Telling our story of Living Mentally Well

With the work being done at the FAME Toronto Office, the importance of Narrative and resilience through story telling has been an effective practice for families; particularly those who have experienced trauma in the family . With that, I was asked to speak last Wednesday,at the 3rd Annual Mindfest Seminar hosted at the University of Toronto. Mindfest is a collective meeting of professionals, speakers with lived experience and community agencies providing discussion on the various aspects and treatments of mental health challenges active in Toronto. Below is a copy of the talk given: 

Discussion of mental health had changed in recent decades. Though, a great deal of stigma and discrimination still exists. Our acknowledgment of mental wellness as a component of health has been accepted. Additional to the advancements in therapies and available treatments has been inclusion of the subjective and personal experiences of those who live with mental health challenges. This inclusion within the dialogue of practice has promoted advocacy and awareness.

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!

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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!