Great news for those of you who are considering opening, or already have, an RDSP! This note just in from the folks at PLAN who are organizing RDSP information sessions across the country. (CMHA VB is a local partner.)
On March 4, 2010, the Government of Canada, through its Budget 2010, announced two enhancements to the Registered Disability Savings Plan (RDSP), grant and bond. We are pleased to advise that the legislation to enact these changes received Royal Assent on December 15, 2010. The ‘carry forward’ and ‘roll over’ provisions will provide Canadians with disabilities and their families with more flexibility when saving for the future.
Please find below some questions and answers that we hope will assist you in helping your members and clients to understand and benefit from these new provisions.
What is the carry forward?
As people with disabilities and their families may not be able to contribute regularly to their RDSPs, the carry forward allows beneficiaries to claim unused grant and bond entitlements for a 10-year period (starting from 2008, the year RDSPs became available). In order to claim unused grant and bond entitlements, the beneficiary must be eligible to receive the grant and bond (at the time of the claim, the beneficiary must be aged 49 or under).
Grant and bond entitlements are based on the beneficiary's family income. The grant amount also depends on how much is contributed to the RDSP. For unused grant entitlements, the matching grant rate will be the same as what would have applied in the year the entitlement was earned.
When does the carry forward come into effect?
The carry forward comes into effect on January 1, 2011.
As it will take time to develop the electronic system to process these transactions, the functionality to administer the carry forward will not be available immediately. Therefore, 2011 carry forward entitlements are expected to be paid into RDSPs in early 2012.
Is there a special application form for the carry forward?
Whether an individual already has an RDSP, or opens an RDSP in January 2011 or thereafter, a special application form will not be required for the carry forward. Grant and bond entitlements will be calculated automatically.
What is the roll over?
The proceeds (or a portion thereof) from a deceased individual’s Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP), Registered Retirement Income Fund (RRIF), and Registered Pension Plan (RPP) can be rolled over, tax free, into the RDSP of a financially dependent child or grandchild with a disability.
The amount of money rolled over into an RDSP will form part of the $200,000 lifetime contribution limit. For example, if there is already $50,000 in private contributions in an RDSP, the amount rolled over from an RRSP, RRIF and RPP cannot exceed $150,000.
A matching grant will not be paid on RRSP, RRIF and RPP contributions.
When does the roll over come into effect?
The roll over comes into effect July 2011. This measure will be effective for individuals who pass away after 2007.
BACKGROUNDER
The RDSP is a long-term savings plan that helps people with disabilities, and their families, save for the future. To be eligible, a person must be:
• under the age of 60;
• a Canadian resident with a social insurance number; and
• eligible for the Disability Tax Credit (Disability Amount)
There is no annual contribution limit to the RDSP, but there is a lifetime contribution limit of $200,000.
To help people save, the Government of Canada will pay a matching grant of up to $3,500 a year, depending on the amount contributed and the beneficiary’s family income. There is a lifetime limit of $70,000 in grant payments.
The Government of Canada will also pay a bond of up to $1,000 a year into RDSPs of low- and modest-income Canadians. There is a lifetime limit of $20,000 in bond payments. No contribution is necessary to receive the bond.
Grants and bonds will be paid until the year the beneficiary turns 49.
For more information about the RDSP, grant and bond, please visit www.disabilitysavings.gc.ca or call
1 800 O-Canada (1 800-622-6232). TTY users may call 1-800-926-9105. A detailed brochure – available in alternate formats such as large print, Braille, audio cassette, CD, DAISY, and computer diskette – is also available by calling these numbers.
Should you wish to make an inquiry by e-mail, please send your message to
rdsp-reei@hrsdc-rhdsc.gc.ca.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Thursday, December 16, 2010
'Tis the season to mulit-task and we would love to wrap your gifts
The more the merrier!
Please spread the word.
Thank you
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Would you have smiled ? Making a difference one person at a time
This came to us via the Monday Morning Motivator (12/13/10). Adam Drago always has good info, but this one particularly resonated for us - enjoy!
Would You Have Smiled?
Christmas is one of our favorite times of the year, a time to spend with family and close friends and reflect on the abundant blessings God has given us. Conversely, we also know that this time can be overly stressful for people, trying to find the right gifts, the busyness of malls, traffic and extra work responsabilities often leave us feeling burned out, depressed and lonely.
