The Schizophrenia Society of Nova Scotia's 26th Annual Conference - The Brain: Mental Health & Psychiatric Disorders

Held on November 7th, 2014

Keynote Speaker

"Brain Stimulation in Resistant Depression"

Dr. Z. Jeff Daskalakis

Professor of Psychiatry

Department of Psychiatry

University of Toronto

and

Director
Temerty Centre for Therapeutic Brain Intervention

Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

Toronto, Ontario

To download Dr. Daskalakis' biosketch (PDF), please click here.

Invited Speakers

"Early Intervention for Psychotic Disorders - Recent Findings"

Dr. Sabina Abidi

Interim Associate Chief

Division of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry

Dalhousie University

and
Head
Youth Psychosis Program

IWK Health Centre

"What We've Learned about the Brain by Studying the Sense of Smell in Psychotic Disorders"

Dr. Kim Good

Departments of Psychiatry and Psychology

Dalhousie University
and
Co-Director
Nova Scotia Psychosis Research Unit

To download Dr. Good's biosketch (PDF), please click here.

"Mindfulness and Contemplation in Support of Recovery"

Dr. David Whitehorn

Department of Psychiatry

Dalhousie University
and
A Founding Director
Atlantic Contemplative Centre

"Early Experience, Stress and Long-Term Neurobehavioural Development: Unraveling the Thread of Nature via Nurture"

Dr. Ian Weaver

Department of Psychology and Neuroscience

Dalhousie University

Morning Emcee

Ms. Starr Dobson

President & Chief Executive Officer

Mental Health Foundation of Nova Scotia

Conference Sponsors

_____________________________________________

The conference logo is an original graphic design donated by Terri Vernon, faculty member, Nova Scotia Community College, Annapolis Valley Campus, Middleton.

"The theme of this year's conference logo is clouds. When desiging the logo, I was reflecting on the way that different people see different images in clouds and how this is a matter of individual perspective. I made the brain appear "cloud-like" to convey the idea that there are many perspectives on brain science and mental health, and that these are constantly changing." ~ Terri Vernon

Healthy Minds Cooperative Newsletter - November 2014

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To download the entire newsletter (PDF), please click here.

Also see:

Healthy Minds Cooperative

Healthy Minds Cooperative Newsletter - October 2014

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To download the entire newsletter (PDF), please click here.

Also see:

Healthy Minds Cooperative

Healthy Minds Cooperative Newsletter - September 2014

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To download the entire newsletter (PDF), please click here.

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Healthy Minds Cooperative

LakeCity Employment Services Association -- Invitation to Comment

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The above letter can be downloaded in Microsoft Word format by clicking here. A PDF version of the above letter can be downloaded by clicking here.

Also see:

LakeCity Employment Services Association

Families Matter in Mental Health: An Education and Support Program -- Nova Scotia

Research has shown that family members experience less stress and feel more encouraged about caring for their relative and themselves when they understand about mental illness and how to cope with difficult situations.

The aim of this program is to provide family members of people living with mental illness the information, knowledge, common skills and confidence to deal more effectively with their role and to improve the quality of life for both the family member and person with the mental illness.

Families Matter in Mental Health is adapted from a program developed by The Meriden Family Programme. Based out of the UK, The Meriden Family Programme is a training and organizational development program which has been promoting the development of family-sensitive, evidence-based mental health services since 1998, with a particular emphasis on the implementation of family work. It is a National Health Services (NHS) program with extensive experience of working with organizations to ensure families remain at the heart of quality mental health service delivery.

To download the Families Matter in Mental Health provincial brochure (PDF), please click here.

To register to participate in an 11-week session of Families Matter in Mental Health in Nova Scotia, or to learn more about this family education and support program, please connect with your local Mental Health and Addictions Services, contact information for which is available by clicking here (for people living within the boundaries of the Capital Health district [including the IWK Health Centre], please contact the Healthy Minds Cooperative by calling (902) 404-3504, or by sending an email to hmnavigator@eastlink.ca).

