Describe your charity/non-profit in a few sentences.

CAMH Foundation is the fundraising arm of CAMH, the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health. CAMH is Canada’s largest mental health hospital and a world-leading research centre in its field. We are uniquely positioned to play a significant role in preventing suicide, which is the focus on our current campaign, Not suicide. Not today. Talking openly about suicide, when done in a hopeful and respectful way, has the potential to change—and save—lives. Not Suicide, Not Today is a promise that we will do everything we can to make today not the day we lose someone else to suicide.

What problem does it aim to solve?

At CAMH, we know that suicide is preventable and that we must take action. From the smallest gestures to the biggest cultural changes and everything in between, this campaign will encourage hope and action to ensure that no one else loses their life or loved one to suicide. CAMH researchers are advancing suicide prevention projects across a range of ages and illnesses. As a leading mental health hospital and authority for mental health, CAMH feels a deep sense of responsibility to support the reduction of suicide rates.

• We are the top mental health research hospital in Canada.
• We train 25% of all Canadian psychiatrists and 50% of all those in Ontario.
• We have more beds for people with mental illness and addiction than all other Toronto

When did you start/join it?

I was approached by the CAMH Foundation about 18 months ago as they were hoping to build a campaign focused on suicide prevention. As a suicide prevention researcher and CAMH psychiatrist, this seemed like a great opportunity to lend my support.

What made you want to get involved?

The CAMH foundation has been a real champion of my career and I am so proud to work at CAMH, providing mental health care and support on the front lines, and working with patients and families in suicide prevention research. I was so impressed at the foundation’s commitment to ensuring that the campaign followed best practices in suicide awareness campaigns, and their commitment to highlighting all of the ways we can work together to prevent suicide, which includes addressing racism, discrimination, access to care, and financial and social inequality.

What was the situation like when you started?

People were really afraid to get this wrong. I was one of them! The work and consultation with people with lived experience, affected communities, health care providers, and families was remarkable.

How has it changed since?

I have been so heartened by the reaction to this campaign – I believe that it can change the way we talk and think about suicide, while allowing for investment in research breakthroughs, improved access to clinical care, dignified spaces for patients and families, and addressing the social determinants of suicide.

What more needs to be done?

Changing the perception that suicide is preventable is a major shift. We all bring our own bias to the table. By exploring our own biases, we can unpack why suicide is so misunderstood and shrouded in silence and stigma.

How can our readers help?
I encourage everyone to visit CAMH.ca and there you can read the stories of researchers and clinicians like me, who are working to reduce suicide rates. You can also read stories from real Canadians, who share their experiences and journeys of recovery. They’re incredibly moving stories.

Do you have any events coming up?

Unfortunately no, but later this fall, there will be a very big milestone as CAMH opens two beautiful new buildings at Queen and Ossington. One of which will house the Gerald Sheff and Shanitha Kachan Emergency Department, which is currently at College and Spadina. If anyone reading this needs care or anyone you love needs care, please go to our Emergency Room.

Where can we follow you?

My twitter

PAY IT FORWARD: What is an awesome local charity that you love?

Naseeha mental health is a GTA-based mental health hotline and more, providing culturally informed support for young Muslims in mental health crisis. They also offer workshops, web therapy, and text-based supports.

Another organization I have a personal connection to is Wild Ontario, which focuses on educating the public on the human impact on wildlife and provides care for birds that cannot be returned to the wild. My younger brother who is now a resident veterinarian volunteered for this organization for several years and the work they do is so important.

The post CAMH Announces New Campaign ‘Not Suicide. Not Today’ appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

Describe the Gifts of Light program in a few sentences.

Gifts of Light is a volunteer/donor program at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) that provides comfort, care and dignity for all CAMH patients. With the help of fundraising and in-kind donations, the program works with staff to identify and meet the basic needs (new clothing and personal care items) for all patients. We also provide beneficial programming and special events that enhance the patient experience during treatment and recovery

What problem does it aim to solve?

