CMHA Winter 2010 Newsletter: Recovery is Possible!

“Recovery involves the development of new meaning and purpose in one's life as one grows beyond the catastrophic effects of mental illness.” As you read this newsletter, I hope you will be as moved and inspired by these stories as we have been in our daily work with our clients. This news letter gives you an opportunity to share in the experience of recovery, and to be able to hear how people can, and do, overcome often huge challenges to achieve their goals and live their dreams, big or small. - Pam Edwards

 

Please click here for the full newsletter.

Borderline Personality Disorder and Recovery, two inspiring personal accounts of the experience of recovery from BPD

CMHA was inspired by the following accounts of individuals with Borderline Personality Disorder.
Below are snippits of their stories with a link to view the rest:

Don’t Call Me Borderline!

This was my initial reaction when I first learned that I have commonly misunderstood mental illness called Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). Unlike, Depression, Schizophrenia or Bipolar Disorder few people have heard of my illness and it is only just beginning to come into the light as far as advocacy and awareness are concerned.

I am among the many millions of people with this disorder (2-3% of the population). Like Schizophrenia, BPD is a devastating mental illness and is usually diagnosed in adolescence or early adulthood. In my case, it struck very young, probably around puberty, but I was not diagnosed until twenty six years of age. For more than ten years of my life I struggled to get well. It has only been in the last four years that I have found true health and wellbeing. I am doing wonderful now!

There were many times when I honestly thought I would never get better...Don't Call Me Borderline

Sarah's Story

Hi, I’m Sarah Moir, President and Founder of Crazy Daisy.  I have suffered from a mental illness most of my life.  I allowed my life to be defined by it for almost 20 years.  I have Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD).  It is one of the more stigmatized psychiatric conditions– even within the medical community.  Although there is no cure, recovery is possible.  I have struggled, I do struggle and I will struggle.

The easiest way to explain BPD is to compare it to hemophilia – the slightest emotional scratch can cause me to bleed to death, figuratively.   I feel emotions more intensely, harder and faster then most. They can also last a long, long time.  I can’t just “snap out of it.”

I had a happy childhood and a wonderful, loving family...Sarah's Story- Crazy Daisy

Drop-In Anxiety Management Group at CMHA!

Great News, Victoria!

Starting in January (exact date to be determined), on Thursdays from 7pm - 8:30pm, Dr. Tom Lipinski (PhD, Licensed Psychologist) will be facilitating an anxiety management group. The group is open to all on a drop-in basis and is free of charge. More information about the group and Tom Lipinski can be accessed through these two posters:

• Tom Lipinksi Info Sesson


• Anxiety Support Group

As an introduction to the group, and a resource for staff and the public, Tom will be giving a public lecture on Anxiety on December 16, 2010, in the BRIDGE Centre room at 125 Skinner Street, at 7pm. This is also a drop-in, free-of-charge event.

Attitudes About Police Project

A research project funded by the Mental Health Commission of Canada is being led by BC Mental Health and Addiction Services. We are conducting surveys to collect a wide range of attitudes, feelings, or experiences that people living with a mental illness have about the police. If you are at least 19 years of age, can speak and understand English, and are living with a severe mental illness (such as schizophrenia spectrum disorder or other psychotic disorder, or bipolar disorder) we invite you to participate in this study. If you have or have not had direct contact with the police you are invited to complete a 30 minute survey. You will receive your choice of a $5 Starbucks or Tim Hortons gift card for participating. Click here for the project poster.

If you would like to participate in this project, we are pleased to be able to you complete the Survey online, or by pen and paper, or over the phone. To get more information, or to request a survey, simply email Caroline at cgreaves@forensic.bc.ca, or leave a message on our secure project line at 604-524-7768.

2010 Schizophrenia Conference- Complete for another year!

13th VICTORIA and 8th VANCOUVER ISLAND SCHIZOPHRENIA CONFERENCE

Providing Mental Health Care in the Current Climate

Friday, November 26th, 2010

8:30 A.M. - 4 P.M.

Overall Learning Objectives:

1. To understand the interconnectedness of forensic and civil psychiatric populations

2. To explore the importance of partnerships and leadership values in supporting employment in these populations

3. To discuss the value of early psychosis intervention for the individual, and for the system

Keynote Speaker Learning Objectives:

Dr. Johann Brink: “Developing a strength based model of care for forensic and civil psychiatric populations”

Dr. Brink MB ChB BA Hons FCPsych(SA) FRCPC, Director, Clinical Services & Scientific Director, Forensic Psychiatric Services Commission, BC Mental Health and Addiction Services

-          To have an understanding of the structure and functions of Forensic Psychiatric Services in BC populations

-          To be aware of the overlap in clinical and risk characteristics of forensic and civil psychiatric risks in forensic and civil psychiatric settings

-          To have a working knowledge of START – a strength based assessment measure for multiple

Leigh Thomson “Growing Employment Services in these tough economic times”

Team Leader, Employment Services CMHA, Burnaby, BC

-          To discuss effective approaches and planning from a systems perspective

risks in forensic and civil psychiatric settings

-          To review how to establish leadership values at the agency level

-          ‐ To understand how our practice can maintain high employment outcomes

-          ‐ To explore how partnerships support employment in these economic times

Dr. Rex Bowering: “Early Psychosis Intervention: Changes in a Time of Transition”

Dr. Bowering MD, FRCPC Child and Youth Psychiatrist, VIHA Division Chief, Child and Adolescent Psychiatry

-           To explore the value of early recognition of potential psychotic disorders

-           To review signs and symptoms and prospective implications

Please follow the link for the brochure: 2010 Schizophrenia Conference Brochure

 

Help Bring Borderline Personality Disorder Into the Light!

