September 10 is World Suicide Awareness Day

Each year, 3,900 Canadians end their lives by suicide

For each suicide attempt or death by suicide, up to ten individuals are affected

Island Community Mental Health is joining with the Mental Health Commission of Canada and local service providers to start a public conversation about suicide and suicide prevention.

Learn more about suicide and preventing it here

Add your message of hope to the Mental Health Commission of Canada conversation wall here

If you or someone you know is in crisis, contact the Vancouver Island Crisis Line here

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Congratulations to Monique Sekhon and her team of dedicated volunteers on their successful Care 2 Share Community Mental Health Awareness event on August 20th.  Speakers, Music, Information tables, and Performances greeted the many attendees that Saturday.

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Thank you for all your hard work in raising awareness of mental health and some of the organizations providing support and services to those recovering from mental illness.

Care 2 Share Mental Health Fair August 20 at Island Community Mental Health

CaC2SPoster2016re-2-Share 2016 is a city-wide event to promote Mental Health Awareness and give individuals access to Mental Health resources in the community!

The event will be a Resource Fair with:
– Food,
– Music,
– Presentations,
– Performances,
As well as a chance to discuss stigma, personal experiences, and engagement in relation to Mental Health.

This event will be non-for-profit, by donation, and we are proud to say that 100% of funds raised will stay in our community and go towards funding the Supported Education Program at Island Community Mental Health!\

 

The First Class of Graduates from THE EDGE program offered by Brent Seal, ICMH and Island Health

EDGE Graduation Crew VAN VIC EDGE Project 2016 Graduation Celebration Dinner

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Project Graduation and Evening of Celebration
JUNE 15, 2016
“No matter how outdated or overgrown the path to success is, it is the path none the less” Jacob G.

What an awesome night. From the prepping of the room and the crew making dinner for their family members who have been there to support them through thick and thin, to the amazing public speaking and presentation of the project from the crew members. The feedback from both family and clinicians has been nothing but positive.

 

Never underestimate yourselves, as Brent says “ Your journey of possibilities is just beginning”, so the message of the evening was for the talented and courageous Vic crew to “Spread your wings and fly!”. Brent wasn’t able to make the event in person but made a video to the crew.
We started the evening by making gourmet sandwiches with Liam from Salt and Pepper Fox, prepping the room for an Italian family style dinner, and opening up the space for friends, family and clinicians and community partners for the crew’s presentation about the VAN/VIC EDGE PROJECT 2016 and enjoying tasty treats from Souper Meals.
Here are some of the crew’s project highlights, learning moments and accomplishment;
Jonathan:
One of the confidence boosters I tried to focus on was choosing to being around better people.People who are sober and will support me. My highlight of being part of the project was seeing the diversity of people affected by mental illness, and hearing their stories and being inspired by them. Mental illness must affect everyone somehow in their lives, whether it be personally, family member or friend, so that is why a program like this is so important.

Jacob:
One of my highlights was the Confidence Boosters – such as learning better boundaries through relationships and friendships, as they will impact my mental health and overall well being. Some ideas of how I will help mental health initiatives, will be through sharing my mental health journey in school and community presentations. This is important to me , as I would never wish others to have to go their journey alone.

Joey:
My highlight from being part of the Project was getting to meet new people that I could relate to, and feel safe around. I actualized my Dreamline goal in the first session – which was to get a job. By the end of the program, I WAS WORKING!!!! I shared about Protecting the Downside – the group realized that many of us had spent excessive time gaming in the past, and recognizing that it was a way to fill time when feeling anxiety and symptoms of psychosis.
Say tuned there’s going to be another EDGE program offered and many of us will be returning as EDGE ambassadors! Feel free to comment below for more information.
Signing out:
Joey
Jacob
Jonathan
Collin
David
Justin
Gheeve

Check out the BLOG AT

https://vanvicedgeproject2016.wordpress.com/2016/04/14/276/
In partnership with:

ICMH

Island Health

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In recognition of  Mental Health Week, the Zone invited Kaitlyn Nohr, from Housing Support and Rehabilitation,  to stop by for an interview last Friday.

Follow this link to listen: http://www.thezone.fm/now/mental-health-awareness-week-at-island-community-health/

May 1-7 is Mental Health Week!

May 1 – 7 is Mental Health Week for 2016. Please join us in supporting this national initiative by getting involved!  The theme this year is #GETLOUD for Mental Health. You can participate by tweeting with the hashtag #GETLOUD,  announcing your support of mental health week through the website here, and wearing green to show support and spread awareness.

60th Anniversary Open House

60th ANNIVERSARY OPEN HOUSE

Friday, May 6th | 2:15-5pm 125 Skinner Street

MC: Simon Whitfield, Olympic Gold Medalist

Keynote: Jeremy Loveday, Spoken Word Poet & Victoria City Councillor

Performance: Hip Hop Artist, Nostic

Join us for coffee and cake!

Please RSVP to info@icmha.ca by 4pm Wednesday, May 4

Refer to our map for parking areas near our 125 Skinner Street location www.IslandCommunityMentalHealth.ca

IN RECOGNITION OF MENTAL HEALTH WEEK

2:15-2:45 Live DJ and Mingling

2:45-3:00 Welcome from Kim Duffus and Acknowledgement of Territory

3:00-3:15 MC, Simon Whitfield

3:15-3:35 Mental Health, Arts & Community, Jeremy Loveday

3:35-3:45 Mural Project, Cameron Kidd & Pam Lewis

3:45-4:00 Hip Hop Performance, Nostic

4:00-4:10 Closing Words, Simon Whitfield

4:10-5:00 Tours available

 

 

ICMH 60th Anniversary Invitation

 

ICMH’s Pam Lewis speaks about the Challenges of Ageing

CFAX’s Brittany King interviewed ICMH’s Pam Lewis on ICMH and the programming it offers, as well as our partnership with the Canadian Diabetes Association and their Walk and Talk program.

http://imbrittanyking.com/ww/ageing-pain-management/

Save the Date! May 6, 2016

On may 6, 2016, Island Community Mental Health is celebrating 60 years of serving individuals recovering from mental illness!

Olympic gold medallist Simon Whitfield will be our master of ceremonies

Spoken word artist and Victoria city councillor Jeremy Loveday will be our keynote speaker

and hip hop artist Nostic will be performing

Join us from 2:15 to 5:00 pm at 125 Skinner Street

RSVP to info@icmha.ca

Name Our Mural Contest!

 

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ICMH just completed a beautiful mural created by Cameron Kidd and our community. It was a one month process where we had open talks with our community about what ” mental health and recovery” could look like in mural form. We created a Escher inspired wall of birds taking flight. We need a name for it now!!! Please leave suggestions in the comment section! We will be announcing the name on May 6th when a plaque will be unveiled!!! You can also come into ICMH and enter the contest at the front desk.