If you have ever been to CAMH, you may have noticed we are one of the only hospitals in the GTA without a gift shop. We don’t see a constant flow of visitors or people bringing flowers and get well soon cards to our patients. Mental illness is often a very lonely diagnosis. Gifts of Light is there for patients when they need it most. We work to cover three main areas of the patient experience: comfort items/basic necessities, special events and enhancement of programming, and community partnerships.

When did it start, when does it run?

Gifts of Light started as a volunteer-led holiday program about 10 years ago. Since then, it has evolved into a year-round program that services the everyday needs of our patients. CAMH staff and patients rely on us throughout the year to help them access resources that they would otherwise go without.

What made you want to get involved?

My family lost my younger brother to suicide in November 2014. Ironically, the most painful and tragic part of my life has also allowed me to find a fulfilling and life-changing career at CAMH. Helping patients during what can be the most challenging experience of their life gives me hope and strength. I know this work would make my brother proud.

How has it helped since?

Today, Gifts of Light serves approximately 200 patients per week—and that number is growing. We’ve evolved from a holiday program to a year-round service that offers more than 5,000 hours of programs, 4,500 holiday gifts, and nearly 50 special events annually. We are very proud of our impact at CAMH and grateful for our generous supporters.

What more needs to be done?

Gifts of Light relies 100% on donor support. We could not do what we do every day without the support of our community. Last year, we touched the lives of approximately 13,000 patients—but that’s only half of the number of patients that CAMH serves each year. We will continue to fundraise and spread the word about how Gifts of Light is helping people on their journey toward recovery.

How can our readers help?

Visit giftsoflight.ca to shop our catalogue! You can purchase items, such as basic necessities and special experiences and programming, that enhance patient comfort and care. You’re not only supporting Gifts of Light, but you’re having a direct impact on a patient at CAMH—giving them light and hope in their time of need.

Do you have any other events/fundraisers coming up?

Yes! The Andy Kim Christmas Show on December 5 th will be supporting Gifts of Light. The concert is hosted by Andy Kim and has an incredible line-up. All ticket proceeds are generously donated to Gifts of Light. There are only a few spots left at http://live.andykimmusic.com/toronto , so get yours now!

Where can we follow you?

You can follow Gifts of Light via CAMH Foundation on Facebook at End Stigma, on Instagram @camhfoundation, and on Twitter @endstigma

The post Gifts of Light for CAMH helps provide basic needs for their patients appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

• Parlour Salon – Will be donating to One Brave Night, 50% of the sales of their new Fusionplex treatments from April 2nd-April 6th.

• Tiger of Sweden – 10% of all sales from April 7th & 8th will be donated to One Brave Night, when shoppers mention their support for CAMH at cash + will have a donation jar available in store to support One Brave Night from April 7th -17th.

• Lululemon – will host yoga classes on April 6th at The Attic on Queen St from
5:30PM-6:30PM and from 7:30PM-8:30PM at The Local on Ossington, where participants can make cash donations to CAMH in class.

• Jimmy’s Coffee (Ossington) – Donating 50% of drip coffee sales on April 6th to
One Brave Night

• Calii Love – Will be donating 50% of sales from their coffees sold on April
6th.

• Crywolf – will be hosting a late night shopping event from 6PM-9PM on April 6th offering goodie bags and will have a donation jar to support the campaign + donating a portion of their sales on posters and small accessories.

• Bang Bang Ice Cream – will be donating all sales from their “overbaked” cookies to One Brave Night on April 6th.

• Ollie Quinn – will be hosting an Instagram contest for One Brave Night participants for a chance to win a pair of non-prescription sunglasses or single vision prescription optical glasses and will have a donation jar at cash on April 6th.

• Tonic Blooms – will donate 25% of the sales from April 6th.

***

On top of creating awareness for mental health, money raised from the One Brave Night partnerships will go to help support the life-saving research and treatment offered at CAMH. OBN is also encouraging people to join the conversation on social media with #OneBraveNight and #OneBraveSelfie.

One of the most interesting event will be run by writer and mental health advocate Meghan Yuri Young of The Sad Collection who will be hosting “Choose your Challenge” day in support of One Brave Night. The public is invited to take part in the day that begins at Myodetox for a charity sweat at 8:30 AM, followed by The Quiet Company leading a mid-day meditation at noon and then the day will finish at FREE SPACE at 7:00 PM.

