Hello everyone,

May 2-8, 2022 is CMHA's 71st annual Mental Health Week. The importance of empathy is the theme. Empathy is the ability to understand how someone feels because you can imagine what it is like to be them. A toolkit is available with social media images and posts for everyone to use this week.

Ontario heads to the polls on June 2nd and there’s one election issue that Canadian Mental Health Association feel is important: the province is at risk for a mental health and addictions crisis. CMHA's #IChooseMHA campaign is spotlighting that they feel every candidate and party should know that mental health and addictions is a priority issue to Ontarians. A social media toolkit is available. 

A new virtual psychoeducational topic will be available in June: "Difficult Discussions: Conflict Management & Resolution." The poster is below in this issue with dates and times. You can reserve yourself a place now for any of the topics coming up in May, June & July. Email your date(s) of choice for each topic to me and you will receive a confirmation email and further details for joining online.

Do you identify as Francophone? Would you benefit from receiving navigation support through the mental health & addiction system? In this issue, you will find the contact information for this service.

If you are thinking of making a donation, please consider the Canadian Mental Health Association, Simcoe County Branch. In this issue, you will find more information on the three ways you can make a contribution. 

FMHI's Facebook page helps keep us connected.

You can also find FMHI on Twitter and Instagram

 In this Issue:

• Mental Health Week May 2-8, 2022

• #IChooseMHA Campaign

• Virtual Family Caregiver Psycho-Education: May, June & July

• Navigatrice Francophone Régionale

• Virtual Family Caregiver Support Groups: 2022 Schedule

• Family-Based Peer Support at CMHA Simcoe County

• Supporting a Loved One Through Addiction

• Crisis Services

• Making a Difference by Making a Donation

Take care, 

Tara Maxwell

Mental Health Week

May 2-8, 2022

This year’s #MentalHealthWeek is all about empathy.

Download the 2022 toolkit and get ready to #GetReal about how to help. www.mentalhealthweek.ca

Download the Toolkit here

Empathy is a skill that can be learned, and it’s fundamental to successful relationships at home, work and school. When speaking with someone experiencing a challenge, to show empathy you can:

• Consider what you know about them and be willing to learn more

• Not rush to judgement

• Listen attentively without offering solutions

• Resist the urge to interrupt and share your personal experience

• Focus on understanding how the person feels and why they feel that way

• Take time to reflect

#IChooseMHA

Download the social media toolkit

Ontario heads to the polls on June 2nd and there’s one election issue that Canadian Mental Health Association feel is important: the province is at risk for a mental health and addictions crisis. 

• Nearly 80 per cent of Ontarians feel we’re on track for a serious mental health crisis when the pandemic is over

• The rate of opioid-related deaths is at an all-time high

• People are using more alcohol, tobacco and cannabis since the pandemic began

• 1 in 4 Ontarians accessed mental health and addictions care during the pandemic

#IChooseMHA because years of chronic underfunding of the community mental health and addictions system had led to longer wait times and fewer services for Ontarians. www.ichoosemha.ca

Virtual Psycho-Educational Sessions

These sessions are offered via Ontario Telemedicine Network (OTN).

Virtual Family Caregiver Support Groups

The 2nd Tuesday & 3rd Monday of every month via Zoom.

2022 Schedule

Second Tuesday of Every Month

2022 Schedule

Third Monday of Every Month

The support group meeting dates in the months of February and April have been moved to the following week due to a Statutory Holiday occurring on the third Monday of that month.

Family-Based Peer Support

This service is available for family members who have been directly impacted by a loved one’s mental health challenge, illness and/or substance use.

Peer support is created through a trusting, equal and empowering recovery-oriented relationship between two individuals who share a similar experience. You will be connected with a trained Peer Supporter who can relate from a human to human perspective as can be related from a place of lived experience.

Find out more about Peer Support Services

To seek support, please connect directly with peersupport@cmhastarttalking.ca

Supporting A Loved On Through Addiction

Supporting a loved one through addiction can be a long, difficult and often lonely journey. This group offers a safe and non-judgmental space for open conversation to discuss, learn and cope with the struggles one might face when supporting their loved ones through addiction.

Topics include but are not limited to: supporting vs enabling, setting boundaries and goals, recognizing codependency, managing expectations, how being focused on “fixing” our loved one can result in years of self-neglect and the importance of self-care, emotions and frustration when relapse occurs and recognizing how relapse is often a part of the overall recovery process.

email peersupport@cmhastarttalking.ca to sign up.

Facilitated by Peer Supporters Jadine & Suzanne

Crisis Service

Crisis Services offers 24hr telephone support to assist individuals, community agencies, emergency services and family or friends, to work through resolution of identified issues and challenges. The team is comprised of mental health and addiction professionals, who are trained in suicide intervention, and can help stabilize pre and post-crisis, developing coping strategies and plans for ongoing mental health and addiction support and follow up.

Making a Difference by Making a Donation

Money raised in Simcoe County stays in Simcoe County. The Canadian Mental Health Association, Simcoe County Branch is helping over 33,000 people served in Simcoe & Muskoka.

Your donations support our fully integrated services, including the activities of the RSVP Clubhouse, Paddison/Smith scholarship for client education and training opportunities, client emergency fund, education and information materials, youth support, suicide prevention, early intervention, addictions counselling, and much more.

Your gift can be recurring every month, designated in your will, or given in memoriam on someone’s behalf, and is tax deductible. You can give knowing that your generosity will benefit the mental health of people right here in our community. Donate Here

Family Mental Health Initiative of Simcoe County

128 Anne St., South

Barrie ON L4N 6A2

705-725-0363 / 1-800-324-3252

fmhi.ca