We hope today's message from Zig Ziglar makes you think about the power of a smile.
The story is told of a man who went to the top story of the Empire State Building in New York for the purpose of jumping off. When he got to the top he discovered that it was fenced in. Committing suicide there was impossible. As he was riding down the elevator, it occurred to him that by doing it that way he might injure or kill other people in the process. He re-thought and decided to jump off the Brooklyn Bridge.
Since it was a long walk, he had time to do more thinking. He decided that, if on the way even one person smiled at him, he would consider life worth living and not take his own life. The question is, had you been one of the people he met that day, would you have smiled at him and saved his life?
I recognize that the question is rhetorical. However, the fact is that there are approximately three billion people on the face of this earth who go to bed hungry for food – but there are over four billion people who go to bed every night hungry for a smile, a word of encouragement, a friendly greeting.
Wouldn’t it be tragic if one of those people was your mate, your child, your parents, a brother or sister, a neighbor?
Maybe someone you work with who is a nice man or woman, but life has dealt them some cruel blows lately. A simple word of encouragement, an indication that you know of their difficulties and are concerned, can make a big difference in that person’s life. The interesting thing is that in the process of encouraging others, whether it’s with a smile, a friendly greeting, or a humorous, encouraging thought, we ourselves benefit.
So, give that smile to the person who doesn’t have one. It could make a difference. Give it a try and I’ll SEE YOU AT THE TOP!
Would You Have Smiled?
Christmas is one of our favorite times of the year, a time to spend with family and close friends and reflect on the abundant blessings God has given us. Conversely, we also know that this time can be overly stressful for people, trying to find the right gifts, the busyness of malls, traffic and extra work responsabilities often leave us feeling burned out, depressed and lonely.
We hope today's message from Zig Ziglar makes you think about the power of a smile.
The story is told of a man who went to the top story of the Empire State Building in New York for the purpose of jumping off. When he got to the top he discovered that it was fenced in. Committing suicide there was impossible. As he was riding down the elevator, it occurred to him that by doing it that way he might injure or kill other people in the process. He re-thought and decided to jump off the Brooklyn Bridge.
Since it was a long walk, he had time to do more thinking. He decided that, if on the way even one person smiled at him, he would consider life worth living and not take his own life. The question is, had you been one of the people he met that day, would you have smiled at him and saved his life?
I recognize that the question is rhetorical. However, the fact is that there are approximately three billion people on the face of this earth who go to bed hungry for food – but there are over four billion people who go to bed every night hungry for a smile, a word of encouragement, a friendly greeting.
Wouldn’t it be tragic if one of those people was your mate, your child, your parents, a brother or sister, a neighbor?
Maybe someone you work with who is a nice man or woman, but life has dealt them some cruel blows lately. A simple word of encouragement, an indication that you know of their difficulties and are concerned, can make a big difference in that person’s life. The interesting thing is that in the process of encouraging others, whether it’s with a smile, a friendly greeting, or a humorous, encouraging thought, we ourselves benefit.
So, give that smile to the person who doesn’t have one. It could make a difference. Give it a try and I’ll SEE YOU AT THE TOP!
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
A Volunteer's Perspective on Volunteering
Volunteer: to offer of one's own accord to do something*
By Siobhan E. McCormick
A number of years ago, I was approached by a neighbour and asked if I would be on the Neighbourhood Small Grants Program Committee. As a member of the committee I would have to donate of my time in order to review grant proposals and decide which projects would qualify for a $500 grant from the Vancouver Foundation's Neighbourhood Small Grants Program. I agreed and with that embarked on a journey brought me unexpected rewards.
Up to that point I had not done much volunteer work. I had been on the board of a theatre company when I first arrived in Vancouver but that was short-lived and was made up of mostly friends. So I really didn't know what to expect of this committee in terms of its make up and its functions.
The committee was made up of residents associated with 3 community centres in the downtown eastside: the Carnegie, Strathcona, and RayCam Community Centres. These three community centres service a varied public of diverse cultural and socio-economic backgrounds and the committee attempts to mimic this in its membership.