We got a chance to chat with Meghan about The Sad Collective prior to the big day.

What exactly is the Sad Collective?

Put simply, The Sad Collective is a community and platform aiming to destigmatize the conversation around mental health and mental illness. We believe in the power of vulnerability. Our website elaborates on that best, “We believe in the freedom of crying, the strength in admitting we’re not always fine and the courage to seek support when it’s needed.” To do that, we encourage people to embrace their emotions by giving them opportunities to tell their stories — either via an article on our website, by posting a photo on Instagram featuring one of our stencils sprayed on the ground around the city or however else they feel comfortable. And beyond that, the stories shared make those not currently comfortable to tell their own feel like they’re not alone.

Who organized it and who works with it? What are their backgrounds with mental health work?

My partner, Vasiliki Marapas, and I created The Sad Collective. It’s a passion project that came about during our own personal struggles at work and outside of it. We’re both writers who wanted more of a creative outlet. After going through heartbreak at the same time and being there for each other, we decided we wanted to run with that idea of solidarity and community. Especially since we both had strong ties to the mental health community and didn’t even realize it.

Yet, for me, aside from double majoring in psych and English, I’d never pursued work in the mental health community before this. It was simply an ongoing interest that out of necessity became something more. It’s fascinating how creating The Sad Collective has encouraged Vas and I to delve more deeply into the community to learn more about it and ourselves.

What is the goal of The Sad Collective?

The goal of The Sad Collective is, first and foremost, to show people that they’re not alone. The more we share, the more our community shares and the more they feel connected to something bigger. And that itself leads into the second goal, destigmatizing the conversation around mental health.

How is this goal achieved?

We’re currently taking very simple steps to achieving this goal. The first is running a light-hearted and relatable Instagram account that nevertheless touches on the darker moments in day-to-day life. The second is highlighting great initiatives in and around the city on our blog. There are so many amazing people and groups creating safe spaces and incredible initiatives for the mental health community. We also encourage conversation with spontaneous call outs for content, which often attracts people from all walks of life who have been searching for an outlet to express themselves. Not to mention one of my favourite projects, our Sad Collective stencils that we’ve stamped around the city that remind people that “it’s okay not to be okay” and “we’re all in this together” while also inspiring them to share their own thoughts on mental health.

Where do you research your stories?

Our stories often revolve around interviews, so their are very people-centric and require little research.

Are most stories personal or are some from professionals in the mental health field?

For now, they are very personal, but we hope to include more professional voices in the future. I see The Sad Collective as a community for the people by the people, so that’s why it involves more personal stories. Yet there is a great need for access to professionals and we tried to start an “Aunt Agony” column that allowed a psychotherapist to answer our audience’s questions, but it was hard to maintain. We do hope to bring it back though.

What are you currently working on?

We’re currently working on a big event for CAMH’s One Brave Night. This year the theme as expanded, encompassing a “choose your challenge” angle that is more inclusive to all situations. So in this vein, there will be a morning workout at Myodetox Performance for those who seek physical activity when going through something. Then there’s a midday meditation by The Quiet Company at Lululemon’s The Attic followed by the big event in the evening at Free Space.

The evening event will start with an open mic-style hour featuring speakers from the clinical, middle-ground and patient-side of mental health. From there, there will be movies, boardgames and a chance to mingle not only with the speakers, but with other guests to truly connect with the mental health community. It’s our first official Sad Collective event (in partnership with CAMH)!

What do you aim to do in the future?

We’re hoping to do more offline work within the community. Over the last three years, the biggest hurdle I’ve learned is that people don’t feel truly connected to each other and thus inevitably feel alone in their personal struggles. Whether it’s finding the right person to talk to or a shoulder to lean on, The Sad Collective aims to provide that is some way.

What is the best part about working in Toronto?

