FAME and Building Roots- Edible Allan Gardens Community Project

FAME is delighted to be a part of Building Roots’ Allan Edible Garden Project! We are excited to begin the growing process, and we are looking to put together a team of volunteers to help with our little plot in the garden! Gardening is an excellent way to get outside in the sunshine, get involved with the community, and on top of all that is very beneficial for your mental and physical health!

According to the research the mental health benefits of gardening include:

• Contributes to improved social interactions and community cohesion.

•  Reduces the occurrence of episodes of stress, and the severity of stress and associated depression.

•  Improves alertness, cognitive abilities and social skills.

• Alleviates symptoms of dementia and Alzheimer’s disease, such as agitation and aggressive behavior, which can in turn improve circumstances for carers.

• Provides productive manual activity and beneficial social interaction for people tackling drug and alcohol dependency.

• Helps people manage the distress associated with mentally challenging circumstances.

-Davies, G., Devereaux, M., Lennartsson, M., Schmultz, U. & Williams, S. (2014). The benefits of gardening and food growing for health and wellbeing. Garden Organic and Sustain.

We started on Wednesday May 25^th with the planting, and now have a little herb garden with two kinds of basil (sweet and Thai), sage, dill and parsley. These little guys need lots of sunshine and fairly regular watering and upkeep, so we need volunteers!

If you’re interested in taking part in the community garden, or want to have input, please get in touch with us at the Toronto Central Office, either emailing kalynm@fameforfamilies.com, or calling 416-351-2751 . We would love volunteers this project, and any tips and tricks you have for a successful garden! 

                   

                                         

                                      

Let It go.....

As previously posted last week was Mental Health Education Week here in Canada.  The week was long, hectic, non-stop and exhausting.  Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining here, I'm always grateful for all the opportunities we get to educate and to share with others about the community of mental health.

As the Director here at FAME, I'm not so connected to direct support services.  It is easy to close the door to my office and disconnect from the world and the families that we serve.  I turn to the paper trails, working hard to balance budgets, filling out report after report, scheduling staff and to make sure that the lights are on in all the sites we run.  Such is the life of the Director.

Yesterday, later in the day, I was sitting in my office, with the door shut.  The two FAMEkids Coordinators, Karen Naismith and Nicole Levy were hosting a FAMEkids support group. For those of you who don't know what FAMEkids is about, this is a very special program that supports children from 7 - 12 years of age who have a family member impacted by mental health challenges.  I could hear the occasional laugh or squeal from a kid down the hall.  Then it began....

What was that sound?  I stopped.  I began listening very quietly.  I cracked my door open just a bit. There it was.  I could clearly hear the voices of children singing.  I closed my eyes and listened even more intently.  "Let it go...let it go...."  There it was, the sweet voices of children singing the theme song from Frozen.  It was as if someone had blown a cool, soothing breeze of fresh air through my office.  In those few moments I realized it didn't matter that I wasn't a part of the boots on the ground team of delivering services because my job was to make sure that the resources are there to make these very special programs and very special moments happen.  It made all those long days sitting behind my desk, fretting over the paper work, fussing over funding, worth every single moment.

While I cannot share with you the faces of these children, I most certainly can share with you the lovely sounds I managed to capture on my phone.  So for every little voice that lifted me up yesterday, thank you so much. Turn up the volume and catch a cool breeze. #LetItGo  #KidsNeedHelpToo #FamiliesMatter #MentalHealthMatters #WeAreAcceptance #MHEW2016 #MHEW16 #FAMEkids

Mental Health: A Special Series

In January of this year, The Mississauga News released a a three part special Series on Mental Health.  Topics range from personal stories, funding in peel, how the mental health system in peel is supporting the population; and how it's falling short.  I found it to be an incredibly in-depth series that examines the very real, and sometimes heartbreaking effects the mental health system in peel has on the families that are reaching out for support. Please take a look at this incredible series:
Part 1: Help....The Monsters Under my Bed are Real
Part 2: "The System Failed us"
Part 3: A New Frontier in Mental Health

I've found myself recently having a lot of conversation with families in Peel about the connections (or possibly missed connections) between the campaigns to end mental health stigma (Ex: Bell Let's Talk), and the funding that goes to the programs to help people when they are ready for support.  I was really struck by a Father who told me that although he's extremely encouraged by the advocacy and stigma campaigns, he has been increasingly worried about what happens when people feel more comfortable seeking help from our system If the funding still isn't there, wait lists, inpatient beds, and even crisis response may not be caught up to even access the services. Later that same day I came across this article from the National Post that sheds some light on people who are falling through the cracks of an overburdened system.

