Family Education & Support Group Meeting: HRM Chapter of the SSNS

TODAY, 7:00 pm!

Family members, friends, co-workers, and other supporters of those living with schizophrenia and related illnesses are cordially invited to attend Family Education & Support Group meetings of the HRM Chapter. The next meeting is ...

Date
Monday, November 9th, 2009

Time
7:00 pm to 9:00 pm

Place

Bloomfield Centre, Room 108
2786 Agricola Street
Halifax, Nova Scotia
This is a change in meeting location for this month only.

Agenda
7:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Housing Support Services

Carol Charlebois
Executive Director
Metro Non-Profit Housing Association

Liz Cleary
Registered Nurse
New Beginnings Clubhouse & Affirmative Industries

Elaine Salisbury
Recreational Therapist
Community Outreach and Housing
Connections Halifax

8:00 pm to 8:10 pm
Refreshment and Socializing Break

8:10 pm to 9:00 pm
Group Discussion

To download the HRM Chapter’s 2009-2010 Meeting Schedule, please click here (PDF).

To download the HRM Chapter's brochure, click here (PDF).

To join the HRM Chapter of the SSNS, or for more information, contact Donna Methot at (902) 462-8658 or send an email to hrmchapterssns@accesswave.ca.

The HRM Chapter of the SSNS will accept members from outside the boundaries of Halifax Regional Municipality.

Photograph of downtown Halifax by Derek Rodgers.

‘I've gone through a metamorphosis'

An article published in yesterday's edition of The Globe and Mail:

Stability is the key to managing mental illness, experts suggest. André Picard looks at a Montreal project that puts housing first, providing troubled homeless people a stable home of their own

By André Picard

Ricardo Maddalena has lived in many places over the past four decades: fleabag apartments, a psychiatric hospital, prison, rooming houses and on the streets.

Four years ago, he finally found a home.

The 58-year-old, who suffers from severe schizophrenia and has struggled with alcoholism since his teens, moved into an innovative housing project in downtown Montreal that is operated by Chambreclerc, a non-profit group in the city that offers housing to long-time homeless men and women with severe psychiatric disabilities.

“Since I moved here, I've gone through a metamorphosis,” Mr. Maddalena says.

To read the entire article, please click here.

Also see:

Homelessness: By the numbers

Harm reduction: Contentious, but experts say it works

Photo Credit: John Morstad for The Globe and Mail

The Schizophrenia Society of Canada Supports Appropriate Treatment of Inmates Living with a Mental Illness

A November 5th news release from the Schizophrenia Society of Canada:

WINNIPEG, MANITOBA--(Marketwire - Nov. 5, 2009) - The Schizophrenia Society of Canada ("SSC") welcomes the 2008/09 Annual Report of the Office of the Correctional Investigator ("OCI") tabled November 2, 2009 in Parliament. Commenting on the Report, SSC President Jim Adamson says: "It is commendable and most appropriate that four of the 19 key recommendations address the treatment and support of inmates who live with a mental illness within Canada's federal prison system."

According to the OCI Annual Report, mental health services in federal penitentiaries are woefully deficient. Across the country, prisoners are denied treatment because of a shortage of clinical staff and inadequate mental health facilities for the prison population. The Schizophrenia Society of Canada along with its provincial schizophrenia societies has maintained that the treatment and support of inmates who are mentally ill in Canadian prisons is sub-standard, and sometimes almost non-existent.

Howard Sapers, Correctional Investigator of Canada says in his annual report: "Federal correctional mental health care services are under extreme duress - there are deficiencies in terms of capacity, quality, standards and responsiveness of care. Criminalizing and then warehousing the mentally ill burdens our justice system and does nothing to improve public safety. The demands in this area of corrections are increasing dramatically; the unmet needs are immediate and troubling. The overall situation of offenders with mental health disorders has not significantly improved since my Office first reported on this troubling situation back in 2004."

The prevalence of offenders with significant mental health issues upon admission has doubled in the past five years. Eleven percent of federal offenders have a significant mental health diagnosis and over 20% are taking a prescribed medication for a psychiatric condition; just over 6% were receiving outpatient services prior to admission. (1)

The Correctional Investigator's report highlights the seriousness of the conclusion that our prisons have become warehouses for the mentally ill. Over the past three decades Canada has moved toward a community and outpatient system of "de-institutionalizing" the mentally ill from provincial facilities, to "re-institutionalizing" them as prisoners.