It was in the members of the committee that I found my first reward. When I started on the committee I was acquainted with only 2 other members. Three years later due to what we have shared on this committee, they are now good friends. I am also now friends with other committee members who I may never have had the opportunity to meet let alone get to know. What a bonus to make friends with others from outside your own circle and form this bond while fulfilling a commitment!
While making friends was one serendipitous benefit of my time spent volunteering, another was surely the inspiration I gleaned from reviewing the grant proposals. It has been really uplifting to read about the ideas that people in these 3 communities have put forward for enhancing the lives of those living in them. Over the past three years we have reviewed and supported proposals for such diverse activities as block parties, healing ceremonies, cooking classes for the elderly, canning workshops, supplying instruments for a homeless band, buying uniforms for a homeless soccer team, and a soccer ball give-away for underprivileged children.
Given the communities served by this particular committee, it was perhaps not surprising that many asked for funds to create events around food. However it was not just providing a meal that was the focus of these proposals. Food became a means of gathering people together in order to strengthen community by making participants feel a part of something bigger than themselves. The events allowed participants a respite from their struggles and the opportunity to connect with others in situations similar to their own.
The care and concern for others that I have seen expressed in the grant applications has given me a renewed conviction in the good of humanity. Also I have been thrilled with the imagination evident in the ideas presented for grants whether these proposals were funded or not.
Lastly and perhaps most importantly the biggest gain I have found through volunteering is the desire to do more of it. To this end I am continuing my work on the Neighbourhood Small Grants Program Committee and now lead a pace-group in my running clinic. In addition, I have joined several new organizations such as the CMHA Vancouver/Burnaby Branch where I will be volunteering over the next year.
* on line Oxford English Dictionary
By Siobhan E. McCormick
A number of years ago, I was approached by a neighbour and asked if I would be on the Neighbourhood Small Grants Program Committee. As a member of the committee I would have to donate of my time in order to review grant proposals and decide which projects would qualify for a $500 grant from the Vancouver Foundation's Neighbourhood Small Grants Program. I agreed and with that embarked on a journey brought me unexpected rewards.
Up to that point I had not done much volunteer work. I had been on the board of a theatre company when I first arrived in Vancouver but that was short-lived and was made up of mostly friends. So I really didn't know what to expect of this committee in terms of its make up and its functions.
The committee was made up of residents associated with 3 community centres in the downtown eastside: the Carnegie, Strathcona, and RayCam Community Centres. These three community centres service a varied public of diverse cultural and socio-economic backgrounds and the committee attempts to mimic this in its membership.
It was in the members of the committee that I found my first reward. When I started on the committee I was acquainted with only 2 other members. Three years later due to what we have shared on this committee, they are now good friends. I am also now friends with other committee members who I may never have had the opportunity to meet let alone get to know. What a bonus to make friends with others from outside your own circle and form this bond while fulfilling a commitment!
While making friends was one serendipitous benefit of my time spent volunteering, another was surely the inspiration I gleaned from reviewing the grant proposals. It has been really uplifting to read about the ideas that people in these 3 communities have put forward for enhancing the lives of those living in them. Over the past three years we have reviewed and supported proposals for such diverse activities as block parties, healing ceremonies, cooking classes for the elderly, canning workshops, supplying instruments for a homeless band, buying uniforms for a homeless soccer team, and a soccer ball give-away for underprivileged children.
Given the communities served by this particular committee, it was perhaps not surprising that many asked for funds to create events around food. However it was not just providing a meal that was the focus of these proposals. Food became a means of gathering people together in order to strengthen community by making participants feel a part of something bigger than themselves. The events allowed participants a respite from their struggles and the opportunity to connect with others in situations similar to their own.
The care and concern for others that I have seen expressed in the grant applications has given me a renewed conviction in the good of humanity. Also I have been thrilled with the imagination evident in the ideas presented for grants whether these proposals were funded or not.
Lastly and perhaps most importantly the biggest gain I have found through volunteering is the desire to do more of it. To this end I am continuing my work on the Neighbourhood Small Grants Program Committee and now lead a pace-group in my running clinic. In addition, I have joined several new organizations such as the CMHA Vancouver/Burnaby Branch where I will be volunteering over the next year.