Borderline Personality Disorder

FACT:

• The term “borderline” imparts no relevant information about the diagnosis

• It was developed in the early 1900’s when a psychiatrist realized that BPD did not fit into the oversimplified way of categorizing mental illness at the time -either as neurotic or psychotic.

• BPD was thought to be on the “borderline”.

• There is currently a move to have the name changed to something similar to Emotional Processing Disorder, Emotional Regulation Disorder or Emotional Intensity Disorder

Help Bring Borderline Personality Disorder Into the Light!

Read an article by Elizabeth Bogod, Community Mental Health Worker In recovery from BPD titled What's in a name? Borderline Personality Disorder Label Creates Stigma



Sign the Online Petition: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/%201/Advocacy-for-Borderline-Personality-Disorder

Youthspace.ca has returned!

Fantastic news from Need2:

What is YouthSpace.ca?

          

  Youthspace.ca has been serving the Greater Victoria area since 2008 but earlier this year, due to drastic funding cuts, we had to suspend some services and reduce others.  We’ve managed to secure a little bit of funding (but will need more to continue past June 30th), so, in addition to the (safe and moderated) discussion forum and a connection to e-counselling, we’re also able to offer live chat support four nights per week – Thursday to Sunday from 5:00pm to 11:00pm.

Young people come to the site for a variety of reasons… for example, relationship break-ups, family struggles, bullying issues, school/work pressures, suicidal feelings, questions about sexuality, concerns about self-harming behaviour, among other concerns.  www.Youthspace.ca is a safe place for youth to connect, get help, and discover resources.

     Youthspace.ca is an online service which extends preventative mental health support to youth across Greater Victoria and the Southern Gulf Islands (and beyond). By accessing the www.youthspace.ca website, youth can reach out anonymously to professionally trained volunteers using private one-to-one chat via any computer. Volunteers are able to offer supportive listening, conduct risk assessments and safety plans, and connect youth to other resources in the community.

· Youth can also participate in a peer-to-peer support forum where they can post and reply to each other at any time of the day on topics ranging from relationships to self-harm and suicide.  Volunteers also reply to these posts and offer the same level of support offered via chat. Staff moderate these forums to ensure posts are appropriate and that the space if kept safe for all who participate. 

· Youth have the option to reach out by e-mail to child and youth counsellors at Pacific Centre Family Services Association. Counsellors there are prepared to respond by e-mail to youth with ongoing support, information, and provide the option to meet for face-to-face counselling.

· Youthspace.ca offers an online resource database of youth programs and services for Greater Victoria thanks to a partnership with Youthcore. The Youthcore database is updated by service providers on an ongoing basis to ensure the most up-to-date information is available in a search friendly manner.

·  Questions? Concerns? Suggestions? Fundraising ideas?  Please let them, know! support@youthspace.ca 

CMHA is thrilled to hear this great news!

Take On Depression with BP Magazine

If you or a loved one is struggling with the unresolved depressive symptoms of bipolar disorder or major depressive disorder there are now two new places to turn to when searching for information and important tools and resources online – the “Take on Depression” Facebook page and @FaceDepression Twitter feed. For helpful information, tools and support, please “like” the “Take on Depression” Facebook page and follow the “FaceDepression” Twitter feed. The “Take on Depression” campaign is sponsored by AstraZeneca.       309448 10/10

Mental Health Commission of Canada 2010 Annual Report

The Mental Health Commission of Canada has posted a brilliant interactive annual report. Please follow the link here to see the report. You will need Adobe Flash 10 to take part.
If you do not meet the system requirements, there is a PDF version available as well.

Please take some time to peruse the MHCC website too for they offer great resources and initiatives to better our community.

Mental Health Stigma- Bring Change 2 Mind!

Below is a link to a fantastic website that tackles the stigma and misconceptions around Mental Illness and those it affects.

Bring Change 2 Mind

From the website:

1 in 6 adults and almost 1 in 10 children suffer from a diagnosable mental illness. Yet, for many, the stigma associated with the illness, can be as great a challenge as the disease itself. This is where the misconceptions stop. This is where bias comes to an end. This is where we change lives. Because this is where we Bring Change 2 Mind.

Also from BringChange2Mind.org, a video featuring actress Glenn Close and her sister:
BringChange2Mind Video-Glenn Close