"Criminalization of those with mental illness is unethical. If these inmates do not receive hospital-standard psychiatric care, their chances of rehabilitation are extremely low and their risk of re-offending remains high. Allowing inmates to go without comprehensive treatment services for their mental illness is a failure of the Correctional Service to address mental health needs of offenders on many levels," says Chris Summerville, CEO of the Schizophrenia Society of Canada.

(1) Public Safety Canada, Corrections and Conditional Release Statistical Overview: Annual Report 2008, December 2008.


For more information, please contact:

Schizophrenia Society of Canada
Chris Summerville
Chief Executive Officer
Office: (204) 786-1616 or Mobile: (204) 223-9158

Also see:

Report: Prisoners lack mental health support

Mental Health Commission of Canada responds on Correctional Investigator's Report

Mental health court takes first cases

An article published in today's edition of The Chronicle Herald:

'It’s not about the crime, it’s about the person'

By Davene Jeffrey

The first sitting of the province’s mental health court wrapped up quickly Thursday afternoon in Halifax.

With just five cases on the docket, the session was over in just 15 minutes. And unlike in other courts, most of the participants seemed happy to be there.

"The docket will grow," said legal aid defence lawyer Kelly Rowlett. "There are a lot of mentally ill people who have filtered through the criminal court and forensic system."

Ms. Rowlett is one of two lawyers who will defend people who appear in the mental health court.

In the inaugural session Thursday, three men and two women facing charges ranging from assault with a weapon to mischief appeared in the court. Four of the five were eager to have the mental health court handle their cases.

One woman said she wanted time to review information on the program before deciding.

A team including a nurse and social worker will now interview the four and determine whether they are eligible for the program.

The atmosphere in the mental health court is meant to be collaborative rather than adversarial, said Crown attorney Sandi MacKinnon. The clients must acknowledge their guilt and sign a form stating they are entering the program voluntarily.

"It’s not about the crime, it’s about the person," Ms. Rowlett said.

And while the court is designed to be a better fit for people with mental health issues, it is also a good situation for Ms. Rowlett and Ms. MacKinnon, they said.

"In a previous life, I worked with individuals with disabilities and I was a community advocate," Ms. MacKinnon said.

That’s what led her to become a lawyer.

"It’s almost like coming full circle for me," she said.

Ms. Rowlett used to work in insurance litigation before she began to represent mentally ill clients.

"It’s kind of nice to make a difference every once in a while," she said.

Ms. Rowlett said her clients "are really wonderful, caring people who appreciate the assistance."

The mental health court has been in the works for two years.

Ms. MacKinnon said a lot of mental health services are available, but the job of the court and its team of workers will be to co-ordinate those services in developing programs for the people who come through the courtroom doors.

After a program has been set up for a client, he or she will be required to return to court so the judge can assess whether progress is being made.

In many cases, the criminal charges will eventually be stayed, Ms. MacKinnon said.

She said cases involving people who are found to be not criminally responsible for their actions will remain in the regular court system.

Ms. MacKinnon said the purpose of the mental health court is not to avoid criminal convictions for clients but to provide the supports they need to avoid coming into conflict with the law repeatedly. In that way, the public is protected, she said.

The Crown does anticipate some glitches as the new court gets underway.

For instance, Ms. MacKinnon said, few resources are available to help people who have experienced brain injuries.

"This segment of the population is going to be somewhat challenging," she said.

The court’s second session will be next Thursday.

Also see:

Youth Mental Health and the Criminal Justice System

London's Mental Health Court

Mental-health program for Digby schools gains national attention

An article published in today's edition of The Chronicle Herald:

By Brian Medel, Yarmouth Bureau

Digby County proponents of an adolescent mental-health curriculum being included in area high schools have received national attention.

The Mental Health Commission of Canada has asked if they can use a local program in a new national anti-stigma campaign.

"We’re very excited about being part of this campaign," John Roswell, the co-ordinator of the Digby Clare Mental Health Volunteers, said Tuesday.

"Our mandate is to promote the mental health of Digby County residents and we are trying to overcome the prejudice and discrimination faced by people with mental illness in our community.

"We have been focusing on adolescent mental health in particular and this is one of the areas the commission is concentrating on."

Mr. Roswell said his group has been working for several months to introduce information about mental health and illness into the curriculum of Digby County high schools. It now looks like the program will begin during the 2010-2011 school year.

"The (Canadian) Mental Health Commission will be helping us measure the effectiveness of our program," said Mr. Roswell.