We have certainly come a long way in Mental Health Strategies in Canada, and  I truly believe that education is the first step.  We need to know how the system is working right now, in order to help make it better.  We can write letters, talk openly about it, bring forward the ideas of the families who are using the system themselves to make sure that the people who are really needing the help don't fall through the cracks.  Remember, as a community we have a lot of power.  We can work together to make a difference.

Recovery & Mental Health

The best way to understand mental wellness is to view it as a continuum. Our positions may shift from time to time depending on the events of our lives. Seeing mental health as a continuum means that we are not always stuck in one state and we are able to move back and forth. It’s important to understand that we all have mental health, just as we all have physical health. The quality of our mental and physical health fluctuates. Factors such as stress, lack of sleep and traumatic experiences can impact our mental health as can the level and quality of support that one has in times of stress. Just as we need to do things to maintain good physical health, it helps to do certain things to maintain good mental health, such as manage our stress, seek counseling and support when overwhelmed, or take care of our bodies through proper sleep, diet and nutrition.

Blame

Brene Brown on Blame is a must-see video, as known from Sympathy vs. Empathy. "Brene Brown considers why we blame others, how it sabotages our relationships, and why we desperately need to move beyond this toxic behaviour." Enjoy!

Reducing Stress

It is important that we recognize when we are feeling overwhelmed and/or stressed. Loving and living with someone who has a mental illness can be very challenging and often leads to family members feeling stressed. Being aware of your early warning signs may  help you indicate times where you may be feeling stressed. Pay attention to these warning signs and try to find ways to decrease stress.

National Suicide Prevention Week 2015

September 7th - September 13th marks National Suicide Prevention week. Jamie Tworkowski from To Write Love On Her Arms (TWLOHA) writes:

"The lie is that depression and suicide are things that we can't talk about.
It's a lie that causes people to feel alone and live alone when it comes to their pain.  The truth is that, as people, we all relate to pain.  We all struggle from time to time, we all experience sadness, and we all encounter huge questions in this life.  All of that is part of this human experience that you and I keep waking up to.

And with all of that in mind, welcome to National Suicide Prevention Week.  This week, people all across America are pushing back at the lie.  Thousands more will join them on Thursday for World Suicide Prevention Day.  Together we will say that it's important to talk about mental health and suicide.  Together we will say that it's okay to be honest and it's okay to ask for help.  Together we will say we're not alone.

Family Fair at the Hincks-Dellcrest Centre

The Family Fair held at the Hincks-Dellcrest Centre in North York saw an incredible turn out on Wednesday, June 10th.

Supporting a Family Member: Mental Health Resource

Hello everyone,

Karen and I have been searching the web for resources pertaining to the support and education of family members coping with mental health struggles within the family and have found a valuable resource. This resource is from British Columbia's mental health initiative "here to help" and is free to the public.

The "Supporting a Family Member" page is a hub for trusted educational articles and covers specific diagnosis' and family needs. Not only does the website provide resources for parents but it also provides links to age appropriate resources for siblings. All information is up to date and can be navigated easily for downloading/viewing purposes.

Note: Small portions of the website are tailored for the province, for instance community mental health events.

Here's the link:

http://www.heretohelp.bc.ca/skills/supporting-family#symptoms

Hope this resource can be of use!

-

Good Reads

I recently read some interesting articles, and as much as I believe we have adopted these rationales in to our every day work, I think it is still beneficial to share with others.  Regarding individuals experiencing addictions, Johann Hari writes "So the opposite of addiction is not sobriety. It is human connection." in the article The Likely Cause Of Addition Has Been Discovered, and It Is Not What You Think.  The other article is Redefining Mental Illness from The New York Times, which discusses a new diagnostic system. Enjoy!

