Webinars
Summer Vacation & Mental Health (For Parents & Caregivers) Wednesday July 7, 2021 (12:00PM—1:00PM EST)
Join us for a Summertime Session where we will be discussing how to maintain your mental health, as well as your child's mental health during the summer months. The summer season can be an ideal opportunity to spend more time in nature, explore events & activities in your community, as well as connect with friends & family. However, the summer vacation period can also bring its own unique set of stressors for parents & caregivers. This webinar will explore these topics and provide tools & suggestions to maintain positive mental well-being during the summer season.
Link to register: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/160047336893
Mental Health Minute with Nick Petrella: Virtual Support: Wednesday July 21, 2021 (12:30—1:30PM EST)
Over the past year, society has adapted to a virtual landscape where our social connections, careers, education, and other aspects of life have existed almost exclusively online. Join Nick Petrella and representatives from BounceBack and Mind Beacon to discuss how to access virtual supports.
- BounceBack Ontario is a free skill-building program managed by the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA). It is designed to help adults and youth 15+ manage low mood, mild to moderate depression and anxiety, stress or worry. Delivered over the phone with a coach and through online videos, you will get access to tools that will support you on your path to mental wellness.
- Mind Beacon offers Canadians the full spectrum of digital mental health support, including face-to-face live therapy, therapist-guided programs, immediate crisis support and free resources from the Stronger Minds community (free for Ontario residents).
Link to register: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/160845315669
TAMI (Talking About Mental Illness) ft. David McGinty: Thursday July 22, 2021 (12:00PM—1:00PM EST)
The goal of a TAMI presentation is to reduce the stigma surrounding the topic of mental health and mental illness, while providing a safe forum for participants to discuss the importance of mental health.
David McGinty, who is an ambassador for mental health in his workplace with the federal government, will share his story of how love and compassion for one’s self helped him on his journey learning about his mental illness.
Link to register: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/160981151959
There is no cost to attend any of these events. Pre-registration is required to obtain Zoom information. Eventbrite will send out the link both the morning of the event, as well as 15 minutes before the start time. For more information, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Feeling low? Stressed? Anxious?
BounceBack can help. For those struggling with low mood, worry, stress, or mild to moderate depression or anxiety, you can look to the Canadian Mental Health Association’s (CMHA’s) free skill-building program BounceBack®: Reclaim your health. Through one-on-one telephone coaching and online videos offered in multiple languages, adults and youth 15+ learn skills to help manage worry and anxiety, combat unhelpful thinking and become more active and assertive – all from the comfort of their home.
To access the program, you will need a referral from a primary care provider (family doctor, nurse practitioner), psychiatrist, or client self-referral, so long as you’re connected with a primary care provider. Once a referral is submitted, you will be contacted by a BounceBack coach within five business days to conduct an information session about the program and ensure it’s the right fit.
While you wait for your telephone coaching sessions to begin, you can access our free online videos. These videos will provide you with practical tips on managing mood, sleeping better, problem-solving, and more. The videos are available in English, French, Arabic, Farsi, Mandarin, Cantonese, and Punjabi. To access the videos, visit bouncebackvideo.ca and enter this access code: bbtodayon.
When you’re ready for your telephone coaching sessions to begin, your BounceBack coach will support you as you work through a series of skill-building workbooks. You and your coach can choose from 20 workbook topics, 12 topics from shorter or condensed booklets, and nine topics from booklets geared to youth 15-18. Your coach is also there to provide you with motivation, monitor your progress and safety, and answer any questions. Coaches are extensively trained in the delivery of the program and are overseen by clinical psychologists. They also receive training in LGBTQ+ equity and trauma-informed care. The BounceBack program is also reviewed to ensure our processes and materials are culturally sensitive and inclusive. As coaches are not counsellors or therapists, your primary care provider will maintain responsibility for your overall care while you’re in the program.
To get started or to access our online referral form, visit: bouncebackontario.ca.