* on line Oxford English Dictionary
Friday, November 19, 2010
S.O.S Day
This week CMHAVB participated in a very thoughtful tweet chat hosted by the AFSP regarding suicide prevention awareness and especially getting the word out about the 12th Annual National Survivors of Suicide Day.
On Saturday, November 20, 2010
For those survivors of suicide loss who don't live near a conference site or who find it difficult to attend in person, the 90-minute broadcast is also available on the AFSP website from 1-2:30 p.m. EST on National Survivors of Suicide Day (Saturday, November 20, 2010) with a live online chat immediately following. You may also visit www.afsp.org/survivorday to view past programs at anytime.
500 people a year die by suicide in British Columbia.
Earlier in the fall, CMHAVB joined other local suicide prevention organizations in staging the first World Suicide Prevention Day Event in Vancouver. We were heartened by the number of people who came out to the event and we were inspired by the stories of hope shared by survivors and suicide prevention professionals.
An initiative of the Canadian Association of Suicide Prevention , WSPD is an annual event observed on September 10 to raise awareness of the prevalence of suicide and how each of us can play a part in suicide prevention. The message is clear, and we think achievable - “What you need to know could save a life.” www.suicideprevention.ca
p.s.
If you are interested in the topic of mental health and into social media, consider joining the dialogue on Tuesdays 6 -7 pm PST #mhsm Transcripts of conversations are archived at http://wthashtags.com/Mhsm
On Saturday, November 20, 2010
For those survivors of suicide loss who don't live near a conference site or who find it difficult to attend in person, the 90-minute broadcast is also available on the AFSP website from 1-2:30 p.m. EST on National Survivors of Suicide Day (Saturday, November 20, 2010) with a live online chat immediately following. You may also visit www.afsp.org/survivorday to view past programs at anytime.
500 people a year die by suicide in British Columbia.
Earlier in the fall, CMHAVB joined other local suicide prevention organizations in staging the first World Suicide Prevention Day Event in Vancouver. We were heartened by the number of people who came out to the event and we were inspired by the stories of hope shared by survivors and suicide prevention professionals.
An initiative of the Canadian Association of Suicide Prevention , WSPD is an annual event observed on September 10 to raise awareness of the prevalence of suicide and how each of us can play a part in suicide prevention. The message is clear, and we think achievable - “What you need to know could save a life.” www.suicideprevention.ca
p.s.
If you are interested in the topic of mental health and into social media, consider joining the dialogue on Tuesdays 6 -7 pm PST #mhsm Transcripts of conversations are archived at http://wthashtags.com/Mhsm
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Redesigning our Leisure Services - We would like to hear from you
We have been busy preparing surveys for our current Leisure Redesign. These surveys will provide us with information from the mental health community at large. Please complete the appropriate survey and forward the surveys to as many appropriate individuals/agencies as possible.
CMHA VB is undergoing a leisure redesign initiative to create an exciting new Leisure and Volunteer Program. The following surveys will provide us with vital input that will guide and shape the redesign process.
We are surveying four different segments of our community:
1) CMHA Participants
2) People with Lived Experience (non CMHA Participants)
Hard copies of these surveys are available at our offices.
3) Family Members
An online version of the Family Member survey is available at: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/GLS7HSM
4) Service Providers
An online version of the Service Provider survey is available at: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/FZJFJ9G
If you would like paper copies of the survey(s) with or without postage paid envelopes, please contact us at:
Email: redesign.vb@cmha.bc.ca
Phone: 604-872-3148 or 604-872-4902 ext 290
Surveys may be returned by:
Fax: 604-872-5934
Mail:
CMHA VB
175 West Broadway
Vancouver, BC V5Y 1P4
Email: redesign.vb@cmha.bc.ca
We would like all surveys to be returned by Wednesday November 10th.
Thank you in advance for your contribution to this process.
Brent Cross
Tess Rogalsky
Katy Vinson
CMHA Leisure Redesign Sub-Committee
Friday, October 22, 2010
A conversation about Depression Screening events
So, Sue, you’re excited about depression screening. What is this all about?
This is an opportunity; I would say a gentle opportunity, for people to get a snapshot of how they’re feeling. It works for a whole range of people. We find that often people come to a depression screening because they’ve already identified something’s wrong but they’re nervous about seeking help. Others are just curious about the process. Because we’ve been doing this type of screening publicly for now more then 10 years, we find that sometimes people come back to get some reassurance that they’re getting better, some validation. It’s a really unique opportunity to talk to someone else in a safe environment without having to invest a lot of time or personal emotional risk or money.
