COPMI Launches Video Series For Youth

COPMI: Children of Parents with a Mental Illness.

COPMI is an online Australian mental health information resource for children, teens and parents. Recently COPMI has launched a brand new video series for youth living with a parent experiencing mental illness. These videos provide a wide range of information based on specific illnesses, treatments, coping strategies and much more.

These videos aim to be both educational and engaging for youth and so they are filmed with youth who have experienced similar struggles.

http://www.copmi.net.au/kids-young-people/about-mental-illness

BC-Based Anxiety App: MindShift

MindShift is a joint effort by Anxiety BC and a non-profit public awareness organization.

This app aims to reduce anxiety in the user's life by instilling an awareness of one's thoughts via Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. MindShift also provides the user with educational tools, mood and anxiety tracking, relaxation tools, quick tips and inspirational quotes.

As a part of British Columbia's ever-growing mental health initiatives, MindShift is an excellent free tool for loved ones coping with anxiety. Because smartphones are an integral part of many people's lives, this app is a coping tool that's just a swipe away.

Mindshift is available on both Android and Apple devices.

Blame

This is a great little short that is part of a larger conversation about Blame.  I found it very enlightening to see how finding something or someone to blame when something happens really affects how we cope with ourselves, our relationships, our community and our ability to empathize and listen.
Brené Brown is the speaker in the video, and you can find many other talks that she's done on YouTube, most notably this amazing commentary on Empathy .

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! 

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.