Laureen Harper, wife of Canada’s prime minister, and Ottawa city councillor Allan Hubley praise the programs of Ottawa’s Youth Services Bureau downtown drop-in centre
METRO NEWS OTTAWA, February 11, 2013After years of neglect, youth mental illness is getting the attention it desperately needs, said Laureen Harper as she toured Ottawa’s Youth Services Bureau downtown drop-in centre on February 11, 2013. (more…)
Some people say mid-winter is the most depressing time of year—when cold and dark days, holiday bills, and already-lapsed new year’s resolutions catch up with us
Whether you believe that or not, it’s never a bad time to reflect on how time-of-year stresses and opportunities can affect your mental health. HeretoHelp.bc.ca, British Columbia’s nationally-acclaimed website on mental health and substance use, offers 8 tips to winterproof your mental well-being. “These tips are great for everyone, but even more so if you live with or at risk of a mental illness,” says Sarah Hamid-Balma, HeretoHelp’s coordinator at the Canadian Mental Health Association. (more…)
Amy Candido lives in recovery from eating disorders
The beginning of February marks the launch of the Provincial Eating Disorders Awareness (PEDAW) campaign and National Eating Disorder Awareness Week (Feb. 3-9, 2013).
PEDAW coordinator Amy Candido has a passion for prevention, after being tortured for years by her own eating disorder. Amy’s eating disorder began in grade eight and continued until her mid twenties. “I was existing, not living,” she says. (more…)
Loving our bodies and ourselves is the focus of eating disorders prevention efforts
The Provincial Eating Disorders Awareness (PEDAW) campaign is launched the first full week in February with activities and events taking place throughout the year. It’s a British Columbia province-wide effort to raise awareness around prevention and early intervention of eating disorders as well as media literacy, resiliency, building healthy body image and self-esteem.
You are invited to take part in supporting the ongoing Love Our Bodies, Love Ourselves movement in promoting health and preventing disordered eating and eating disorders. (more…)
Drum circles provide support, improving emotions and feelings in people struggling with eating disorders
A drum circle is a rhythm-based event where people gather in a circle to express themselves with African drums and percussion instruments. A facilitator guides the session, encouraging and supporting people as they reconnect with their innate sense of rhythm. Inclusiveness is a core principle–people of all backgrounds, mobility, ages and skill levels (even first-time beginners) can participate. (more…)
Workplace managers say that they’re informed about mental health issues, but would benefit from training to help employees with mental health problems stay at work or return to work successfully and healthily
The Canadian Standards Association together with the Mental Health Commission of Canada, has released a national standard for psychological health and safety in the workplace, along with guidance for staged implementation.
The national standard defines and sets a higher standard for workplace mental health with a goal of protecting and improving the mental health of Canadian workers. It’s designed for both employers and employees. (more…)
