Events

National Conference
Exciting plans are under way for the Schizophrenia Society of Canada and Schizophrenia Society of Newfoundland & Labrador to co-host the national conference in scenic St. John’s, Newfoundland on July 26th, 27th, 28th of this year.  The theme for our conference is: “Social Inclusion: Well Beyond Recovery”

The conference venue is at the Delta Hotel located in the downton area.

Click here to download the registration form.

PLENARY SPEAKERS

Neasa Martin

Neasa has 27 years experience working as a mental health professional.  Building on consumer insights gained through a collaborative project approach, she has developed consumer-friendly programs, plain language web and print materials, which blend expert research knowledge to meet health care, consumer, and family needs.

 

Working at the National level she has actively assisted not-for-profit, governmental, associations, and for-profit organizations in undertaking research and resource development, program evaluation, policy development and ongoing organizational strategic advice.  She has established strong linkages across stakeholder groups serving as a ‘boundary walker’ between professional, consumer, family, and government stakeholders to improve service design and delivery.

 

Based on her own family and personal experience with mental ill-health she has maintained a life-long interest in improving the delivery of mental health services and emphasizing the importance of family and consumer-driven health promotion efforts that increase personal responsibility and empower people to make informed health choices.  Throughout her life, she has seen the harm inflicted by the stigma attached to mental ill-health and addictions and the value of timely intervention and effective treatment. 

 

Neasa hold an honours degree in Rehabilitation Medicine – Occupational Therapy from the University of Toronto. 

 

Dr. Pam Forsythe

 

Dr Forsythe is the Deputy Head of the Dept of Psychiatry, Saint John Zone, Horizon Health and the Director of Student Affairs for Dalhousie Medicine New Brunswick. Although a generalist psychiatrist, Dr Forsythe’s career has focused on working with people with major mental illnesses such as schizophrenia both in her clinical and research activities. She has been involved in planning community based service delivery systems in PEI and NB. Dr Forsythe is an active volunteer with SSC and CMHA and is presently serving as the Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health Chair of Mental Illness Awareness Week 2010. She recently received an award from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada as the Specialist of the Year for New Brunswick 

Dr David G. Attwood MD, FRCPC

Born and raised in Newfoundland, Dr David Attwood completed marine biology
studies and a brief stint with Environment Canada before entering medical
school at Memorial University of Newfoundland. After considering a surgical
career, deeply rooted neuroses drew him to his residency in Psychiatry at the
University of Ottawa, completed in 1999.  

Initially, a position as Assistant Professor and Head of Psychiatric Emergency
at the Ottawa General Hospital worked well for a year, but the call of the
ocean sent him west to Royal Columbian Hospital in New Westminster, British
Columbia.  B.C. offered many opportunities, and in 9 years there, Dr Attwood
was variably the Head of Psychiatric Emergency at RCH, Medical Director at
Riverview Hospital, and Clinical Director for the Early Psychosis Intervention
Program.  His interest in Adolescent Mental Health resulted in consultation to
the Adolescent Crisis Intervention Program, as well as three years at the
Adolescent Inpatient Unit at Surrey Memorial Hospital.  There was obviously
some overlap.

Lacking research skills beyond co-investigator, Dr Attwood has been highly
involved in medical administration, program development, and teaching.  He
completed the Physicians Executive Management Program at Simon Fraser
University in 2002.  Most recently, he returned home as the Clinical Chief for
Mental Health and Addictions for Eastern Health in Newfoundland, and is the
attending psychiatrist for their Assertive Community Treatment Team and
Assistant Clinical Professor at Memorial.  His primary interests include all
stages of schizophrenia management, as well as concurrent disorders, and other
severe and persisting disorders involving psychosis.  He has been promising his
wife and kids that a better work-life balance is just around the corner on a
daily basis.

WORKSHOPS:

The subjective experience of Cannabis use in early psychosis: A participatory action research approach. – Catherine Willinsky, Manager of National Programs, Schizophrenia Society of Canada, and a youth participant¦lt;br />  
Cannabis use is highly prevalent in early psychosis with the potential negative impact on the course of psychotic illness well documented. Current research has shown that mainstream approaches for preventing adolescent drug use may not address the key issues for groups at highest risk, but may only reach the majority who are not likely to experience substantial harms from drug use. Youth engaged in early intervention treatment programs represent an at-risk group, and a population with a unique perspective and experience with cannabis use.
To date, there has been no published qualitative research conducted with youth as co-investigators examining their subjective experiences and those of other youth in their peer group, especially around decision making about their cannabis use.
This workshop presents SSC’s multi-site pan-Canadian qualitative research project exploring the experiences of youth in early intervention services and their relationship with cannabis.
The project builds on the strength of arts-based methods of communicating information and raising awareness of risk. As part of the capacity building and training aspects of the project, 22 participating youth took part in a process of “digital storytelling” to examine their own experiences of psychosis. The stories (3-5 minute short films) will form the first part of the communication strategy elaborated through the project to reach other at-risk youth. The results of the research will yield further insights to inform the project’s ongoing efforts to raise awareness and provide youth-generated information. Both the research process and the storytelling process will be highlighted in the workshop.