The Digby County group has also joined forces with the Sun Life Financial Chair of Adolescent Mental Health at Dalhousie University and the IWK Health Centre to help with their project.

Dr. Stan Kutcher, an adolescent mental health expert at Dalhousie University’s school of medicine, spoke to Digby County teachers Tuesday, providing information on mental health and disease.

Mr. Roswell said 80 per cent of all psychiatric disorders emerge in adolescence and it would be good for people to have some understanding of them.

"Mental illnesses affect more people, directly or indirectly, than any physical illness," he said, adding that 83 per cent of Digby County high school students surveyed by his association recently said they knew someone with a mental illness.

And yet mental illness is something people don’t like to talk about, said Mr. Roswell.

"We’re trying to overcome that by creating a dialogue in our community. We’re trying to help people see that it’s OK to admit that you might have a mental illness."

Flu program delays deal for psychiatrists — minister

An article published in today's edition of The Chronicle Herald:

By David Jackson, Provincial Reporter

Health Minister Maureen MacDonald [pictured] said Tuesday her department’s focus on swine flu has delayed a new deal for metro-area psychiatrists.

Half a dozen doctors were at Province House to draw attention to the department missing an Oct. 31 deadline for an agreement.

Dr. Nick Delva, the Capital district health authority’s chief of psychiatry and the head of Dalhousie medical school’s psychiatry department, said he thinks a deal could get done in a week to 10 days.

But with the biggest immunization program in provincial history underway, that’s not a time frame Ms. MacDonald is looking at.

"I think it’s pretty clear what I’m looking at in the next 10 days, and it’s not sitting down and doing collective bargaining, sadly," said Ms. MacDonald, who has been under opposition fire for the government’s handling of the H1N1 vaccine rollout.

"We will get to this issue as soon as we can, but we are dealing with a public health emergency in the province, and that’s where our focus has to be for the time being."

The psychiatrists had a memorandum of understanding with the previous government and Doctors Nova Scotia to get an agreement, called an academic funding plan, done by the end of October. The last one expired more than three years ago.

Dr. Delva said the new arrangement would add about $3 million in annual costs to about a $20-million budget. That covered 70 full-time-equivalent positions at 1,840 hours each per year, but Dr. Delva said psychiatrists have done a lot of work for free.

"We were providing far, far more hours (of) clinical work and far more hours (of) academic work than this," he said. "We did it for free for a number of years, and it was an unsustainable situation."

Aileen Brunet, a forensic psychiatrist and president of the Nova Scotia Psychiatric Association, said doctors won’t support the province’s new mental health court until an agreement is done.

The court starts sitting Thursday, with four cases scheduled. The Justice Department plans to pay for a private psychiatrist, if necessary, before an agreement is finalized. Dr. Brunet said psychiatrists would never withdraw services they are already providing, but they won’t be offering new ones until the deal is in place.

Premier Darrell Dexter said in question period that he expects a new deal to be done soon.

Liberal Leader Stephen McNeil said the Dexter government doesn’t seem to have a plan for mental health services.

"Clearly, what happened here today is the premier said one thing on the floor of the House, and the minister said something quite different outside. They’re not on the same page. Who’s telling the truth?"

Also see:

Psychiatrists threaten to skip mental health court

Nova Scotia's Mental Health Court Program

From the Nova Scotia Department of Justice website:

A specialized Mental Health Court, the first of its kind in Nova Scotia, will hold its first seating on November 5, 2009. The new court will hear cases which have been recommended by a mental health court team as being eligible for the program, and a team of mental health clinicians and lawyers will be at the courthouse to assess potential clients and assist with their needs through counselling and other support. The goal of this new court is to treat Nova Scotians with mental disorders, who commit criminal offences, fairly and compassionately, and to help them improve their mental health to reduce the risk to public safety.

For more information, please see:

Mental Health Court: Overview (PDF)

Mental Health Court: Mission (PDF)

Mental Health Court: FAQ (PDF)

Lunenburg County Chapter of the SSNS

Tuesday, November 17th, 7:00 pm!

The Lunenburg County Chapter of the Schizophrenia Society of Nova Scotia meets the third Tuesday of each month beginning at 7:00 pm, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 25 Phoenix Street, Bridgewater, Nova Scotia. For a map, click here.


The Lunenburg County Chapter will be holding its Annual General Meeting beginning at 7:00 pm on Tuesday, November 17th, 2009, at the usual meeting location. For more information, please call (902) 527-1893 or (902) 527-1692.

