peer support for those affected by depression & bipolar disorder

                

May 2013

Tues, May 14th

doors open at 7:00 pm - meeting begins promptly at 7:30

topic        creating opportunities for people with mental health &                                  addictions challenges to gain & maintain meaningful    
               employment.

speaker    Terri Skov, Employment Specialist - STRIDE Oakville

previous meetings

April 2013

Tues, Apr 9th

topic        conquer your worries - cognitive behavior therapy tools

speaker    Dr Susan Williams - Psychologist & Director

                Halton Centre for Cognitive Therapy

March 2013

topic        Mississauga Halton LHIN Integration Advisory Committee

               Work Update: Integration Vision & Priorities

speaker   Ed Castro, Mental Health & Addictions Lead 

               Mississauga Halton LHIN (Local Health Integration Network)

February 2013

topic        halton healthcare mental health services

               current program details, what they are designed to achieve, their success                  rates & how they are accessed

speaker   Monica Bettazzoni Ph.D., OT Reg (Ont)

               Program Director, Mental Health
               Halton Healthcare Services

January 2013

topic  cognitive behavior therapy tools

         to avoid taking things personally and to reduce worrying

speaker  Dr Susan Williams - Psychologist & Director
              Halton Centre for Cognitive Therapy

December 2012

topic       happiness matters

speaker   Louisa Nedkov, Manager Kailo Staff Wellness Program

              Halton Healthcare Services

November 2012

topic        peer mentoring & recovery - a young man's experiences 

speaker   Rob

October 2012

topic        mood disorders & ADHD 

speaker  Christine Szymezko - SSW, RSSW - N. Halton Mental Health Clinic

September 2012

topic        staying well after depression

speaker   Dr Karl O'Sullivan

              Psychiatrist, Difficult to Serve Mood Disorder Clinic
              Halton Healthcare Services

July & August 2012     no meeting

June 2012

topic      mental disorders & the criminal law

May 2012

topic       adolescent angst vs an adolescent mood disorder

speaker  Dr Alan Brown, M.D., FRPCP, A.B.A.P

             Halton Healthcare Services

             Chief, Department of Psychiatry

             Medical Director, Child & Adolescent Psychiatric Inpatient Services

April 2012

topic       negative thinking

speaker  Jennifer Opper Reg.N.,M.Ed. Case Manager,

             Halton Healthcare Services - Mental Health Day Program

March 2012

topic   living with bipolar disorder & depression - one family's story

speakers - John & Susan, both equilibrium core members, have three adult children diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Their story is a compelling one; from how they cope to how they navigate the mental health system.

February 2012

topic       IPSRT -  interpersonal & social rhythm therapy

speaker   Trish - equilibrium-oakville core member

January 2012

topic        suicide & mental illness

speaker   Derek Golba - member Halton Suicide Prevention Coalition

December 2011

topic   acute phase vs non-acute phase depression

          an open discussion with Dr. O’Sullivan on how to manage each phase

speaker

Dr Karl O'Sullivan

Psychiatrist, Difficult to Serve Mood Disorder Clinic
Halton Healthcare Services

November  2011

topic     from one peer to another

speaker Allison - equilibrium-oakville member



• the CAMH Experience - AIM Program (28 Day on-site program)
• the CAMH Experience - Day Programs, including Concurrent Program & W.R.A.P.
• My Experience - Mental Illness Awareness (MIA) - 12 Steps to Wellness

October  2011

topic      a look at the lighter side of mental illness -

             from living with medication to surviving the health system

speaker  Allan Strong - Recovery Education Coordinator, Self Help Alliance &
             member, Stand UP for Mental Health



September  2011

topic  tips on how to manage your depression

speaker

Dr Karl O'Sullivan

Psychiatrist, Difficult to Serve Mood Disorder Clinic
Halton Healthcare Services

 July & August 2011     no meeting

June  2011

open forum panel disucssion

an opportunity for attendees to ask questions of core members with lived experience with depression, bipolar disorder and as family members

May  2011

topic    ADAPT - family day workshop explained

speaker

Chondrena Viera-Martin, M.A., R.S.W., Concurrent Disorder Team Leader - ADAPT

April  2011

topic    anger management

speaker 

Alice Wiafe, M.A.,Psy.D.Candidate, OACCPP
Anger Resource Management Inc. (ARMI)