Also see:

Supporting Families in Recovery - Capital Health Addictions and Mental Health Program

Road to Recovery: Employment and Mental Illness

To download the entire report, please click here.

Also see:

National Alliance on Mental Illness

Healthy Minds Cooperative Newsletter - June 2014

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Healthy Minds Cooperative

2014 Road to Recovery Walk

The Schizophrenia Society of Nova Scotia’s

Held on Saturday, May 3rd, 2014

Road to Recovery walks were held on Saturday, May 3rd, 2014, in Baddeck, Bridgewater, Halifax, Inverness, Pictou County, Port Hawkesbury, Sydney, Windsor, and Wolfville.

NO MORE

Mental Illness = Shame, Misconceptions, Stereotyping, Prejudicial Attitudes, and Discrimination

People took ACTION!

Donations are accepted up until May 30th, 2014.  To donate,  please visit:

www.RoadtoRecoveryWalk.com

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To download a PDF version of the 2014 Road to Recovery Walk poster, please click here.

Also see:

Gateway to Curing Mental Illness

Sponsors

Supporters

Healthy Minds Cooperative Newsletter - May 2014

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Healthy Minds Cooperative

MHCC Webinar on Formalized Peer Support: The Road to Recovery

Also see:

Peer Support Accreditation and Certification (Canada)

Mental Health Commission of Canada

Nova Scotia Certified Peer Specialist Program

Webcast Recording - The Nova Scotia Certified Peer Support Specialist Program by Roy Muise

Healthy Minds Cooperative Newsletter - April 2014

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Healthy Minds Cooperative

Webcast Recording - The Nova Scotia Certified Peer Support Specialist Program by Roy Muise

Recording of the Webcast

The Nova Scotia Certified Peer Support Specialist Program

by

Mr. Roy Muise

Project Coordinator & Peer Mentor

Nova Scotia Certified Peer Support Specialist Program

Healthy Minds Cooperative

Presentation made during the March 11th, 2014, meeting of the HRM Chapter of the Schizophrenia Society of Nova Scotia

To view the webcast recording, please click here.

Mr. Muise discussed the new and only province-wide Certified Peer Support Specialist Program in Canada. He defined what is meant by peer support and explained the program’s mandate. He also provided an overview of the current status of the program, and the plans for the future.

Healthy Minds Cooperative Newsletter - March 2014

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Also see:

Healthy Minds Cooperative

Examining Schizophrenia (Video)

A video from PsyWeb.com:




Also see:

Elyn R. Saks

Webcast Recording - Review of the Involuntary Psychiatric Treatment Act by Stephen Ayer

Recording of the Webcast

Review of the Involuntary Psychiatric Treatment Act

by

Dr. Stephen Ayer

Executive Director

Schizophrenia Society of Nova Scotia

Presentation made during the February 10th, 2014, meeting of the HRM Chapter of the Schizophrenia Society of Nova Scotia

To view the webcast recording, please click here.

Royal Assent was given to Nova Scotia’s Involuntary Psychiatric Treatment Act on December 8, 2005. The Act came into effect on July 3, 2007. An independent review of the Act, conducted by the Honourable Justice Gérard La Forest and Professor William Lahey, was made public on December 12, 2013.

An overview of the Act and its application was provided, as was a review of some of the many important findings of the independent review. The availability of and access to a broad range of treatment and support options for people diagnosed with mental illnesses was also discussed.

National Guidelines for a Comprehensive Service System to Support Family Caregivers of Adults with Mental Health Problems and Illnesses

A report released on June 27, 2013, by the Mental Health Commission of Canada:

From this webpage:

A loved one’s mental health problem or illness often impacts family, friends and supporters. Caring for a person living with a mental illness often creates emotional, physical, financial and social burdens for caregivers. The Mental Health Commission of Canada has created guidelines for policy makers and service providers that seek to recognize and support family caregivers’ needs, including recommendations on services and supports caregivers find useful.

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To download the entire document (PDF), please click here.

Also see:

National Family Caregiving Support Guidelines