Cumberland County Chapter of the SSNS

Tuesday, November 17th, 7:00 pm!

Cumberland County Chapter meetings are held the third Tuesday of each month, beginning at 7:00 pm, in the Conference Room, All Saints Springhill Hospital, 10 Princess Street, Springhill, Nova Scotia. Meetings are not held during the months of July and August.

Healthy Minds Cooperative - Job Posting

Application Deadline: November 18th!

Please click on the image to magnify it.

Also see:

Healthy Minds Initiative

Healthy Minds Cooperative

Putting a Price on Mental Illness

An article published in today's edition of The Globe and Mail:

Mental illness costs the Canadian economy a staggering $51-billion annually. That number includes:

• $5-billion in direct medical costs

• $9.3-billion in lost productivity due to short-term sick leave

• $8.5-billion in lost productivity due to long-term disability

• $28-billion is attributed to "reductions in health-related quality of life" - a method used to put a dollar figure on pain and suffering.

The World Health Organization estimates that by 2020, depression will be the leading cause of disability on the planet. Employers see the impact of mental illness every day:

• 500,000 Canadians daily are absent from work because of psychiatric and psychological problems.

• 40 per cent of all disability claims, short-term and long-term, involve mental-health conditions.

• 18 per cent of workers in Canada have had a diagnosis of clinical depression.

• 8 per cent of workers currently on the job are taking drugs for a mental-health condition.

• 6 per cent of all workers are under the care of a physician for treatment of a psychiatric or psychological condition.

Sources: Centre for Addiction and Mental Health; Great-West Life Centre for Mental Health in the Workplace; World Health Organization

Also see:

When the office gives back

Breaking Through

Fatality Inquiry Into the Death of Howard Hyde -- Live Web-Cast and Video Archive

Resumes December 1st, 2009

The Schizophrenia Society of Nova Scotia (SSNS) has standing at this inquiry and is represented by a total of five (5) lawyers, all of whom are working on a pro bono basis. The SSNS thanks Blair Mitchell (lead counsel), Angela Byrne, Michele Cleary, Marion Ferguson, and Sharmi Jaggi.

Howard Hyde

Adapted from the Nova Scotia Department of Justice's Howard Hyde website (the proceedings commence at 9:30 am on each day listed below):

Pursuant to the Fatality Investigations Act, S.N.S. 2001 C. 31

Presiding:
The Honourable Judge Anne Derrick of the Nova Scotia Provincial Court

Inquiry Counsel:
Dan MacRury Q.C., Chief Crown Attorney for the Cape Breton Region

Schedule:
October 19-23, October 26-28, December 1-4, and December 7-11, 2009

Location:
The Law Courts, 1815 Upper Water Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia - Courtroom #504

Video and audio of the Inquiry will be streamed live on the scheduled hearing dates (above).

To view proceedings live, please click below:

LIVE WEB-CAST OF HYDE INQUIRY

To view archived recordings of completed proceedings, please click below:

HYDE INQUIRY ARCHIVE

Also see:

Howard Hyde Inquiry

Monday, October 19th

Lawyer: System breakdown in Hyde case

Officers did not have jurisdiction to follow doctor's orders: senior Halifax cop

Hyde fatality inquiry resumes

Tuesday, October 20th

Video of mentally ill man’s last moments shown at inquiry

Wednesday, October 21st

Nurse says she didn't consider doc's note on N.S. mentally ill man an order

Thursday, October 22nd

Inquiry into death of Howard Hyde examining jailhouse security video

Friday, October 23rd

Video shows guards trying to restrain Hyde as he struggles, becomes lifeless

Monday, October 26th

Corrections officer didn’t know Hyde was schizophrenic

Tuesday, October 27th

Hyde was 'mildly agitated'

No psychiatrist to help officer, inquiry hears

Wednesday, October 28th

Guard tells N.S. fatality inquiry his memory is better now than two years ago

Tuesday, November 3rd

N.S. Liberals call for mental illness training for police, correctional officers

Thursday, November 5th

Dartmouth woman, common-law wife of Howard Hyde, missing

Friday, November 6th

Hyde’s ex-partner located

Lunenburg County Chapter - Halloween Party 2009

The Lunenburg County Chapter of the Schizophrenia Society of Nova Scotia held their Halloween Party 2009 on Tuesday, October 20th.

The Scary Witch won 1st prize for the most creative and scary costume.