So what happens at a depression screening?
Individuals are invited to fill out a short questionnaire. It’s a tool that’s been specifically designed for public screening events. It started off with just depression, now we have it for anxiety, risky drinking and specific populations such as older adults or youth. The depression tools have been translated and used locally in Chinese, and we also have materials in Punjabi and Farsi.
Once someone fills out the questionnaire, what happens?
Their form is scored by a volunteer, and then they meet one on one with clinician (also a volunteer) who will help them interpret their results. The idea is to help people identify whether they need to seek treatment or whether they need more information or reassurance that what they are experiencing is within the normal range, part of the human condition, rather than a crisis. Over the years, we’ve had very few incidences where people were actually in an emergent situation. This is heartening – we find that people are seeking out information before things are getting to the point where they can’t cope. It’s also a way for concerned others to have their observations of their loved one evaluated.
So the same tool is used for a person with a potential challenge and for someone who is concerned about someone?
No. There is an adapted version for the concerned other. It’s their impression, what they observe very different from someone answering from a personal perspective. We take the concerned others just as seriously, because it indicates there is a struggle that is affecting more than just the individual with the potential mental health problem. That is one of the big things that is so devastating about mental health problems – it’s not just the individual but the people they’re connected with that feel the impact.
Do you have a success story?
Jay (not his real name) was new to Canada and had come out to a number of public talks. Some time later he came to a more specific talk about mental health, something where there was more personal engagement. By the time the next screening rolled around, he felt safe enough and connected enough to do a screening, which was carried out in his own language. His results weren’t anything drastic but he did indicate it was the catalyst to seek help from a Western practitioner. The screening gave him confidence to have that checked out as a health concern, not a shortcoming or something to be ashamed of. He is still connected to us, and still comes to our talks.
"Blue Monday" - a depresssion and anxiety screening event
Monday Nov 1 2010 from 5-8 pm at CMHA Vancouver Burnaby office at 175 West Broadway, Vancouver. Please call 604-872-4902 for more information . Space is limited so booking a specific time is recommended.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Frames of Mind - keep November 17th in mind
Shirley Rogers, Vancouver Coastal Mental Health Services (VCMHS) Coordinator of Family Support & Involvement has given us the heads up that the VCH Family Advisory Committee (FAC) will be co-sponsoring the November 17th screening of "Family Matters: Surviving the Bi-polar Journey" This is a timely documentary on the impact of mental illness within the family unit. It is directed, produced and sponsored by the same Canadian group who gave us "Not Just A Bad Day:Living with Bi-polar Disorder".
It would be great to see as many family members and those living with mental illness come out to the event.
Frames of Mind is a monthly film event utilizing film and video to promote professional and community education on issues pertaining to mental health and illness.
For more information, full reviews, trailers and ticketing information, visit http://www.framesofmind.ca/
SECURE CARE: PRO or CON
We think this sounds like a great opportunitiy for healthy dialogue around this emotionally charged subject. If you are not able to attend, please consider other avenues to weigh in.
SECURE CARE: PRO or CON
Temporarily Incarcerating Our Most At-Risk Youth
An Open Dialogue from Different Perspectives
…..what is yours?
Wednesday, Oct 20 7:00 - 9:00 PM
Douglas College
David Lam Coquitlam Campus
Room A1470
No Charge ot attend
THE DISCUSSION
Speaking to this issue from their points of view:
PRO:
Diane Sowden
Children of the Street Society
CON:
Jerome Bouvier, M.A.
POCOMO Youth Services
Historical Background and Context:
Dr. Rob Gordon
Director - School of Criminology, SFU
Moderator:
Dr. Colin Campbell
Criminology Department, Douglas College
To be followed by a Question & Answer period.
PRESENTED BY
Tri-Cities
Joint Family Court & Youth Justice Committee
For More Information: tricities.jfcyjc@gmail.com
SECURE CARE: PRO or CON
Temporarily Incarcerating Our Most At-Risk Youth
An Open Dialogue from Different Perspectives
…..what is yours?