Toronto is so welcoming and so open to vulnerability. It might be a big city with big city cliches, but it differs in so many ways from places like New York, L.A. and even Vancouver. The presence of community is very strong here. And very supportive. Torontonians rally around each other; it’s so beautiful to witness and to be a part of as well.

PAY IT FORWARD – What is another charity group that you think we should know about?

There are so many! Through my job in media, I’ve been exposed to many amazing non-profit organizations including Skylark Youth, a mental health organization for youth and families. Last year I had the honour of travelling to SOS Children’s Villages in the Dominican Republic and now I sponsor a village. I’ve also been volunteering at the Children’s Book Bank in Toronto, which provides free books to underprivileged youth in the city. These are just a few though, and all close to my heart.

The post One Brave Night will bring community and businesses together for mental health appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

Ron tells us that he was inspired to start this initiative 21 years ago when he was walking up Yonge Street one day and noticed a homeless man sitting on the side of the road. “He was leaning up against a building when it had just started to snow,” said White. “His toes were hanging out of his boots and it was very an epiphany for me to think that I had some extra shoes being in the shoe business but maybe some of my friends, family and community had some extra shoes that had some life life in them that we could collect, clean up and donate to those in need.” Over 40,000 pairs of shoes have been collected to date.

Today, White’s initiative is the largest in Canada of it’s kind. There have been local, national and international celebrities who have donated their shoes to help raise awareness for the drive including Rachel McAdams, Celine Dion, Matt Damon, Kevin Spacey, Eric McCormack, Michael Cera and countless others — all were on display at the kick-off event at Ron White Shoes located in the Manulife Centre.

This year, in recognition of Canada’s 150 Birthday, White had received a pair of shoes from Sophie Gregoire Trudeau to add to the celebrity collection. We were told that these were the shoes she wore when she visited the White House in Washington for a gala dinner.

Mayor John Tory also donated a pair of shoes and spoke about the importance of the charities that will receive the donations including CAMH. “On a global scale, it is one of the most comprehensive mental health for people in the world, not just in Canada.”

Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, also donated her shoes and commended the charities, who were also present at the event, for the important work they do behind-the-scenes for many Canadians here in the city and beyond. She also spoke about Canada’s 150 birthday and the kindness of Canadians.”The kindness and generosity of Canadians not just to refugees but also to those who are not in as fortunate circumstances as others and  it’s important to shine a spotlight here as well.”

Fashion royalty Jeanne Becker donated a pair of sky high stilettos at the event, “I have countless pairs of shoes but I went to a few runway shows in Paris, Milan, New York and London in these…I don’t think these are considered all-day heels…but I’m hoping that these will empower some women to look, and feel, their best not only physically, but spiritually and mentally.”

Got some gently worn (or even new) shoes to donate? They are accepting women, men and children shoes. You can drop them off at any Ron White Shoes Retail locations across the city until February 12, 2017. Shoes will be sorted, cleaned and distributed to the GTA organizations.

Find locations on their website.

The post Ron White Kicks-off 21st Annual Shoe Drive for Charities appeared first on Toronto Guardian.

October 5-11, 2014 marks Mental Illness Awareness Week (MIAW), originally established in 1992 by the Canadian Psychiatric Association. The primary significance of the week however, is not just to raise awareness that there are people dealing with mental illness but to fight against the stigma of it. Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health (CAMIMH) states that “One of MIAW’s major initiatives is the Faces of Mental Illness campaign, a national outreach campaign featuring the stories of Canadians living in recovery from mental illness.

Thousands of pieces of MIAW posters, brochures, and bookmarks featuring the Faces are disseminated to hundreds of organizations across Canada in an effort to raise awareness and end the stigma associated with mental illness.”

Regardless of how informed we are, there are two documentaries, Not Criminally Responsible: NCR and the second, Out of Mind, Out of Sight this week that truly bring a few faces to mental illness while exploring the lives they lead and debunking myths and damaging stereotypes.