Our gal Audrey a.k.a. Aubrey Zinck won 2nd prize for the funniest costume and the nicest legs.

Juanita won a prize for the best foreign costume.

Click on any photography to enlarge it.

All photographs by Jan House.

Nurse: MD’s note didn’t look official

An article published in today's edition of The Chronicle Herald:

No psychiatric exam had been set up for Hyde; man didn’t show acute symptoms, woman says

By Michael MacDonald, The Canadian Press

The nurse who admitted a man to a Nova Scotia jail where he later died knew about a doctor’s note requiring the inmate to receive a psychiatric exam, but the nurse told an inquiry Wednesday she didn’t consider it an official physician’s order.

Sandra McLeod was the nurse in charge at the Central Nova Scotia Correctional Facility [pictured] when Howard Hyde — under arrest for an alleged assault — was dropped off there by deputy sheriffs on Nov. 21, 2007.

Hyde, a 45-year-old musician with a long history of mental illness and run-ins with the law, died the next morning as he struggled with guards, yelling there were "demons" in the jail.

McLeod told the inquiry she knew Hyde had not refilled his prescription for an anti-psychotic drug for about four months, and that he had been Tasered by police after his arrest and later sent to a hospital for treatment.

As well, McLeod confirmed she had read a handwritten note on Hyde’s health information transfer form, written by Dr. Janet MacIntyre, that said he had to be returned to hospital if he did not receive a court-ordered psychiatric assessment.

McLeod testified that when she read the note from the emergency room doctor, she called the Mentally Ill Offender Unit to determine if they were expecting Hyde for a court-ordered psychiatric assessment. But she was told nothing had been scheduled.

The form also said Hyde required ongoing treatment for schizophrenia and psychosis. As well, it said he had demonstrated aggression towards others and the potential to hurt himself.

The nurse said she saw no reason to send Hyde back to the hospital because he wasn’t displaying any acute symptoms.

"He wasn’t disoriented, he wasn’t agitated, he wasn’t hallucinating and he was following direction," she testified during her second day in the witness box.

McLeod said MacIntyre’s note did not constitute a physician’s order because it was written on a form she was unfamiliar with and lacked instructions on a specific time and place for an appointment.

"This isn’t the same kind of form that we follow through on," she said.

Still, McLeod said she asked one of the jail’s support clerks, Maureen Walford, to contact the hospital to make sure Hyde had been medically cleared.

Walford, who also testified Wednesday, confirmed Hyde had been cleared and said she also asked the hospital about MacIntyre’s note.

Recalling the conversation, Walford told the inquiry: "(A hospital administrator) just said, "No, he doesn’t have to come back. I have nothing here.’ "

McLeod said she would have contacted an on-call doctor had Hyde started displaying psychotic behaviour.

She also testified that she was not made aware that Hyde had been given an anti-psychotic drug when he was at the hospital.

However, Hyde did not have any prescriptions with him when he arrived at the jail, which McLeod did not find unusual.

Hyde was placed in a health-care cell, which meant guards would check on him every 15 minutes, but McLeod confirmed the guards were not told to watch for anything unusual.

Most of the guards who have testified at the inquiry have said they had little or no training on how to deal with the mentally ill.

The inquiry, which began in July under the direction of provincial court Judge Anne Derrick, is trying to determine why Hyde didn’t get the psychiatric help he needed, and what can be done to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

Earlier in the inquiry, MacIntyre testified that she would not have discharged Hyde if she had known he would be sent to a jail cell rather than a psychiatric hospital. She said police had assured her Hyde would receive a court-ordered assessment.

The inquiry has also heard that the Halifax police officers working on Hyde’s case knew they did not have the authority to follow the doctor’s instructions once he entered the court system.

The deputy sheriffs escorting Hyde to court did not hand the health form to lawyers handling the case because legislation at the time forbade them from sharing such information with anyone but health-care providers, such as McLeod.

Bold plus italic emphasis is mine.

Writing Together

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Your Recovery Journey - Halifax

Ongoing until November 17th!

Sessions Start
Tuesday, October 20th, 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm
The Hub, 2nd Floor
1673 Barrington Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia

Mental illness and recovery—is it possible? Many wonder if it is indeed possible for a person living with mental illness to accomplish goals, reconnect with self and others, and recapture meaning and purpose in life.

Your Recovery Journey is based on the experiences of people who have a mental illness and who know there is hope, who are well and doing the things they want with their lives.

