I thought I would just post a little to do here about the importance of keeping connected even during difficult times. We all know the benefits of keeping in touch and having a 'network of support' blah, blah; but we're busy, work, life, family, etc. etc.. However I feel that sometimes we forget how simply sharing or connecting has the incredible ability to restore our lost energy.
Here at FAME we believe in the importance of connecting daily, weekly and even monthly with each other to check in, see how things are going and to provide support. This time we spend together is not all business. Sometimes we share a joke, or talk a bit about our personal lives. Sometimes we need help from our team about next steps to take or how best to support a family that might be going through a tough time themselves. No matter what we are sharing the end result is always a re-investment of energy, so that we may to go back to our offices and provide the best support in our communities.
Sometimes we might feel kind of lonely or isolated in our tough times; this can happen. But it is quite remarkable what a little sharing can do; you might be surprised to see how many people rally around you with a little bit of energy to offer.
Thanks for rallying around me....
Lyndsay
Monday, June 22, 2009
Friday, June 12, 2009
I've been meaning to blog...
A little while ago I attended Child Psychiatry Day at the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. This year’s topic was on “Preventive Interventions in Children’s Mental Health.”
A presentation particularly relevant to my work here at FAME was by Dr. Tatyana Barankin, co-author of the CAMH publication “Growing up resilient: Ways to build resilience in children and youth.” Dr. Barankin presented on “Opportunities for Prevention in Children of Mentally Ill.” She pointed to a number of studies that showed that children who have a parent with mental illness are at an increased risk of developing mental illness themselves. Many of us already know this, as a genetic factor has long been identified. But did you know the stats? It seems that when a parent has been diagnosed with schizophrenia, 74% of children may develop a mental illness. Where parental mood disorders are concerned, 25-50% of children may develop a mental illness (and not necessarily the one their parent has). The Nature vs. Nurture debate really should be referred to as the Nature AND Nurture debate, for both genetics and environmental factors are key components to one’s development and overall mental health. Dr. Barankin pointed out that 54% of children who have a parent with mental illness actually cope very well. So what separates the vulnerable child from the resilient one? Without getting too much into it here, Dr. Barankin shares that the child who is less vulnerable (and thus more resilient) develops a level of knowledge about the illness, is not engulfed nor intimidated by the illness, and sees it as something to be understood. In addition, Dr. Barankin identifies risk factors as well as protective factors in her book, and also distinguishes among individual, family, and environmental factors in enhancing resilience. Resilient families are identified as being flexible, focus on their strengths to address adversity, communicate well, etc. I’d like to write more about resilience later on.
A theme I found that ran throughout the day was the importance of the family in children’s mental health. I’d like to take this one step further and suggest that the family is important in each member’s mental health. One of Dr. Barankin’s conclusions was that the family should be included as part of the treatment. She highlighted to be particularly helpful psycho-educational cognitive approaches. So isn’t it great that we have fameKids?! The fameKids program is specifically designed based on characteristics of resilience and is an educational support group for children. And if part of prevention is education and helping to enhance resilience, then we are certainly on the right track!
Anie
A presentation particularly relevant to my work here at FAME was by Dr. Tatyana Barankin, co-author of the CAMH publication “Growing up resilient: Ways to build resilience in children and youth.” Dr. Barankin presented on “Opportunities for Prevention in Children of Mentally Ill.” She pointed to a number of studies that showed that children who have a parent with mental illness are at an increased risk of developing mental illness themselves. Many of us already know this, as a genetic factor has long been identified. But did you know the stats? It seems that when a parent has been diagnosed with schizophrenia, 74% of children may develop a mental illness. Where parental mood disorders are concerned, 25-50% of children may develop a mental illness (and not necessarily the one their parent has). The Nature vs. Nurture debate really should be referred to as the Nature AND Nurture debate, for both genetics and environmental factors are key components to one’s development and overall mental health. Dr. Barankin pointed out that 54% of children who have a parent with mental illness actually cope very well. So what separates the vulnerable child from the resilient one? Without getting too much into it here, Dr. Barankin shares that the child who is less vulnerable (and thus more resilient) develops a level of knowledge about the illness, is not engulfed nor intimidated by the illness, and sees it as something to be understood. In addition, Dr. Barankin identifies risk factors as well as protective factors in her book, and also distinguishes among individual, family, and environmental factors in enhancing resilience. Resilient families are identified as being flexible, focus on their strengths to address adversity, communicate well, etc. I’d like to write more about resilience later on.
A theme I found that ran throughout the day was the importance of the family in children’s mental health. I’d like to take this one step further and suggest that the family is important in each member’s mental health. One of Dr. Barankin’s conclusions was that the family should be included as part of the treatment. She highlighted to be particularly helpful psycho-educational cognitive approaches. So isn’t it great that we have fameKids?! The fameKids program is specifically designed based on characteristics of resilience and is an educational support group for children. And if part of prevention is education and helping to enhance resilience, then we are certainly on the right track!
Anie
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