ISSUE #78 cont'd -- Announcement #3

Photo: Caer Weber

CONSUMER INITIATIVE FUND

EDUCATION AND LEISURE FUND

The Education and Leisure Fund is accepting applications for winter courses/activities.

 The deadline for applications is Mon., Nov. 28/11.

Merle Ginsburg
Program Coordinator, Consumer Initiative Fund
Vancouver Community Mental Health Services
200-520 West 6th Ave, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4H5
tel: 604-730-7675 fax: 604-874-7661
merle.ginsburg@vch.ca

Criteria – Please read carefully.

·        Must be a consumer of mental health services in Vancouver.

·        Must be a resident of Vancouver.

·        Monies paid to educational institute only. Reimbursements are not issued.

·        Applicant can only receive funding every two (2) years.

·        Applicants can register for courses up to or exceeding $400.00. Applicants are responsible for all costs exceeding this amount.

·        Applicants must include a brief letter of intent indicating their interest in taking and completing the course/activity. Case Managers are welcome to assist with this process and provide a letter of support.

·        Applicant must be willing to participate in follow-up evaluation upon completion of course.

·        Applicant must have own phone number and be able to return a message within 48 hours.

·        Registration is applicant’s responsibility.

Completed applications are randomly selected on a weekly basis.
i.e. multiple draws

Draws for winter disbursement will take place:

November 15, 2011

Novermber 22, 2011

November 29/11

Deadline for applications is Monday, November 28, 20ll

Application forms are available at all VCH mental health teams, units and agencies, and Central Office, #200-520 W.6^th Ave., at reception, and on-line at www.spotlightonmentalhealth.com

ISSUE #78 cont'd -- Announcement #2

Photo: Caer Weber

Free Public Lecture on

"Progesterone and Bone Strength"

Is there a link between progesterone and bone strength?

Internationally recognized clinician-scientist, Dr. Jerilynn Prior, director, Centre for Menstruation Cycle and Ovulation Research (CeMCOR), and her German gynecology colleague, Dr. Seifert-Klauss, will present the innovative idea that

progesterone increases new bone formation and bone strength.

This free public lecture will be held on October 20^th in the Cordula and Gunter Paetzold Auditorium in the Jim Pattison Pavilion, VGH, from 7 – 9 PM.

The notion that progesterone has beneficial bone actions is controversial—for years it was believed that estrogen was the only hormone necessary for women’s bone health and the prevention of

osteoporosis.

However, some researchers point to increasing evidence that progesterone works with estrogen in bone and acts there to increase bone strength and stimulate new bone to be formed.

This talk is in conjunction with the Canadian Institutes of Health Research funded first ever conference on “Progesterone and Bone Strength.”

What: Free public forum exploring link between progesterone and bone strength

When: Thursday, October 20, 2011, 7 – 9 PM

Where: Cordula and Gunter Paetzold Auditorium in the Jim Pattison Pavilion, Vancouver General Hospital

RSVP: Registration is free, please register at: http://progesteronebonestrength.eventbrite.com

ISSUE #78: TUESDAY OCT 18, 2011 -- Announcement #1

Photo: Caer Weber

CMHA’S NEW Recreation/Leisure/Volunteer

PROGRAM-Get Set & Connect

The CMHA Get Set & Connect Program is designed to help individuals living with mental illness, make connections and form meaningful relationships with other individuals through activities in the community.  Community inclusion is the goal.

What will the program include?

·     Each person in the program will work one on one with a Leisure and Volunteer Community Access Coach

·     Connecting through Activity- small group matching with peers

·     Travel Club - participants will gather tools and connections necessary to   travel independently and move freely within or outside their community.

·     Ready, Set, Go, Group-volunteer preparation course

·     Monthly Networking Sessions: social gatherings to showcase success, learn about program opportunities, share leisure and volunteer resources and  meet other people

Interested in being part of this EXCITING program??? Register to attend one of the following orientations:

Wednesday, October 19^th, 6:15 pm,

Barclay Manor, 1447 Barclay Street (West End)

Call the Leisure Volunteer Access Coaches to register, or to find out about future orientations:

Brent: 604-872-4902 ext 223

Tess: 604-872-4902 ext 222

Katy: 604-872-4902 ext 290

Email: leisure.volunteer.vb@cmha.bc.ca         

ISSUE #77 cont'd -- Anti-Anxiety Medications

Photo: Caer Weber

Further to my posts on other options besides or combined with medication ...

EXERCISE

I’m sure you know about all kinds of ways to exercise such as going to the gym, walking, running, swimming and so on. You have only to check your local community centre’s flyer to see all kinds of activities – sports like basketball, volleyball, badminton, or other activities such as skating or martial arts. There are also the more “alternative” type of activities such as yoga or tai chi and other strange sounding names.

YOGA
So what about yoga and have you heard of laughter yoga (see announcement #3 today’s date)? First of all the word “yoga” means “union” in Sanskrit, the union meaning that of mind, body and spirit. It’s a very complete form of exercise. It is made up of a number of postures or poses which you usually hold for a bit while focusing on your breath.

Yoga is more than simply stretching. It is about creating balance through developing strength and flexibility. Some teachers have you go through poses rather quickly so that heat is created in your body through the movement while others have you hold the poses so as to create stamina and perfect the pose.