Acknowledgement of Caregiver Stress

I'm happy to see that attention is being paid to how caring for an individual with a chronic health condition (just a reminder: this includes Mental Illness!), can lead to higher stress levels and a negative impact on the mental health of the caregiver.  If 1 in 5 individuals in Canada experience a Mental Health concern, that means that 4 out of 5 could be caregivers.  Let's not forget that when everyone is supported through this journey, recovery for the whole family and a higher quality of life is extremely achievable.

Please take a look at this Star article : Mental health report warns of caregiver stress, suicide rates .  Everyone remember to stay healthy and practice your self care! 

When is it okay to be sick?

How is mental illness different from physical illness? In many ways we have distanced the idea that challenges affecting our mental health are equitable to that which affects our bodies. Quite commonly, this reality is made apparent by the support (or lack thereof) experienced by those supporting and living with the challenges of a mental illness. Our misunderstandings can be isolating and encourage the fear and unawareness that one with mental health challenges must than experience.  In Larry M. Lake's article "Comfort Food: No one brings dinner when your daughter is an addict", we see a very real and often felt experience of a family experiencing the challenges of mental illness and isolation. 

http://www.slate.com/articles/life/family/2013/11/families_dealing_with_mental_illness_need_support_too.single.html

Positive Dialogue for Supporting Recovery

      Speaking about the issues affecting our families can be challenging and at times leave us at a loss for words. Not knowing what to say can be confused with not caring and so we stay silent.  Like many other challenges to our loved ones, supporting an individual with an eating disorder (whether it be Anorexia, Bulimia or an EDONS) can leave us unsure of what to say. Unsure of when and what is appropriate to talk about can further the tensions we feel in the family.

In the following article, blogger Anna Rose speaks personally about suggestible phrases and templates of discussion to help ease into talking about the challenges felt by those living with an eating disorder. Though the article is specific to Eating Disorders, we can transfer these approaches to our own experience with supporting a loved one.

http://annarosemeeds.wordpress.com/2014/11/06/ten-things-to-say-to-someone-with-anorexia/

1. I love seeing your smile/your eyes light up/your sense of style/etc. Compliment something other than weight. There are so many beautiful traits that each person has. Finding a few that do not include words like “thin” should not be too difficult.
2. You are beautiful and worthy of love no matter what you weight is, was, or will be. This affirms the person and shows that weight is not what is the most important aspect of a human. There are more important qualities.
3. Would you like me to eat with you? Beware that the answer to this might be “No!” However, this simple action can mean so much. I realized that barely anyone has eaten with me at school. It is so lonely always eating alone. 
4. I have a granola bar/apple/glass of water/etc. You do not need to take it, but I would love to give it to you. Without pressuring someone into eating, you are showing how much you care about his or her well-being. Once again, the answer might be “no,” but the thought will not be forgotten.
5. It means so much that you went out to eat with us/had dessert with me/ate pizza with our friends/ect. Affirm times when your loved one eats scary food or in frightening situations. Show how that impacted others (including yourself) in a positive manner. 
6. It will be alright if you eat that cheese/trail mix/banana/cupcake. Your body knows what to do with it. Said in a compassionate manner, this can be so helpful. Be careful not to sound preachy or exasperated. Instead, just state the facts that the body knows how the process the food while sympathetically acknowledging that it is frightening.
7. How are things going lately? Do you want to talk? Simply being willing to listen without judging means so much. Hearing how someone with anorexia thinks might be painful. Actually listening without berating their eating disordered thoughts can be a huge blessing to them.
8. You are so strong. I believe that you will get through this. “Stay strong” is a common phrase said by people fighting for recovery. It might seem cliche, but it still is helpful as is your support.
9. Did that trigger you? When you say something that you realize could have been hurtful or upsetting, admit it. Instead of hoping that your friend or family member did not understand, ask the question and apologize if necessary. Everyone is triggered by different things.
10. I don’t understand that or how to help you. Tell me more. One of the most helpful things that you can do is just admit that you do not know what to do. Simply listening will teach you a great deal.

This week at FAME Toronto

Self Care is in the Air

" The most powerful relationship you will ever have, is the relationship with yourself "

- Steve Maraboli

This has been a BIG week for our small but mighty Toronto office . We had a tremendous turn out for our Yoga mindfulness program on Monday night and Tuesdays Support Group was Jam packed with supports and sharing. Amazing to see all our families coming together and engaging in self care.

