at least 50 songs on both the guitar and the keyboards in 2010. I also want to develop my singing voice so it is a lot better than it is at the present moment. I want to entertain people and share a message with the world through playing music and singing. I personally believe that both the words and the music itself are very important. The words must have a positive message to share with people and the music has to be of good quality as well. Although different people have different preferences when it comes to what kind of music they like. I have decided to play and sing gospel music and x-mas music. I want to share the Christian message with the world through playing music and singing.

Wish me luck in my new endeavor.

Schizophrenia Society of Nova Scotia Kings County Chapter Meeting Announcement

Date: Wednesday, January 20/10

Location: Lions Club, 78 River Street, Kentville, NS.

Time: 7:00 pm.

Guest Speaker: Jim Morton, our local MLA. He will be speaking and answering questions.

For more information call: 678-8458

Gift Giving Ministry

Here is a link to an article about someone who cares and has love and compassion for those with a mental illness. I find the story very moving and I think that we need more people like Father Eric Theriault in this world. Check it out you will not be disappointed.

http://thechronicleherald.ca/ArtsLife/1158924.html