Resources for crisis - Ontario
Throughout the province, programs and services are available to ensure Ontarians get the crisis supports they need during #COVID19 Click here: Resources for crisis - Onrtario
BounceBack
The Ontario government has announced enhanced online and virtual mental health support services, including BounceBack to help Ontarians cope with the difficult realities of COVID-19. Bounce Back is a free guided self-help program that effectively helps people 15 years of age and older who are experiencing mild to moderate symptoms of anxiety or depression, or who are feeling down, stressed, worried, irritable or angry. www.bouncebackontario.ca
https://youtu.be/Ri8yPTQCI7g?t=1062
COVID Frontline Wellness – Health care workers are at the front lines of the COVID pandemic. Increased feelings of stress, worry and anxiety are normal under these conditions. It is important to recognize the impact of COVID-related stress on your wellbeing and build coping skills that can help you get and stay healthy.
COVID Frontline Wellness can help.
COVID Frontline Wellness provides confidential access to services and tools to support your mental wellbeing. The service is led by The Royal in collaboration with community partners.
Getting started is simple. Just book an appointment online and a clinician will call you to listen, provide support and connect you with the services that are right for you.
For more information and to book go to: www.theroyal.ca/covid-frontline-wellness
Services are available in English and French to any resident of Ontario who works in a hospital, long-term care facility, retirement or group home, paramedic service, primary care or community health care setting.
The Royal is one of five hospitals in Ontario that are partnering with Ontario Health’s Mental Health and Addictions Centre of Excellence to bring these services to health care workers throughout the province.
10 things you can do right now to reduce anxiety, stress, worry related to COVID-19
Manage your news consumption. Turn off push notifications on your phone and set aside only an hour per day to stay informed from credible, balanced sources.
Keep things in perspective. Try not to avoid, ignore or suppress anxious thoughts. Instead, be aware of your anxiety and challenge your thoughts that may be extreme or unhelpful.
Stay socially connected. While you can’t be together physically, connect with friends and family by phone, text and video applications like FaceTime, Skype or Zoom.
Do something good or helpful. Research shows that doing things for others strengthens our #mentalhealth. Check on your neighbours, elderly parents and friends to see if they need any help.
Stay connected with the outdoors. If you’re not required to self-isolate for 14 days, consider going outside for a walk, run or bike ride to enjoy the scenery and fresh air.
Keep your routines. Routines can help reduce mental fatigue. Getting up at your usual time, showering and getting dressed as you normally would for work can be helpful.
Be physically active. Instead of going to the gym, check out some exercise videos online. Housework, walking up and down stairs, and outdoor activities like raking leaves are also sources of physical activity.
Practice mindfulness, meditation or yoga to help you stay grounded and focused when you begin to feel stress and worry in your body, like shortness of breath and tightening in the chest.
Take time to organize your home or do something you’ve been putting off for a while like sorting through your basement or garage for unwanted or recyclable items. Accomplishing such a task may reduce stress and anxiousness.
If you’re noticing that your symptoms of anxiety are causing you significant distress or are interfering with your ability to function normally, consider participating in CMHA’s #BounceBackON program.
New BounceBack campaign promotes access to mental health program
Mental health concerns are among the many challenges Ontarians are currently facing amid the COVID-19 pandemic. At this time of public uncertainty, CMHA’s BounceBack program remains an effective option to support Ontarians who may be dealing with mild-to-moderate anxiety or depression, or may be feeling low, stressed, worried, irritable or angry.
BounceBack is a free, guided self-help program for people aged 15 and up. Participants receive telephone coaching, skill-building workbooks and online videos to help them overcome these symptoms and gain new skills to regain positive mental health. BounceBack is not a crisis service, psychotherapy or counselling, but a life-skills program that participants work with to develop coping techniques so they can overcome challenges during this pandemic and long afterward.
For more information or to see if the BounceBack program may be right for you, visit https://bouncebackontario.ca/.
BounceBack offers quick tips to support your mental health during COVID-19
Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario Division’s BounceBack program has developed a mental health tip sheet to support those who may be experiencing heightened mental health challenges as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The tip sheet, titled 10 things you can do right now to reduce anxiety, stress, worry related to COVID-19, offers 10 quick and easy things anyone can do to alleviate mild-to-moderate symptoms of anxiety or depression at a time when these difficulties may be exacerbated. Tips include managing news consumption, challenging unhelpful thoughts, staying socially connected, helping others, spending time outdoors and more.