 

Strengthening Our Students

What are our post-secondary students up to?
I recently attended the 15th Annual George Brown Mental Health Conference, which got me thinking- What are our other post-secondary students up to?

I pride myself on being an Ontarian, and couldn't be happier to see that $27 million dollars worth of Ontario's comprehensive Mental Health and Addictions Strategy funding has been invested in post-secondary mental health projects.

Check out what some of our neighbours are doing :

University of Toronto-By Students/For Students
"A Digital Gateway for mental health, a new digital platform will allow users to pinpoint services in their own area using a mobile device or computer"

Toronto Office

Good Morning! Good Morning! The birds are chirping, the sun is brighter, and the Toronto Office is now OPEN!

 

Alert the Press!!!

Toronto- Office- Open March 3rd!
Laura Vickers
Family Support Worker
laurav@fameforfamilies.com
416-324-5060
Room 2100 (2nd Floor) 333 Sherbourne St 

Toronto-New Group Begins April 29th!
Last Tuesday of the Month from 7:00 to 9:00pm
Sherbourne Health Centre, 333 Sherbourne Street
Room 2008 on the 2nd Floor

Ill save you a seat!

Four Things I Learned While Getting Office Furniture:

Let the games begin!

I don't know if it was in the looming isles of IKEA, or when our ED Christine raved about Brad Fremmerlid, the 25 year old who can assemble furniture within minutes, when I knew I was in trouble. It was time to put on my  'Bob the builder' hat and show 92 pages of Swedish instructions who is boss.

Really Ikea?....Really???

Alright, I'm getting ahead of myself here. Before bolts, screwdrivers, and yelling at inanimate objects, I learnt three pearls of wisdom in picking furniture;

Lesson 1: Target your Audience: As much as you might have a love for sea-foam aqua or cotton candy pink, perhaps the welcoming  feeling you get from it won't be reciprocated by a male, middle aged NFL fan looking for support.

Lesson 2: Determine your budget. Even if you think the deep purple pleather chair on clearance beats out any flea market find, garage sale, or thrift store bonanza, it doesn't mean its appropriate- less is more and quality over quantity.

Strangers are Friends You haven't Met Yet

New Toronto Office Update!

In the words of Vince Lombardi, "The only place success comes before work is in the dictionary".

As demonstrated by our sizeable excel document, dozens of recycles Caramel Macchiato cups and my sufficiently salt stained boots (ouch, leg cramp) we are meeting and greeting the movers an the shakers of the downtown core.

Through door to door visits, hand written cards, lengthy emails, excessive brochure distribution, attending community agency tours, sending Linkedin messages, joining committees, telephone conferences, providing agency presentations, attending conferences and cold calling. (Excuse me while I catch my breath) We have met the neighbours!

Any networking avenue short of Harry Potters Apparition teleportation, or  beaming through Spock's teleportation devise- we have utilized.

And its working! Onwards and Upwards!!!

Follow us on Twitter or Facebook

New 'Medical Psychiatry Alliance'

“We need to think differently, we need to act differently.”

I recently read about the Government of Ontario funding $20 Million to support the creation of the Medical Psychiatry Alliance and felt the need to share.

Ontario Government, CAMH, Sick Kids, Uof T,Trillium Health Partners and an Anonymous donor are collaborating on better ways to deliver comprehensive Health Care, announcing a $60-million initiative.

"The alliance will develop new screening and diagnostic tools so that mental and physical symptoms can be properly identified and treated, devise specialized clinical training for medical students on mental and physical symptoms occurring at the same time, and research and test new ways to deliver psychiatric care at home"

Check it out!

Click Here to read the full article.

On your marks....get set....Paint!!!

 Its been a week, so time for an update!

Let me start by saying, I know as much about decorating as Dolly Parton knows about attempting to flat iron her hair, unnatural and hazardous. Thankfully our executive director Christine Cooper has recently redecorated her home and knows all the ins, outs and decorating faux pas. With her careful selection we have narrowed it down to two options;

Colour Scheme Option A

Colour Scheme Option B 

Stay tuned to see what our final decision was and be sure to come by to let us know if we've missed a spot .