 

“The DJ’s Choices: an interactive program to help clinicians discuss adherence with patients living with psychosis.”  Bourbeau J, Demers and Odette Beaudoin of Montreal, QC

“The DJ of the healthcare team, the person suffering from psychosis, the one with all the choices to make about the recovery process—learning about it, talking about it, seeking to understand it, engaging in it, taking a stand, composing a new approach and crafting a lively and moving new musical piece.”  We have developed an original program that integrates psycho educational notions, cognitive behavioural techniques and motivational approach to facilitate discussions around medication perceptions, beliefs and challenges over long term adherence after a first psychotic episode.  This program, entitled The DJ’s choices, includes four workshops: Workshop 1: Make up your mix shares psycho-educational notions on relapse prevention and treatment efficacy; Workshop 2: Get your beat allows exchange on side effects and impression on medication; Workshop 3: Explore leads facilitates discussion on families’ perception and influence of environment on adherence and Workshop 4: Keep the tempo states an individual action plan on daily integration of adherence.

Marie-France Demers is a clinical pharmacist at Clinique Notre-Dame des Victoires and Clinical Pharmacy Department of the Institute. She is also an associated researcher at Centre de recherche Université Laval Robert-Giffard and professor of clinical pharmacy at the University Laval Faculty of Pharmacy in Québec City, Qc.

Odette Beaudoin, SCS board Member, president of SQS and mother of a son leaving with schizophrenia will present the speaker and comment DJ’s Choices as a tool to promote treatment adherence.

From Recovery to Discovery – The Healing Power of Creativity by Laura Burke, Peer Support Worker.  

Sharing her experience as a “consumer,” and her work with her Recovery to Discovery in Halifax, Laura will help participants look into the pursuit of curiosity and creative healing in psychotherapy and drama therapy as a tool for the recovery process.  Laura is a staff member of the Schizophrenia Society of Nova Scotia.

 

Mental Health and the Justice Aspects of Living with Mental Illness -Gregory Zed, Zone Manager- Addictions/Mental Health Sussex and Lead, Forensics Team Zone 

By examining the way society treat those living with mentally illness this presentation demonstrates the multi-disciplinary approach in mental health courts, public safety Board of Review and those living with the illness released from federal penitentiary.  By showing aspects of case management, treatment, DBT, and  the signature programs of SSC namely “Your Recovery Journey”  and “Strengthening Families Together,” the presenter will clearly demonstrate that this integrative approach is inclusive in that it is empowering, yet allows room for education to families and the general public.                                                                                                     

 

“Recovery from Self-Stigma” –Chris Summerville, CEO of the Schizophrenia Society of Canada and Board Member of the Mental Health Commission of Canada

Self-stigma presents a major barrier to the recovery process and social inclusion. One of the goals of the recovery-oriented mental health services is the significant impact it can play in combating self-stigma. In this presentation participants will have the opportunity to explore the issue of self-stigma from the perspective of people who experience mental illness, investigate the causes and effects of self-stigma and discuss means of combating self-stigma.

The Justice Project- Heidi Edgar, Justice Project Coordinator, Canadian Mental Health Association, St. John’s Newfoundland

The Justice project with the Canadian Mental Health Association provides in-reach mental health service and support to individuals at Her Majesty’s Penitentiary that have a diagnosed mental illness. Upon release from the institution, the project case managers provide intensive case management in the community for a period of one year. Heidi Edgar is the Coordinator of the Justice Project with CMHA-NL. Ms. Edgar has a Master of Social Work and comes with extensive experience in working with individuals living with Mental Illness, in conflict with the law and battling addiction issues. This position has allowed Ms. Edgar to work in her areas of passion.

Nicole Snow

 Nicole Snow is a faculty member at the Centre for Nursing Studies where she teaches mental health theory and clinical in the BN, PN, and Continuing Education Programs. She is a PhD (Nursing) Student at the University of Alberta where she is studying mental health ethics. She also holds the Canadian Nurses’ Association Certification in Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing.