The program offers five free interactive weekly sessions, each ninety minutes long, and all facilitated by people in recovery who can give you valuable information that will help you on your recovery journey. You’ll also learn how to find peer support and build new life skills.

Session topics:

• What is recovery?
• Quality of life
• Self-management
• Medication as tool for recovery
• Moving forward: Personal action planning
  

Your Recovery Journey is free for people who experience mental illness. You do not need to be a member of the Schizophrenia Society of Nova Scotia to participate in the program. Come learn more about recovery and how you can live beyond mental illness!

To register, please call Laura Burke at 465-2601, 1-800-465-2601 (toll-free in Nova Scotia), or email ssns@ns.sympatico.ca.

LEAP Training - Riverhead, New York

Saturday, November 21st!

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For further information and to register, please visit www.LEAPInstitute.org.

Also see:

I am not sick, I don't need help!

Holly House - Accepting applications for affordable, supportive housing

Adapted from the October 15th edition of the Community Action on Homelessness Newsletter:

The Elizabeth Fry Society of Mainland Nova Scotia owns a residence [pictured] at 1 Tulip Street in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. The residence will house our Society’s offices and will offer single occupancy rooms with shared kitchen, common room and bathrooms for rent to seven women. The house will provide safe, affordable housing for women for up to two years. This is not a half-way house. All women in the community are eligible to submit an application. Tenants will have access to:

• Elizabeth Fry’s professional staff
• Communal living space
• Support to develop a Personal Transition Plan
• Individual counselling
• Education and employment exploration
• Housing search support and advocacy
• Community resources referrals
• Personal development programming
  

Rent will be geared to income and tenancy is subject to a lease and the policies and procedures of the residence, which include a zero tolerance policy for drug or alcohol use, and a commitment by tenants to support the spirit of communal living.

If you are interested in applying to rent a living space, please obtain an application form by calling 454-5041 or 1-877-619-1354 (toll-free), and forward it to:

Elizabeth Fry Society of Mainland Nova Scotia
Attention: Tenant Application
2352 Gottingen Street
Halifax, Nova Scotia
B3K 3B9

Fax: 902-455-5913
email: mjmilley@efrynovascotia.com
Website: www.efrynovascotia.com

oneinfive.ca - Speaking up about Nova Scotia Mental Health Issues

From www.oneinfive.ca:



To view more of the videos, please click here.

Strengthening Families Together: Halifax

Ongoing until December 8th!

FREE!

Do you have a relative or friend with a serious mental illness?

Would you like to learn more about his or her illness?

Delivered by family members who have direct experience with the psychiatric illness of a loved one, and enhanced by invited speakers with topical expertise, Strengthening Families Together is a Canadian-based educational program for families and friends which provides information, skill-building, and support. The program is FREE and open to all family members and friends of those living with a serious mental illness.

You will learn about:

• Early intervention and recovery
• Treatments and supports
• Coping with challenges of daily living
• Navigating the mental health system
• The importance of taking care of yourself, too

In partnership with Bayers Road Community Mental Health, the HRM Chapter of the SSNS will deliver Strengthening Families Together in Halifax beginning at 7:00 pm on Tuesday, October 6th, at Bayers Road Community Mental Health, Bayers Road Centre, Suite 109, 7071 Bayers Road, Halifax, and continuing for nine consecutive weeks at the same time and location. (If you missed the October 6th session, there is still time to register!)

For an outline of the Strengthening Families Together program, please click here. Please note that Sessions 4 and 5 are being combined into one session and one additional session dedicated completely to mood disorders is being added.

Registration

To register for this 10-week session of Strengthening Families Together, contact Donna Methot at (902) 462-8658 or send an email to hrmchapterssns@accesswave.ca.

Quotes from participants of 2008 Strengthening Families Together sessions:

“I would like to say thank you so very much for taking the time and effort to have this program on Thursday nights. It has been a wonderful experience and I am sad to see it end.”

“This has been a blessing to me. I am very satisfied with my experience with the group, and my understanding of the health care options and support available to us has greatly increased. I would highly recommend Strengthening Families Together to any who will listen! Thanks.”

“Some solid strategies and ideas on how to help our son.”

“I feel this program is a wonderful launching pad; it equips us to participate in community events and gives us connections to others who are equally passionate about understanding mental illness. It’s a valuable resource.”



Delivery of Strengthening Families Together is supported by grants from the Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia and AstraZeneca Canada Inc.