Wednesday, Oct 20 7:00 - 9:00 PM
Douglas College
David Lam Coquitlam Campus
Room A1470
No Charge ot attend
THE DISCUSSION
Speaking to this issue from their points of view:
PRO:
Diane Sowden
Children of the Street Society
CON:
Jerome Bouvier, M.A.
POCOMO Youth Services
Historical Background and Context:
Dr. Rob Gordon
Director - School of Criminology, SFU
Moderator:
Dr. Colin Campbell
Criminology Department, Douglas College
To be followed by a Question & Answer period.
PRESENTED BY
Tri-Cities
Joint Family Court & Youth Justice Committee
For More Information: tricities.jfcyjc@gmail.com
Friday, October 8, 2010
Book launch with local connections
CMHAVB is pleased to spread the word about this book. We were fortunate to work with one of its contributors, Seema Shah, on two Patient and Community Voices projects last year, and know that this book also promises to be thought provoking.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Exploring depression prevention via the internet
This just in from Australia...a new study on the effectiveness of e-mail strategies to help individuals living with depression.
Very timely info too. CMHAVB participated in a tweetchat last night with a lively on-line mental health community. One of the questions discussed was the "how" of reaching out to folks who might have depression.
The live event happens on-line every Tuesday night from 6-7 pm PST - #mhsm
And, if you are interested in knowing more about last night's chat, it is archived at http://wthashtag.com/Mhsm
Announcing the launch of Mood Memos http://www.moodmemos.com
Mood Memos is a University of Melbourne study exploring a method of preventing depression through the internet. The study is targeted to people experiencing some depression symptoms who are not yet too severe, with the aim of averting depression or relapse.
The Mood Memos study will trial the effectiveness of an email-based mental health promotion for depression symptoms. Emails are delivered every few days for 6 weeks, bringing expert coping advice and information about depression directly to email inboxes.
The Mood Memos study is open to adults 18+ around the world until November 2010. The study is ideal for those who have some symptoms of depression but aren’t being treated, and want to know more about depression and how to help themselves feel better. All data is confidential and participants can remain anonymous. Recruitment to the study is via the website, visit http://www.moodmemos.com to sign up or email info@moodmemos.com for more information.
Why Mood Memos?
Depression symptoms are commonly experienced and disrupt day-to-day life. They also heighten the risk of developing major depression. Increasing depression literacy and use of effective self-help methods could improve depression across the community. The internet is an ideal promotional medium as it is often used to search for information about mental health issues, and health messages can be widely disseminated at little cost.
The study is funded by the NHMRC and the Sidney Myer Fund, and has been approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee at The University of Melbourne, Australia. The study forms part of a PhD project by Amy Morgan, and is supervised by Professor Tony Jorm and Professor Andrew Mackinnon.
Very timely info too. CMHAVB participated in a tweetchat last night with a lively on-line mental health community. One of the questions discussed was the "how" of reaching out to folks who might have depression.
The live event happens on-line every Tuesday night from 6-7 pm PST - #mhsm
And, if you are interested in knowing more about last night's chat, it is archived at http://wthashtag.com/Mhsm
Announcing the launch of Mood Memos http://www.moodmemos.com
Mood Memos is a University of Melbourne study exploring a method of preventing depression through the internet. The study is targeted to people experiencing some depression symptoms who are not yet too severe, with the aim of averting depression or relapse.
The Mood Memos study will trial the effectiveness of an email-based mental health promotion for depression symptoms. Emails are delivered every few days for 6 weeks, bringing expert coping advice and information about depression directly to email inboxes.
The Mood Memos study is open to adults 18+ around the world until November 2010. The study is ideal for those who have some symptoms of depression but aren’t being treated, and want to know more about depression and how to help themselves feel better. All data is confidential and participants can remain anonymous. Recruitment to the study is via the website, visit http://www.moodmemos.com to sign up or email info@moodmemos.com for more information.
Why Mood Memos?
Depression symptoms are commonly experienced and disrupt day-to-day life. They also heighten the risk of developing major depression. Increasing depression literacy and use of effective self-help methods could improve depression across the community. The internet is an ideal promotional medium as it is often used to search for information about mental health issues, and health messages can be widely disseminated at little cost.