Conference Schedule

 

Conference Theme: Social Inclusion: Well Beyond Recovery

St. John’s, Newfoundland at the Delta Hotel

July 26-28, 2010

 

July 25

  6:00 p.m.  –  9:00 p.m.   SSC Board Dinner Meeting    

July 26

  9:00 a.m. –   3:30 p.m.   SSC Board Meeting   

  3:00 p.m. –   5:00 p.m.   SSC Foundation Board Meeting

  3:00 p.m. –   6:00 p.m.   Registration Desk Open

  6:00pm.  –   7:00pm.      SSNL AGM Awards           

  7:00 p.m. –   9:00 p.m.   Welcome Reception for Conference Delegates hosted by SSNFL/SSC

  9:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.   Consumer Social with CEO Chris Summerville  

 

July 26

SSNFL Family Day Schedule

July 27

7:30 a.m. -      9:00 a.m. Executive Director’s and Provincial presidents Breakfast

  8:00 a.m. –    9:00 a.m.  Registration Desk Open 

  9:00 a.m. –    9:30 a.m.  Opening and Welcome: Jim Adamson, President of SSC and Florence Budden, President of SSNFL 

  9:30 a.m.  – 10:30 a.m.  Plenary Session: “Social Inclusion the response to Stigma and Discrimination”         Neasa Martin, Toronto, ON

10:30 a.m.  – 11:00 a.m. Break

11:00 a.m.  -  12:00 p.m. Concurrent Workshops: Choose one

• “The Subjective Experience of Cannabis Use in Early Psychosis: A Participatory Action Research Approach” -Catherine Willinsky, Manager of National Programs, Schizophrenia Society of Canada   
• “From Recovery to Discovery – The Healing Power of Creativity” –Laura Burke, Peer Support Worker in Halifax, NS 
• “Housing First”   

12:00 p.m.  –   1:30 p.m. Luncheon on your own

  1:30 p.m.   –  3:00 p.m. Plenary Session: “Side Effect Medication and What You should Know”  –Dr.  David Atwood, St John’s, NF 

  3:00 p.m.  –   3:30 p.m. Break

  3:30 p.m.  –   4:30 p.m.   Concurrent Workshops

●          Community Treatment Orders: Do They Promote Recovery or Further add to the Stigma of Mental Illness? – Nicole Snow

●          The Justice Project – Heidi Edgar, CMHA, NL

  7:00 p.m.  -    9:30 p.m. Awards Banquet hosted by SSC/SSNFL  Speaker: Laura Burke, Halifax, NS

July 28

  9:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m.  SSC AGM

10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.  SSCF AGM 11:00am- 11:30. Break

 

11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.  Plenary Session:  “Social Inclusion from a Psychiatrist’s Perspective” – Dr. Pam Forsythe, Saint John, NB  followed by panel with Mary Alberti, Toronto, ON; Stephen Ayer, Halifax, NS;  and Anita Hopfauf, Regina, SK

12:30 p.m. –   1:30 p.m.  Lunch on your own

  1:30 p.m. –   2:30 p.m.   Concurrent Workshop: Choose one

• “The DJ’s Choices: Treatment Adherence” - Marie-France Demers and Odette

 

• “Mental Health and the Justice Aspects of Living with Mental Illness”  -Gregory Zed,  Zone Manager- Addictions/Mental Health Sussex and Lead, Forensics Team Zone 2 Saint John, NB  
• “Recovery from Self-Stigma” –Chris Summerville, CEO of the Schizophrenia Society of Canada  

 

 2:30 p.m- 2:45pm.   Closing Comments

  3:00 p.m. –  4:30 p.m.   3:00 p.m. –  4:30 p.m.   “Developing Key Messages for the Schizophrenia Society” By the Public Policy, Advocacy, and Education  Committee of the SSC

   6:00 p.m. – Closing of Conference with Group Tour arranged by SSNFL INFORMATION

The Place
www.stjohns.ca

Places to Stay
www.deltahotels.com
www.batteryhotel.com
www.bbcanada.com/newfoundland/avalon_region/st._john’s
www.marriott.com
www.choicehotels.ca‎
www.murraypremiseshotel.com
www.extendedstaydeluxe.com‎

Things to Do
www.icebergquest.com
www.obriensboattours.com
www.hauntedhike.com
www.therooms.ca
www.fluvarium.ca
www.georgestreetlive.ca
www.nlfolk.comA Sneak Peak
http://www.cbc.ca/nl/webcam/webcam.html

 

St. John’s Iris Group
The St. John’s Iris Group is meeting at the Waterford Lions Club on Wednesday, February 24, 2010 from 7:00pm to 9:00pm. Our guest speaker is Cathy White, a Therapuetic Recreation Specialist with the Waterford Hospital Out Patient Program.

Fall BBQ
September 12th at 12pm-4pm at the Waterford Lions Club

Iris Support Group Meetings at the Waterford Lions Club
September 29th 7pm-9pm
October 27th 7pm-9pm
November 24th 7pm-9pm
New members are always welcome!

 

Walk of Hope
Coming soon.

10th Annual Awareness Conference
Coming soon.

Christmas Party
TBA