Many people find yoga very helpful for stress and anxiety as it is very grounding and centering. It makes you bring your attention to the present and focus on what you are doing at the moment.

LAUGHTER YOGA
Well, you guessed it, it’s all about laughter. But there’s more to it than that. It combines laughter with breathing and people get both physiological and psychological benefits from it. Apparently people have reported many health improvements such as fewer respiratory infections, overcoming depression, and either relief or even cure of chronic medical problems. You’ve heard the term that’s been around for a few decades “Laughter is the best medicine” and laughter yoga may prove this right.

For more info go to http://www.laughteryoga.org/

TAI CHI

Originating in China it is practiced a lot here in the west now. It can best be described as a moving form of yoga and meditation combined. Essentially a sequence of movements originally from the martial arts but done slowly, softly and gracefully with smooth transitions between them.

For many people tai chi is very much a meditative exercise as, like yoga, you focus your mind on doing each movement correctly. Not only does your body benefit from the movements but your mind is calmed. Again this can be so helpful for stress and anxiety.

These are a few examples of things you could try to deal with stress and anxiety. Physical exercise is amazingly helpful to both of these as well as depression and other mental illnesses. The simple act of going for a walk can relieve a lot of stress as you get away from television, computers and hopefully your cell phone or Blackberry or whatever technology you like to play with. It’s a time to simply let your mind drift or you can focus on the flowers and trees along the way.

ISSUE #77 cont'd -- Announcement #3

Photo: Caer Weber

LAUGHTER YOGA

Experience the scientifically proven health benefits of laughter with Laughter Yoga

Every 3rd Monday of the month at noon! 12:00 – 1pm

October 17th

November 21st

December 19th

Take a lunch break and join us for a laugh!

CMHA #110-2425 Quebec Street
604-872-4902

By donation

Further info:
Leanne McLeod
604. 872-4902 ext.233

General Info on What Is Laughter Yoga:
http://www.laughteryoga.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=180:what-is-laughter-yoga&catid=85:about-laughter-yoga&Ite.mid=265

ISSUE #77 cont'd -- Announcement #2

Photo: Caer Weber

International OCD Awareness Week:

A Night to Believe

Saturday,October 15 - 4-6pm - free!
* Live streaming presentation from the International OCD Foundation
* Showcasing creative ways that people express OCD through art
* Question & Answer with North America’s foremost experts in the field
Location: Chan Auditorium, BC Children’s Hospital

Host: International OCD Foundation & Canadian OCD Network
Details in the poster and on our website<http://keltymentalhealth.ca/event/2011/10/international-ocd-awareness-week-night-believe>.


KELTY MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCE CENTRE
ADDRESS: BC Children’s Hospital Site
Mental Health Building #85 (Heather & 30th)
Room P3-302, 3rd Floor
4500 Oak Street, Vancouver, BC V6H 3N1

PHONE: 604-875-2084
FAX: 604-875-3688
TOLL FREE: 1-800-665-1822

EMAIL: keltycentre@bcmhs.bc.ca<mailto:keltycentre@bcmhs.bc.ca>
WEBSITE: www.keltymentalhealth.ca<http://www.keltymentalhealth.ca/>

ISSUE #77: SATURDAY Oct 15, 2011 - Announcement #1

Photo: Caer Weber

UTILIZING SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY

AND THE ARTS TO TRANSFORM PAIN

October 19th at 2pm (PDT)


Dear Friends and Colleagues,

We are pleased to invite you and your constituents for an fascinating exciting and dynamic webinar presentation on, “Utilizing Science, Technology and
the Arts to Transform Pain”. This webinar is part of our educational series, “Chronic Pain, the Journey Forward”. Co-hosted by the Canadian Institute for the Relief of Pain and Disability (CIRPD) and PainBC, this free webinar series provides an opportunity for for people living with pain, as well as their families and healthcare providers to learn from top researchers and practitioners how to live well with chronic pain.



Join us on October 19th at 2:00 pm (PDT) for the third presentation of our
online education series, “Chronic Pain, the Journey Forward”

TOPIC: Utilizing<http://www.cirpd.org/GetInvolved/Webinars/Pages/MBSRWebinar.aspx> Science, Technology and the Arts to Transform Pain – with Prof. Diane Gromala
This webinar, co-sponsored by CIRPD and Pain BC, will provide an overview of the exciting potential of new technologies and interactive design in helping to improve the lives of people who live with long-term chronic pain.
This webinar will offer some fascinating insights into:
• immersive VR research: promising early results,
• studies in the use of robotics to alleviate anxiety,
• new developments in using social media to combat social isolation,
• the importance of conducting research studies and participating in them.


DATE: Wednesday, October 19th, 2011 - 2:00 PM (PDT)

We look forward to meeting you online!
REGISTER NOW!<http://cirpd.org/GetInvolved/Webinars/Pages/ScienceTechWebinar.aspx>
Join our Facebook event and share it with your friends!<https://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=222005641195399>
LEARN MORE about CIRPD<http://www.cirpd.org/> and this webinar series<http://www.cirpd.org/GetInvolved/Webinars/Pages/Default.aspx>


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Partially funded by: Co-Hosts of this Webinar:
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Canadian Institute for the Relief of Pain and Disability, 204 – 916 West Broadway Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1K7 Canada
Tel: 604 684-4148, North American 800-872-3105 Fax: 604 684-6247www.cirpd.org<http://www.cirpd.org/>