On March 29th, we invited the Centre for Digital Story Telling in Toronto to conduct a one-day workshop at the Krasman Centre.  During that workshop, participants decided to create a digital story about the Krasman Centre and what it meant to all of us collectively.  We are happy to announce the finished product.

What does Mental Health Recovery Mean to You?

Photovoice is a research tool, where we ask people to use photography as a visual voice to reproduce everyday experiences. This project asks you to capture your thoughts about mental health recovery and the Krasman Centre. You will be provided with the tools (disposable camera) as well as a gift card for your participation. At the end of the project, we will create a visual collection (with your consent) and use it is a public art and education exhibit. Please see Wendy or Tanya for a package and more information. If you cannot come to the centre, please contact Tanya to have a package arranged for you.

Tanya gives a wonderful overview of the Krasman Centre’s work with consumer survivors of the mental health system. Her organization marked their 10th anniversary this year so this is a special interview to celebrate that milestone.

Her talk gave me greater insight into the values and approach a consumer survivor organization assumes in the day to day work of fostering and supporting the voices of those with lived experience. For those not familiar with the consumer survivor philosophy and practice framework, this interview with Tanya will be a good introduction.

When Tanya Shute, Executive Director of the Krasman Centre told me just how important and integral the Intentional Peer Support (IPS) framework was to Krasman programming for mental health consumer survivors, I was intrigued. Tanya explained that the Krasman Centre was hosting a special week long training on IPS and people were coming from across Ontario to participate.

As a volunteer with the Krasman Centre, I saw an opportunity to add a record of this event for the Krasman video library as well as my own video channel on my web site. It was also a chance to demonstrate how using social media is an effective way to disseminate knowledge and practice to a wide audience of people interested in social issues and change.

Without hesitation, I offered to do a video interview with Shery Mead, the consultant hired to conduct the training.

What follows are 3 video’s. The first one is with Shery Mead and the last 2 are with Ann Thompson, a Recovery Educator and participant in the training program. I think you will find them very enlightening in respect to the emerging field of mental health prevention and wellness programming.

I’ll start by providing a short introduction of Intentional Peer Support (from Shery’s web site).

Intentional Peer Support is a way of thinking about purposeful relationships. It is a process where people (or a group of people) use the relationship to look at things from new angles, develop greater awareness of personal and relational patterns, and to support and challenge each other as we try new things. IPS has been used in crisis respite (alternatives to psychiatric hospitalization), by peers, mental health professionals, families, friends and community-based organizations.

Shery offers a broad range of training based on individual needs. These may include training in intentional trauma-informed peer support, warmline skills, peer run crisis alternatives, co-supervision, Facilitator training and training for professionals in recovery-based practice.

Ann Thompson – Recovery Educator – next page

The next 2 video’s are with Ann Thompson. She shares her lived experience story and talks about her vision for prevention and wellness programming within the mental health sector.

Ann Part 2

The Central LHIN Consumer/Survivor Network is excited to provide this training opportunity to groups and individuals seeking to develop and explore the possibilities of alternative responses to crisis and alternatives to psychiatric hospitalization.

What is Intentional Peer Support?

Intentional Peer Support is a way of thinking about purposeful relationships. It is a process where people (or a group of people) use the relationship to look at things from new angles, develop greater awareness of personal and relational patterns, and to support and challenge each other as we try new things. IPS has been used in crisis respite (alternatives to psychiatric hospitalization), by peers, mental health professionals, families, friends and community-based organizations.

Dates:  Monday August 31st to Friday September 4th, 2009 – 9am to 5pm daily

Location:  M.L. McConaghy Senior’s Centre 10100 Yonge Street, Richmond Hill, ON Room 205

Registration Fees: covers cost of course, written materials and daily lunch

Consumer/Survivors Peers Working in the field per person — $500.00 Mainstream Ally Organizations per person — $750.00

There are a few subsized spots available for peers not currently working in the field.  For more information or to register, contact Theresa Claxton by telephone at 647-203-3726, or by email at: clhincsnetwork@gmail.com

The Krasman Centre will be running WRAP groups in Alliston and Richmond Hill starting in July and August respectively.  The groups run for 8-weeks, and participants meet once a week for 2 hours.

The WRAP program involves an educational and planning process that is grounded in mental health recovery concepts such as hope, education, empowerment, self-advocacy, and interpersonal support and connection. Within a group setting, individuals explore self-help tools (eg. peer counseling, focusing exercises, relaxation & stress reduction techniques) and resources for keeping themselves well and for helping themselves feel better in difficult times.

For more information or to register, please contact us at 905-780-0491.  Registration spots are limited.

CMHA is looking to start an employment support program in York Region and South Simcoe.  They are actively looking for community input.  Carol Level from CMHA will be conducting Town Halls at both Krasman Centre locations (Richmond Hill & Alliston) on the following dates:

Alliston (17 Paris St.) – Monday July 6th, 12:30pm

Richmond Hill (10121 Yonge St.) – Thursday July 9th, 3pm

The Central LHIN (Local Health Integration Network) Consumer/Survivor Network and the Krasman Centre invite you to an important meeting.

Changes are happening within the health care system. We have an opportunity to share our knowledge and expertise as health care consumers and contribute to and influence the Ministry of Health’s 10 year Strategy on Mental Health & Addictions.

Friday July 31st – 2-4pm, Krasman Centre Richmond Hill (10121 Yonge Street)

Contact Alex at 905-780-0491 for further information or to let us know you’ll be attending any of these events.

Refreshments will be provided.

We will host the Grand Opening of our Alliston/New Tecumseth location on:

Tuesday, May 5th, 2009

Welcome: 11:30am

Opening Presentation: 12:00 noon

Mayor’s Ribbon Cutting: 12:30pm

Open House: 1:30 – 6:00pm

Our Alliston/New Tecumseth location is located at 17 Paris Street.