The study is funded by the NHMRC and the Sidney Myer Fund, and has been approved by the Human Research Ethics Committee at The University of Melbourne, Australia. The study forms part of a PhD project by Amy Morgan, and is supervised by Professor Tony Jorm and Professor Andrew Mackinnon.
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
The BC Housing/CMHA Partnership: Creating Community Through Recreation
"Recreation's purpose is not to kill time, but to make life;
not to keep a person occupied, but to keep them refreshed;
not to offer an escape from life, but to provide a discovery of life."
- Author unknown
For a time, Vancouver’s Grandview Terrace, a public housing development run by BC Housing, was a hard place to live. Morale was low, and to many residents daily life could be unnerving. Neighbourhood drug deals occurred in plain sight. Sex trade workers brazenly approached residents. Some tenants were fearful, anxious at every knock on their door.
BC Housing’s tenants can be the most vulnerable among us. Their problems include poverty, infirmity and disability, often dealt without ideal social or family supports.
BC Housing, intent on addressing the sense of isolation observed in their tenants, set about to find a new approach to enhance living situations and promote a sense of community at Grandview. In 2005 CMHA Vancouver-Burnaby Branch was asked to develop a high-quality therapeutic recreation program at the site. The idea was to create a safe environment where tenants could interact, recreate and acquire new skills. And so the program was born.
Tenants (and visitors) now cook and share meals, exercise together and even learn computer skills. The recreation partnership has promoted fitness, friendship, and an atmosphere of hope and vitality. What’s more, many tenants take a role in shaping program design, so the recreation programs themselves are constantly transformed and invigorated as new residents arrive.
Recreation is more than just having fun. It’s also about embracing challenges, broadening horizons and finding balance. Since the Grandview Terrace program started five years ago, BC Housing and CMHA Vancouver-Burnaby have expanded their partnership to include six developments! Each program is unique. Each helps tenants achieve a higher quality of life.
And now, Grandview Terrace is a place where laughter can be heard in the halls.
not to keep a person occupied, but to keep them refreshed;
not to offer an escape from life, but to provide a discovery of life."
- Author unknown
For a time, Vancouver’s Grandview Terrace, a public housing development run by BC Housing, was a hard place to live. Morale was low, and to many residents daily life could be unnerving. Neighbourhood drug deals occurred in plain sight. Sex trade workers brazenly approached residents. Some tenants were fearful, anxious at every knock on their door.
BC Housing’s tenants can be the most vulnerable among us. Their problems include poverty, infirmity and disability, often dealt without ideal social or family supports.
BC Housing, intent on addressing the sense of isolation observed in their tenants, set about to find a new approach to enhance living situations and promote a sense of community at Grandview. In 2005 CMHA Vancouver-Burnaby Branch was asked to develop a high-quality therapeutic recreation program at the site. The idea was to create a safe environment where tenants could interact, recreate and acquire new skills. And so the program was born.
Tenants (and visitors) now cook and share meals, exercise together and even learn computer skills. The recreation partnership has promoted fitness, friendship, and an atmosphere of hope and vitality. What’s more, many tenants take a role in shaping program design, so the recreation programs themselves are constantly transformed and invigorated as new residents arrive.
Recreation is more than just having fun. It’s also about embracing challenges, broadening horizons and finding balance. Since the Grandview Terrace program started five years ago, BC Housing and CMHA Vancouver-Burnaby have expanded their partnership to include six developments! Each program is unique. Each helps tenants achieve a higher quality of life.
And now, Grandview Terrace is a place where laughter can be heard in the halls.
Is Downtime a Thing of the Past?
Is Downtime a Thing of the Past?
It’s been said that time is like water, in that neither can be compressed but both can evaporate. It likely seems to many of us that time, like fresh water, is in ever shortening supply. Job and family obligations fill our days. More than ever, we’re assailed by cell calls, emails and text messages from every direction and in each waking hour. So the question arises: Is ‘downtime’ a thing of the past?
Well, we should take hope. Studies suggest that North American men and women both have more leisure time than our counterparts fifty years ago. Evidently, what we lack is the knowledge, and perhaps a methodology, to use leisure time effectively.
