September 2006 Newsletter (Read-Only) - Wendat

Executive Director’s Letter
The last six months have
been a whirlwind of activity
for Wendat. There are
lots of new staff and new
things happening. We are
pleased to be expanding
several of our programs as
well as starting a whole
new service for seniors
who have a mental illness
(see page 5 for more details).
The number of people
using our services has increased
dramatically this
year. Because of the high
demand, Wendat will be
allocating additional resources
to our Crisis
Services Program. The
Social Club has seen participation
grow by a
whopping 30% now that
Club members have
access to transportation
(thanks to the Boston
Pizza Bullet).
Many more community
groups have been welcomed
to hold meetings
and programs in our
building, including Children’s
Aid Society,
Midland Area Reading
Council, Huronia Hearing
Impaired and Career
Connections of the
Mental Health Centre
Penetanguishene. We are
happy to work in partnership
with so many diverse
groups and share resources
for the good of
our community.
I hope you enjoy reading
about the many new
things happening at
Wendat and that you have
a chance to come out to
our Annual Meeting
which will be held on
Tuesday, October 17 th
at 7pm. Thank you.
You’re invited to the
Lorna Tomlinson
Annual General Meeting
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
7 pm Business Meeting
8 pm Variety Show
237 Second Street,
Midland
Wendat Update
September 2006
Inside this issue:
Wendat
Services
de crise
Wendat
Crisis Services
New People and
People News
New Services
for Seniors; &
Volunteering --
an enormous
gift
A Summer
Vacation at
Tally Ho Inn
2
3
4
5
6
My Story 7
The Back Page 8

Page 2 WENDAT UPDATE
Wendat Services de crise
Le programme fournit des services de crise pendant
douze heures par jour les jours de la semaine
et pendant huit heures par jour les weekends
par l’intermédiaire de la salle de secours à
l’hôpital régional de Huronia ou par rendezvous
dans les bureaux de Wendat, habituellement
dans un délai de 24 heures de référence.
Comment accéder à nos services
Des personnes dans la crise psychiatrique qui
visitent la salle de secours ou appellent la ligne
de crise du comté de Simcoe ou voient leur
médecin de famille peuvent être renvoyées à
un ouvrier de crise de Wendat.
Des médecins ou le personnel de lignes de
crises qui renvoient des individus sont invités à
remplir un formulaire court de référence de
prise de service de crise et à l’envoyer à
Wendat ou à contacter par fax l’ouvrier de crise
directement. L’ouvrier de crise de Wendat
alors contactera le client par téléphone et
arrangera un rendez-vous.
Ce Que Nous Offrons
• Évaluation prompte et précise de
l’individu/de famille présent
dans la crise psychiatrique ou
psychosociale.
• Consultation individuelle à court
terme.
• Référence à d’autres agences ou
services appropriés qui peuvent
satisfaire le besoin du client.
Notre niveau d’appui
Wendat offre un service à court terme
de crise avec de l’appui personnel
jusqu’à un maximum de six sessions
de consultation. La consultation est
conçue pour se concentrer sur fournir
l’appui jusqu’à ce que la crise se
calme, est résolue ou l’individu peut
accéder à de l’aide par une agence ou
une ressource plus pertinente.
Arrivons à comprendre ensemble.
Qu’est-ce qui est une crise?
Une crise est un temps décisif de difficulté ou
de danger aiguë dans une vie individuelle.
Elle laisse la personne avec une incapacité
provisoire de faire face aux situations
immédiates de la vie. Les individus dans la
crise psychologique peuvent avoir de la
difficulté à fonctionner dans leurs vies
quotidiennes. La crise peut être provoquée par
la panne d’un rapport, la perte d’un bienaimé,
le chômage, des difficultés de
logement, la dette ou d’autres situations
difficiles.
Les individus qui sont au risque immédiat de
suicide devraient aller directement au
département de secours d’hôpital régional de
Huronia.