RENT THIS FILM

Both films, screening at Bloor Hot Docs Cinema, are directed by John Kastner. He was able to gain access to the Brockville Mental Health Centre and through his films, tells the stories of forensic psychiatric patients. The main impetus for the films was a result of Dr. Lisa Ramshaw, a forensic psychiatrist from CAMH, who pushed Kastner to tell the other side of the story and to help destigmatize this group of people. Forensic psychiatric patients are a minority of people suffering from mental illness. Kastner elaborates further, “Forensic means having to do with the law, in that all of these people had committed offenses or crimes and then ruled not criminally responsible.” The way Kastner sees it is that “if you can start to feel sympathetic for the mentally ill who have committed an offense, then maybe you’d be that much more understanding of those who are also mentally ill but haven’t hurt anyone.”

The kind of access Kastner had not just to the facility but also to the patients and their records is unprecedented. He shot both films in eighteen months and was able to make human what the public’s stereotypes had demonized. It was not an easy process. Kastner was turned down by several hospitals. Brockville Mental Health Centre was open to the idea of such a film but had to run it by their hospital ethics committee. Next came the task of requiring consent from the patients to not just film but also look through their records. Before that could happen however, the patients’ capacity for consent had to be assessed. Kastner described that “there are various degrees of capacity. In our case, it was for disclosure. In some cases they would have capacity for file disclosure but not capacity for financial affairs, for example. Finally, there were 59 patients in the hospital and we thought we’d be lucky if we could get 3 or 4 but in the end in the two films we filmed simultaneously over 18 months, we filmed 46 patients.”

When talking about the process of filming, Kastner explains some of the roadblocks he faced, particularly when filming with Michael Stewart, the main character in Out of Mind, Out of Sight. Stewart killed a close family member while in a psychotic state and is now tormented by the guilt he feels for his actions. Kastner says, “I knew almost to the point of meeting him that this is the patient I wanted more than anyone else. Ironically, although he had committed a horrific act of violence, I felt that he had the capacity to soften people’s hearts more than the other patients there and so did the nurses, they said “you have to meet Michael, he breaks your heart” so it took me a year to get Michael and he dropped out a couple of times during the filming which is very much par for the course with people with schizophrenia, they’re very ambivalent. I had to wait for him for several months before he resumed.” Kastner mentions that he had to get an apartment in Brockville for a year and would not have been able to continue filming without support from his co-producers, the National Film Board and the CBC.

The primary goal of the films is to destigmatize the mentally ill and both films individually, I believe, are able to do that. Kastner’s storytelling however, is far from one-sided. In Not Criminally Responsible: NCR, the focus is on Sean Clifton, a patient who while at a crowded shopping mall, violently attacked a young woman with a knife. She survived and talks about her experience in the film and forgave him. Her fear of it recurring still remains however, and insists that people like Sean must be forced to take their medication and monitored to prevent another episode. Kastner presents a doctor’s perspective as well, who says that it’s possible that if Sean has shown remarkable improvement, in the future, he may not have to take any more medication. So while the audience can sympathize and may agree with the victim regarding safety, there’s also the question of individual choice, left for us to debate over. Kastner also makes sure to note that a recent study has been released which says that the chances of another equally violent attack happening are 7% whereas the chances of a convict committing a similar crime once released from prison is around 40%.

When asked about what he perceives to be the state of health care for the mentally ill in Canada, Kastner says that the help these patients get is very good however, it’s hard for people to get this help before the crime is committed even though the signs are present.

Both films delve into issues surrounding mental illness and challenge the viewer to consider it differently. It’s not a matter of locking a patient up in a padded room and forgetting about them. It’s a matter of getting over our “what if…?” fears and approach mental illness with an open mind and with empathy.

NCR will be screened on Wednesday, October 8^th with Sean Clifton in attendance to answer questions along with John Kastner and Dr. Sandy Simpson, Chief of Forensic Psychiatry at CAMH and the University of Toronto. The following night, October 9, there will be a screening for Out of Mind, Out of Sight. In attendance will be Michael Stewart’s brother, John, Kastner as well as Dr. Simpson. Both nights will be moderated by Silva Basmajian, co-producer and executive producer of the films. Screenings begin at 6:30 p.m.

The post Director John Kastner Exposes the Lives of the Mentally Ill appeared first on Toronto Guardian.