Project History
For a number of years, CPRF's Education Committee
had offered school programs for parents,
teachers and students wanting to learn more about
mental health issues and about related behaviours
they did not understand. It was through this work
that the committee learned of the need for concrete
reference guides on mental disorders that contained
strategies for coping, as well as additional resources
for teachers, parents and others working with
young people.
To answer this need, the committee
recruited a group of parents, educators,
social workers, school psychologists, in-take
coordinators, school administrators and psychiatrists
for a project called When Something's Wrong.
Phase I - When Something's Wrong: Strategies for Teachers
The handbook, When Something's Wrong:
Strategies for Teachers was made possible by many
corporate, academic and community partners. It
was launched in May 2001 at CPRF's first Open
Mind conference, attended by over 300 people,
and featured speakers who are experts in the
issues outlined in the handbook (e.g, anxiety
disorders, depression, eating disorders and schizophrenia).
As Phase I of the project continued
to evolve, the number of communities and sectors
to partner with CPRF for the benefit of young
people grew, and continues to grow.
A second Open Mind conference
was held in May 2002. Once again, educators, parents,
social workers, youth workers and public health
professionals had the opportunity to hear Canada's
top specialists discuss recent advances in the
treatment of mental disorders. A four-city
tour was a huge success in spreading further information
on youth and mental illness. It began in Vancouver
in April of 2003, and culminated with the Open
Mind conference in Toronto in May 2003.
Visit our Events section to learn about upcoming workshops.
Phase II - When Something's Wrong: Ideas for Families
The success of Phase I provided
the impetus for not only a nation-wide tour, but
the start to a second handbook called, When Something's Wrong: Ideas for Families.
Open Mind education
and training sessions around the content in this
comprehensive handbook continue. The handbook contains new
sections on managing problem behaviour in children,
bipolar disorder, borderline personality disorder,
suicide, working with your health practitioner
and many more resources. As well, the handbook contains coping strategies
for parents and caregivers to help them manage
with their own children who have mental health
issues, but the handbook is also useful for teachers
and counsellors who work with these families.
CPRF works with many sectors
in Canada, including education, social services
and health, to bring scientifically sound information
to those working with our youth. CPRF's projects
help to send the key message that early identification
and intervention of mental health issues can greatly
improve outcomes for the one in five Canadians
affected.
Open Mind 2006-2007 visited Toronto, Peel Region, York Region, Calgary and Quebec City.
Visit our Events section to learn about upcoming workshops.
Phase III - When Something's Wrong: Strategies for the Workplace
The third handbook in the series, When Something's Wrong: Strategies for the Workplace was launched in 2007. This handbook is for employers,managers, supervisors and human resource personnel. It is also a useful tool for occupational health and safety personnel, disability management providers, union representatives and employees.
Our goal with this handbook is to provide practical information and outline ways for employers to address mental health problems in their workplace. Readers will find information, strategies and resources designed to deal with a range of issues from early identification to managing return to work and creating healthy workplace environments.
As with the other two handbooks, CPRF can design a workshop tailored to the needs of employers, organization or association.
Interactive workshops delivered by mental health experts can cover the following topics and more:
Making Your Business Case
Manager / supervisor training: Recognizing and Addressing Mental Health Problems in the Workplace
Incorporating Mental Health in your Disability Management and Return to Work Policies and Practices Creating Mentally Healthy Workplaces
Employee education on mental health and wellness issues
Visit our Events
section to learn about upcoming workshops. |