March  2011

topic   anxiety

guest speaker

Tiffany Daly, BScN, R.N., Peer Support Worker – T.E.A.C.H. - Oakville

Februrary  2011

topic  halton healthcare mental health services

speaker

Vivian Demain - MSW, RSW, MBA

Program Director for the Mental Health Program at Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital, Halton Healthcare Services

details of current programs, what they are designed to achieve, their success rates & how they are accessed

January  2011

topic   meditation as a healing tool

guest speaker

Maxine Speck - Certified Primordial Sound Meditation Instructor - Chopra Center

a story of recovery and how meditation can be simple, easy and effortless to integrate into everyday life

December 2010

topic   healing through creative expression

guest speaker Amy McKenzie

from Bad Dog Theatre teaches children & adults improv workshops in Oakville. She will lead us through a number of exercises that demonstrate how improv works to improve confidence & self-esteem.

November  2010

topic        OTMH mental health day program - a begining to recovery

speaker   Angela Everest, BA, BHSC (OT) Reg. (Ont)

              Case Manager, Halton Healthcare Services - Mental Health Day Program

an overview of the Adult Mental Health Day Program and how to gain acces to it 

October 2010

topic   peer support in mental health recovery

guest speaker

Debbie Jones - CSI Lead for T.E.A.C.H.

how peer support plays an important role in mental health recovery

September 2010

topic   major depression - the support partner & family life

guest speaker

Dr Karl O'Sullivan

Psychiatrist, Difficult to Serve Mood Disorder Clinic
Halton Healthcare Services 

July & August 2010     no meeting

June 2010

topic  battle the stigma of mental illness with facts - not fear

guest speakers
Trish Purshouse - CMHA-HRB Safe Beds Program - Team Leader

Mark Sadler - Safe Beds Program - Peer Support Worker

CMHA-HRB - Canadian Mental Health Assoc. - Halton Region Branch

mental health consumers report stigma - how others judge them -  as one of their greatest barriers to a complete and satisfying life

May 2010

topic  crisis outreach & support in halton region

guest speaker

Jason Barr R.N. CPMHN(c)  Manager, COAST Program, CMHA-HRB

COAST - Crisis Outreach and Support Team

how mental health professionals and specially trained, plain-clothed police

officers assess and assist individuals in crisis to remain safely in their own environment and connect with ongoing care.

April 2010

topic   working through it 

a video presentation designed to speak directly to people struggling with mental health issues. Real people share their experiences of working through times of mental health pressures at work, off work and returning to work

March 2010

topic   hope & recovery

guest speaker  
Mandi J. Luis, CPS, CCP - Mj Concepts Consulting
will share her personal experience with depression in the workplace and
subsequent recovery – she will discuss strategies that helped her create and live with a vision of wellness

February 2010

topic   improving your self-esteem 

guest speaker

Tiffany Daly, BScN, R.N., Peer Support Worker – T.E.A.C.H. - Oakville 
how self-esteem affects daily life and provide a strategy to improve your self-esteem

T.E.A.C.H. is a Halton self-help organization providing information, education, 
peer support, resources and advocacy for mental health consumers

January 2010

topic   what Halton Healthcare Mental Health Services offers?

a presentation by Vivian Demain - MSW, RSW, MBA

Program Leader for the Mental Health Program at Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital, Halton Healthcare Services

December 2009

topic   healing through creative expression

Amy McKenzie of Bad Dog Theatre explains how participation in her theatre group improves confidence and self esteem.

You may join in the exercises or just watch. It will be a fun experience and a welcome break in routine as the hectic holiday season approaches.

November 2009

topic   coping with holiday stress

a video presentation by Dr Irv Wolkoff - a psychiatrist in full-time private practice in Toronto, as well as Consultant Psychiatrist to Bayview Community Services

October 2009

topic   managing the chaos of bipolar disorder
using IPSRT - interpersonal & social rhythm therapy as an effective treatment for bipolar disorder, in addition to meds & talk therapy

one of Equilibrium's core members will discuss her bipolar experience and how she uses interpersonal & social rhythm therapy as a successful tool to improve her depression and prevent relapse

September 2009
topic   the psychiatrist's challenge . . . how to recognize bipolar disorder
guest speaker
Dr. Karl O’Sullivan
Psychiatrist, Difficult to Serve Mood Disorder Clinic
Halton Healthcare Services 

the presentation will look at the psychiatrist's approach to assessing an
individual who may have bipolar disorder
· psychiatric symptoms
· personality make up 
· physical health & well-being 
· presence or absence of psychological or social stressors in their life