National Memory Screening Day is June 23, 2009

Screening is an effective early intervention strategy for many health concerns. Tomorrow we urge you to take time to participate in National Memory Screening Day.

In the Greater Vancouver area, consider visiting a London Drugs location near you to participate in a brief 1:1 screening with a pharmacist.

If you are interested in learning more about dematia and caregiving, Beyond Memory , a great documentary produced by the Knowledge Network, is recommended viewing.

Bus beheader to remain in psychiatric care, board rules… (Winnipeg Free Press Published: Wednesday, June 03, 2009)

This headline and story from the Winnipeg Free Press is disturbing. I am disappointed that the media would perpetuate the impression that mental illness and violence automatically go hand –in –hand. I understand the desire to create snappy headlines but do not feel that this should take precedence over the use of respectful language. The stigma associated with mental illness is already profound and pervasive without referring to a person by an illness. It does not pay respect to any individual as a whole person, with both positive and negative attributes, to label them by one (admittedly horrific) action with the use of such a glib and tasteless phrase and , in cases like this, may prevent others from seeking help because the risk of stigma and misunderstanding may be increased. It is documented that approximately “one in five British Columbians is living with some form of mental disorder or other, but fewer than a third will ever get treatment…not due to the lack of mental health resources or effective treatments, but too often because people fear being labeled according to age old stereotypes of people with mental health problems.”

We would not think of referring to a person as cancerous – just think of the image that brings to mind. Yet, again and again, we are bombarded with public examples of this misuse of language associated with mental health concerns, and for that matter, other social issues that make us uncomfortable. The term ‘bus beheader’ in a headline is reductive and dismissive towards the lives of both men involved in the tragedy of that night last year. What happened was terrible and tragic, but also anomalous – the result of lack of better services for those with mental illness, of better understanding in general about mental illness, and a tragic illustration of how stigma has real impact on lives.

I am pleased that the The Mental Health Commission of Canada has recently begun a 10-year Anti-stigma / Anti-discrimination Initiative. I would urge you to take a few moments to check out their website and to help shape a positive change for those Canadians living with mental illness and those who love them.

The Cross Canada Run - Wayne Cho over 8000 km of Hope

Wayne Cho began running across Canada (East to West) on May 23, 2008. This week he arrived in Vancouver.

Wayne is running to raise awareness of anxiety and depression. Each day he is breaking down the stigma one foot in front of the other at a time.

Today Wayne came and met with some staff at CMHA VB Branch. Tonight he will meet some participants of our Chinese Mental Health Promotion Program. As I felt this afternoon, they will be impressed, inspired and awed by this amazing young man.

Wayne, speaks with such clarity and passion about facing your fears and just trying your best. He believes in the power that is in all of us and our ability to do great things. His accomplishment is an example.

I want to recommend that everyone take some time and read Wayne's blog. It is a rare and wonderful look at Canada, Canadians and the power to change minds.

Thanks Wayne.

Strategic Planning - Part 1

Strategic Planning begins by trying to get as many voices as possible to share their views about the organization.

This process can be long and extensive or more brief and focussed. Our branch had undergone a very extensive process for our 2005 -2008 strategic plan. So, we decided to build on that and use a more focussed but broad approach.

Service User Surveys distributed through all programs and services. 65 surveys returned.

Staff Survyes. 25 surveys returned.

Participant Advisory Committee input and oversight. (CMHA VB has a participant advisory committee that is made up of service users and acts to inform the leadership of consumer experience, needs, wants and to ensure consumer voice is at the decision making table of the organization.

Board Member research of a complete environmental scan.

Broad consultation with funders and donors about current services. Ongoing.

Leadership team input and review

So, that is a whole lot of data and opinions. The next step was engaging in a SCORE analysis. Strengths, Challenges, Opportunities, Risks and Enviornment. Stayed tuned to hear about how we did.

Moving an Organization Forward

Every non-profit either has, or should have a strategic plan. This plan outlines the vision of the organization and the goals, objectives and tasks to get there.

This past Spring, our Branch began the process of developping our new 3 year strategic plan. This process led by our Board of Directors, sets the stage for our growth and will be the basis of our work and decision making.

Over the next several blog posts, I would like to share the ins and outs, of strategic planning and give everyone a head's up as to where we are going. I hope you enjoy and please don't hesitate to share your comments about the plan. All input is valuable as we are a community organization and we want to hear from you.

Sincerely,

Rebecca Shields
Executive Director

The CMHA VB Board of Directors

Top Left to Right: Jane O'Connor, Merrill Sheppard, Pervez Siddiqui, Isabella Mori

Front: Julia Raudzus and Rebecca Shields (ED)

Absent: Robert Lydon, Pamela Verma, Shannon Higginson

Mental - A TV Series

I watched the premiere of Mental last night on FOX network. To be honest, I had no idea what to expect. Like any TV series it had its good and bad points.

The acting was over-acting and the writing was heavy. I felt spoon fed the entire episode. In many ways the show felt typical of all medical dramas: the earnest residents, the slick doctor in bed with the drug companies more than the patients, the well intentioned hospital director, and - ultimately the show's hero - the good and caring doctor. It was both familiar and predictable.

However, the content, a focus on mental illness is new. Was it realistic? No. Was it filled with stereotypes and common misconceptions that made it all shiny and glossy? Yes. Was it better than most? Absolutely.

The protagonist, Jack Gallagher, was truly patient centred, and his message of empowerment and involvement was welcomed. He even used the word 'recovery.' The patient in the main storyline was not demonized, despite seeing demons, and there was an effort to contextualize experience.

I'm going to keep watching. I'm going to tell others to check it out. I am grateful to have a TV series that begins to tell stories and shed a new light on a topic that has been hidden for far too long. It may not be the best TV, but it is TV that will make me stay tuned!

Your Wellness Day

On May 29th, I am asking you to book a spa or salon treatment for yourself or you and your friends to celebrate “Your Wellness Day.” If you are familiar with the successful “Dine Out For Life Event,” we are organizing an event of similar structure but instead of restaurants donating to HIV/AIDS charities, we have partnered with spas and salons in support of mental health.

The two charities involved are MPA Society and the Canadian Mental Health Association. Please visit the sites, I know you will find the information and work of the organizations both useful and compelling.

Here’s what I am hoping you will do:
1. Please schedule a spa or salon appointment for May 29th at one of our partner businesses. These can be found at http://www.yourwellnessday.ca/.
2. Please let them know you are booking with them because you appreciate that they are supporting this important cause. And
3. Please forward this blog to all of your contacts, so that they too can pamper themselves, while supporting a terrific cause.

The website will continue to be updated for another week, so if your favorite spa isn’t on board yet, please let me know and I will try and track them down.

We intend to make this an annual event. This is our first year, and we purposefully started small. We are tremendously grateful to the spas and salons that have joined as inaugural business partners and the media that has offered us promotions and recognition.

We are especially thankful to you for booking appointments with these partners and letting them know how much you support business’ efforts to assist community organizations!

Happy Pampering!