BounceBack is a free, guided self-help program that’s effective in helping people aged 15 and up who are experiencing mild-to-moderate anxiety or depression, or may be feeling low, stressed, worried, irritable or angry. Participants receive telephone coaching, skill-building workbooks and online videos to help them overcome these symptoms and gain new skills to regain positive mental health.
The Ontario government recently announced an expansion of online and virtual mental health supports, including BounceBack, to help Ontarians navigating the difficult realities in the wake of COVID-19.
Further, CMHA Ontario has compiled a list of services available by branch during the pandemic, as well as a list of other provincial mental health supports.
Reducing anxiety related to COVID-19
CMHA recognizes that at this time of uncertainty, symptoms of anxiety and depression may be exacerbated. These five basic tips may help individuals experiencing heightened mental health concerns to remain calm and balanced as this public health situation unfolds.
- Considering the level of attention and seriousness being paid to the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s normal to feel anxious. Try not to avoid, ignore or suppress anxious thoughts. Instead, be aware of your anxiety and accept that you’re feeling anxious in this situation. Try to keep things in perspective; notice and challenge your thoughts that may be extreme or unhelpful.
- Self-care is critically important at this time, as worries can be made worse if we aren’t taking care of ourselves. Lean on social supports, try to get enough sleep, eat healthy, exercise and engage in enjoyable activities. Do the things you would typically do to support your health, and be sure to use caution and follow health and safety guidelines while doing them.
- Seek information from reliable news sources only. Limit checking in on the latest news to short, defined periods, and refrain from setting related push notifications on your device. Appropriate information consumption may be calming and can lessen the sense of danger.
- Take the recommended precautions as outlined by Health Canada and other credible health agencies. Remain focused on the factors within your control, such as washing hands, covering your mouth during coughs and sneezes, avoiding non-essential travel, etc.
- If you’re noticing that your symptoms of anxiety (in association with COVID-19 or otherwise) are causing you significant distress or are interfering with your ability to function normally, reach out for formal mental health supports from a recognized agency, such as CMHA.
CMHA Ontario and branches around the province provide programs and services to support your mental wellness, such as BounceBack, walk-in counselling, information on stress management, and much more. Learn more and find a local branch at ontario.cmha.ca.
Resources for students
Meanwhile, the Centre for Innovation in Campus Mental Health has been publishing new tools to support student mental health, including a crisis resources webpage with provincial, national and international options, an equity, diversity and inclusion toolkit that offers guidance on how to support students from all walks of life, and an info sheet on well-being and the online environment that has tips on supporting student and faculty well-being virtually.
Links
15 minutes for your mental health
More than a year into the pandemic and Ontarians are feeling the effects. Many of us are struggling with burnout, loneliness, and depression. The prevalent advice is to exercise self-care as much as possible, but this can feel overwhelming on top of the other tasks we all have to accomplish every day. That’s why CMHA Ontario has created these materials. By offering easy15 minute ideas, CMHA aims to make the idea of self-care seem as simple as possible. Click here for printable booklet
BounceBack : Seven ways to use social media to benefit your mental health
BounceBack Resources – A quick compendium
https://www.workplacestrategiesformentalhealth.com/
https://otn.ca/patients/togetherall/
Ontario Caregivers and BounceBack Handout
https://www.rehab4addiction.co.uk/coronavirus/mental-health-coronavirus
COVID-19 Help for Seniors, People with Disabilities
Do you know an isolated, low-income senior or person with disability who needs support getting the essentials they need to stay home during COVID-19? The Ontario Community Support Program is coordinating local services to deliver meals, groceries, medicine and other essentials during COVID-19. Help keep our community healthy and safe. Find out more and sign up for service at www.ontariocommunitysupport.ca, or call 211. Toll Free: 1-877-330-3213; TTY: 1-888-340-1001.
Online Resources for Mental Wellness and Social Connection
Information Tip sheets on Suicide Prevention and Grief and Loss: Suicide Prevention or Grief and Loss
If you’re feeling stressed or anxious you may be wondering if it’s more than regular worries. Explore resources and solutions to help you understand and manage your stress or anxiety. You can also find resources to help a friend or loved one.
Online Resources for Mental Wellness and Social Connection
The Mind your Mind Self Care During COVID-19 link has 30 self-care tips
Please see link for further information: https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection/awareness-resources.html