So, what’s to know? Experts say we should understand two things:
• Productive leisure is any time used on interests or activities capable of creating a buffer between ourselves and the stressors in our daily lives
• Good health is a product, at least in part, of physical exercise, mental stimulation and the company of others. (This is why the CHMA Vancouver Burnaby Branch has established and seeks to expand activities and programs involving everything from athletics to the arts to day trips to Vancouver’s Capilano watershed.)
Apparently, the trick to using downtime well is to consciously carve periods out of our schedules for activities we find enjoyable and challenging, and then say “This is my time.” It’s immaterial whether the activity is chess, jogging, pet training, woodworking or volunteerism.
Indeed our circumstances and interests are intensely personal, and there may be as many Canadian leisure solutions as there are Canadians. And we can all think of success stories: the busy lawyer whose garden chores morphed into a passion for growing and hybridizing flowers (and a term as president of a provincial lily society), or the workaholic entrepreneur who found balance in his life through early morning tai chi classes on the waterfront.
The point is, if we volunteer to test our bodies and minds, especially in the company of others with like interests, we reap over time benefits like lower blood pressure, sharper thought processes and expanding circles of friends and acquaintances. Interestingly, leisure study participants who established a leisure regime identify a more immediate payoff: the feeling of being more in charge, and even a sense of freedom from that difficult quarterly report or looming deadline. Moreover, they say, problems seemed to assume more manageable proportions after a productive leisure session.
The experts acknowledge a kind of paradox here. The best downtime isn’t spent reclined in front of the television, which is typically spent in isolation and most often fails to fully engage us. Rather, good leisure comes from getting up, finding activities that work for us and having the self-regard to pursue them in a disciplined way.
Finally, leisure authorities say, we should if possible get “disconnected” during our downtime by turning off cell or other mobile devices. We’ll likely find the world can do without us for the sixty or ninety minutes it takes to pursue interests that fulfill us.
It’s been said that time is like water, in that neither can be compressed but both can evaporate. It likely seems to many of us that time, like fresh water, is in ever shortening supply. Job and family obligations fill our days. More than ever, we’re assailed by cell calls, emails and text messages from every direction and in each waking hour. So the question arises: Is ‘downtime’ a thing of the past?
Well, we should take hope. Studies suggest that North American men and women both have more leisure time than our counterparts fifty years ago. Evidently, what we lack is the knowledge, and perhaps a methodology, to use leisure time effectively.
So, what’s to know? Experts say we should understand two things:
• Productive leisure is any time used on interests or activities capable of creating a buffer between ourselves and the stressors in our daily lives
• Good health is a product, at least in part, of physical exercise, mental stimulation and the company of others. (This is why the CHMA Vancouver Burnaby Branch has established and seeks to expand activities and programs involving everything from athletics to the arts to day trips to Vancouver’s Capilano watershed.)
Apparently, the trick to using downtime well is to consciously carve periods out of our schedules for activities we find enjoyable and challenging, and then say “This is my time.” It’s immaterial whether the activity is chess, jogging, pet training, woodworking or volunteerism.
Indeed our circumstances and interests are intensely personal, and there may be as many Canadian leisure solutions as there are Canadians. And we can all think of success stories: the busy lawyer whose garden chores morphed into a passion for growing and hybridizing flowers (and a term as president of a provincial lily society), or the workaholic entrepreneur who found balance in his life through early morning tai chi classes on the waterfront.
The point is, if we volunteer to test our bodies and minds, especially in the company of others with like interests, we reap over time benefits like lower blood pressure, sharper thought processes and expanding circles of friends and acquaintances. Interestingly, leisure study participants who established a leisure regime identify a more immediate payoff: the feeling of being more in charge, and even a sense of freedom from that difficult quarterly report or looming deadline. Moreover, they say, problems seemed to assume more manageable proportions after a productive leisure session.
The experts acknowledge a kind of paradox here. The best downtime isn’t spent reclined in front of the television, which is typically spent in isolation and most often fails to fully engage us. Rather, good leisure comes from getting up, finding activities that work for us and having the self-regard to pursue them in a disciplined way.
Finally, leisure authorities say, we should if possible get “disconnected” during our downtime by turning off cell or other mobile devices. We’ll likely find the world can do without us for the sixty or ninety minutes it takes to pursue interests that fulfill us.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)