Island Community Mental Health Annual General Meeting – June 23, 2015
Island Community Mental Health is holding their Annual General Meeting on June 23, 2015 at 3PM at our head offices: 125 Skinner Street.
Longtime Community Mental Health Agency Opens Doors for Mental Health Week
MEDIA RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
April 30, 2015
Longtime Community Mental Health Agency Opens Doors for Mental Health Week
Victoria, B.C. – The Capital Region’s largest provider of community-based services to adults experiencing serious mental health issues, Island Community Mental Health (ICMH), is inviting the community to join them in celebrating 2015 Mental Health Week May 4 – 10.
“Despite the fact that one-in-five Canadians experience a form of mental illness in their life, there are still many in the community who are not aware of the programs and services we offer that support individuals to lead a full life in the community and achieve success,” board President Darrion Campbell said.
ICMH (formerly the Capital Mental Health Association), has been operating in the community since 1956, providing housing and rehabilitation services to more than 1,000 adults each year. They are inviting the community to join them for an Open House from 1:00 – 4:00 pm on Monday, May 4th at their main office at 125 Skinner St.
The most recent Victoria Foundation Greater Victoria Annual Check-Up ‘Vital Signs’ cites mental illness as the third most important issue affecting Victorians according to their surveys. “At ICMH we believe that each person who experiences mental illness has the capacity to move forward, to
learn and to grow,” said Executive Director Kim Duffus. One of many people who’ve benefitted from the services and programs of ICMH is Taheera.
Taheera’s Story
In 2009, Taheera was diagnosed with acute depression and anxiety. Her recovery was a slow process.
Taheera says: “As those with mental illness issues are aware, it is not unusual to have several relapses over the course of recovery and I was no different.”
After moving to Victoria in 2011, Taheera, with the help of her husband, set out to find resources in the community to assist with her recovery plan. One of the most influential programs she attended was the GROW Program offered by ICMH.
“The GROW program is unique to Victoria in that it follows an approach which promotes personal recovery, successful community integration and a higher quality of life for individuals with mental health and addiction challenges,” she says.
“It is these activity-based programs that have helped build my resiliency, develop coping skills and has empowered me to make new social connections,” she says. “The programs equipped me with strategies to live a balanced life and experience positive mental well-being”.
Today Taheera is enrolled at Camosun College and hopes to pursue her Masters’ Degree in the future.
“This is an exciting time for ICMH,” said Duffus. “With people like Taheera, we want to build community awareness about mental illness and also demonstrate the great work that is being done to give individuals and their families support and hope.”
“As an organization we have also been learning and growing and as we approach our 60th anniversary of service in the community we believe we have something to share and celebrate,” Duffus said.
ICMH’s programs include independent and supported housing, individualized education and employment support, and therapeutic and rehabilitation services. These programs are available for adults ranging from young adults to seniors. On April 1st, ICMH introduced an exciting new initiative, The Young Adult Engagement Strategy, dedicated to the enhancement of current programming for young adults. ICMH also serves as host to a number of community-based organizations and programs involved in serving individuals experiencing mental illness.
As part of Mental Health Week activities in the community ICMH will be joining with Island Health and other community service providers at another recognition event to be held later in the week.
To find more information about ICMH and its programs and services visit: www.icmha.ca
For further information contact:
Kim Duffus
Executive Director
Tel: 250 389-1211
kim.duffus@icmha.ca
ICMH at the PSR Conference – June 16-17, 2015
This June, ICMH is having a poster presentation at the PSR/RPS Canada’s annual conference in Vancouver. Sabine Vanderispaillie representing ICMH and Freddy Hehewerth representing Island Health will be presenting GROW – Client Driven, Clinically Supported.
The presentation will highlight how ICMH’s Gateway to Resources and Opportunities for Wellness (G.R.O.W.) brings together the best aspects of consumer-driven community models (such as clubhouses) and clinical-based rehabilitation models. GROW combines professional support with client-driven programming that addresses individual recovery goals.
Join us at the Coast Plaza hotel in Vancouver, BC on June 16 & 17, 2015
Island Community Mental Health holding Open House to mark Mental Health Week May 4-10
In recognition of Mental Health Week, Island community Mental Health is holding an open house from 1pm to 4pm on May 4. Come by 125 Skinner Street to meet some of our staff, learn about our programs and services, and have a tour.
POSITION FILLED – Job Opportunity – Employment Coach, NetWorks Employment Solutions
Our NetWorks Employment Solutions program is looking for an experienced Employment Coach. The successful candidate will have experience in vocational counselling, and working with individuals recovering from mental illness. The NetWorks program uses an Individual Placement and Support model of Supported employment, and Coaches are expected to carry a minimum caseload of 25 clients, work in the community, and provide all aspects of job search and job support.
This a full-time position (35 hours/week) with full benefits after completion of a probationary period. Starting wage: $20.93/hr
Employment Coach Job Description
Please forward your resume and cover letter to Island Community Mental Health, attention: Sarah crawley
POSITION FILLED – Career Opportunity: Nurse Manager
The Nurse Manager is responsible for all aspects of planning, organizing, and directing the delivery of services for the residential care site to ensure a high standard of care consistent with licensing regulations, and policies and procedures of the agency. Provide mental health and addictions services based on a philosophy of psycho-social rehabilitation (PSR). In keeping with an individualized client recovery plan, utilizes the PSR principles to develop, plan, implement, and maintain a full range of clinical services and client centered programs. Liaises with relevant programs (Island Health) and community agencies in coordinating and integrating mental health and addictions services. The Nurse Manager is responsible for the day to day operations of the site and scheduling staff resources to ensure adequate coverage as per the union and health contracts and guidelines. Duties also include assessing staff skills and providing training, hiring, orientation and performance monitoring.
This position requires a nursing degree and current registration with CRNBC. A minimum of 2-3 years working in a related position and at least 2 years working in a supervisory role. This is an excluded position and the hours of work are 40 per week.
5 tips for tracking missing persons with dementia
Search and rescue expert says dementia patients are hard to find, but there are some patterns
Concern over the safety of seniors with dementia is growing, following the death of a 76-year-old woman in a North Vancouver park after she wandered away from her care facility.
Dementia patient Joan Warren was not wearing her electronic tracking bracelet when she went missing on Friday and family, friends, firefighters, police and volunteers all joined North Shore Search and Rescue in a huge search operation.
Despite an extensive search effort, Joan Warren, who was 76 and suffered from dementia, was found dead near Lynn Canyon two days after she went missing. (Family photo)
Warren’s body was found two days later, off trail, near Lynn Canyon suspension bridge. She had died of hypothermia.
Warren’s family say searchers did their best, but could she have been found sooner?
Robert J. Koester, a U.S. search and rescue expert based in Virginia, who spoke with Stephen Quinn on CBC Radio One’s On The Coast, says dementia patients are the hardest subjects to find, and time is of the essence.
“The sooner you can get more eyes involved, the better. The more urban the area, the better the chance that somebody other than search and rescue is going to make the find,” he said.
In a database he keeps, he’s found that 22 per cent of cases of missing persons with dementia end with the patient found dead — a rate that is far too high — but Koester says he’s identified patterns that can help searchers track what often seems like counter-intuitive behaviour.
Here are five search tips he shared with CBC Radio’s On The Coast:Click here to read on.