WENDAT UPDATE Page 3
Wendat Crisis Services
The program provides crisis services 12 hours a
day on weekdays and 8 hours per day on weekends
via the Emergency Room at Huronia District
Hospital or by appointment in the Wendat
offices, usually within 24 hours of referral.
How to Access Services
Persons in psychiatric crisis who
• visit the Huronia District Hospital
Emergency Room, or
• call the Simcoe County Crisis Line, or
• see their family or primary care
physician
can be referred to a Wendat Crisis Worker.
Physicians and/or Crisis Line staff who refer
individuals are asked to complete a short
Crisis Service Intake Referral form and fax
it to Wendat or contact the Crisis Worker
directly. The Wendat Crisis Worker will
then contact the client by telephone and
arrange an appointment.
What We Offer
• Prompt and accurate assessment
of the individual/family presenting
psychiatric/psychosocial
crisis.
• Individual short term
counselling.
• Referral to other appropriate
agencies or services that can
meet the need of the client.
Level of Support
Wendat offers a short term Crisis
Service with
one–to-one support to the
individual for a maximum of six
counselling sessions. Counselling is
designed to focus on providing support
until the crisis subsides, is resolved or
the individual is able to access assistance
through a more appropriate
agency or resource.
Figuring it out together.
What is a crisis?
A crisis is a decisive time of acute difficulty
or danger in an individual’s life that causes an
inability to cope with immediate life
situations. Individuals in psychological crisis
may have difficulty functioning in their daily
lives. Crisis may be caused by the breakdown
of a relationship, the loss of a loved one,
unemployment, housing difficulties, debt or
other stressful situations.
Individuals who are at immediate risk of
suicide should go directly to the Huronia
District Hospital Emergency Department.

Page 4 WENDAT UPDATE
New People and People News
A warm welcome is
extended to the newest
members of the
Wendat staff. Joining
Kathy MacNeil
the Crisis Services is
Kathy MacNeil from
Truro, Nova Scotia.
Kathy holds a B.A. in
Psychology and more
recently completed a
Bachelor of Social
Work degree at
Laurentian University.
She gained valuable
experience working
in community
mental health in Alberta
as well as several
locations in the
USA. Kathy is filling
the full time position
made available with
the promotion of Tara
Murdock to Program
Supervisor for Case
Management.
In addition to her
responsibilities as a
Program Supervisor,
Tara has also returned
to school on a parttime
basis to com-
Tara Murdock
plete a Master’s degree
in Social Work.
Congratulations,
Tara.
Karen Lizotte
Karen Lizotte has
joined the Crisis
Team as a part-time
worker. Karen is an
RN with many years
of experience in mental
health. She also
holds a full time position
with Out Patient
Services of the Mental
Health Centre.
Krista Morrow
Expanding their role
at Wendat is Krista
Morrow and Deborah
Hanmer, who will be
Deborah Hanmer
supporting the Crisis
Team on an occasional,
part-time basis
in addition to their
case management
responsibilities.
Jill Spiker is the new
Coordinator for the
Social Club program.
Jill graduated from
Jill Spiker
Laurentian University
with a degree in gerontology.
Her experience
working at the
Mental Health Centre
Penetanguishene and
at Hillcrest Village
has well prepared her
for the challenges of
her new position.
We are very pleased
to have added a new
person to our Peer
Support staff with
Dan Whittam. Dan’s
wide range of interests
and skills, ranging
from a diploma as
a Fish & Wildlife
Technician to Fitness
Instructor, will be a
Dan Whittam
great asset to the
Social Club program.
Wendat is fortunate to
have a student placement
for 3 days a
week for the full
school year, in the
person of Nicole
McDowell. Nikki is a
Social Services student
and will be involved
in several program
areas including
the Social Club, case
management support
and fundraising.
We have also said
good-bye to two staff,
Deb Dobbs and Kurt
Frost. We wish them
all the best in their
new jobs.

WENDAT UPDATE Page 5
New Services for Seniors
Expected to be up and
running before the end
of this year is Wendat’s
newest program, Psychogeriatric
Services.
This program will serve
seniors with serious and
complex mental health
needs. There are two
services within the one
program consisting of a
transitional support program
and a social work
component.
The transitional support
program will primarily
assist persons who are
being discharged from
the Geriatric Services
Program of the Mental
Health Centre Penetanguishene
and going into
a long term care facility
within Muskoka or
Simcoe County. Currently
there are 23 nursing
homes across this
area. Transitional support
workers will provide
2-6 weeks of intensive,
daily, hands-on
support just prior to and
throughout the discharge
period to help
persons successfully
adjust to living in a long
term care facility. This
includes direct support
to the individual client
as well as work with
direct care-providers of
the long term care
home.
The second component
of the Psychogeriatric
Service is to provide
counselling, information
and referral to
families who have a
senior with mental
health needs living at
home, and are experiencing
difficulties. The
goal will be to alleviate
family stress and ensure
the well-being of the
elderly person so that
they can hopefully remain
living with their
family.
The staff of the program
will consist of a
Program Supervisor
who will also provide
some social work services,
two full time
transitional support
workers and one full
time social worker.
Two positions are
funded within this fiscal
year with the remaining
two to be funded in the
2007-08 fiscal year.
Many thanks are extended
to the Ministry
of Health for funding
this needed service and
to the Geriatric Services
Program of the Mental
Health Centre for their
support in identifying
the gaps in service and
the development of the
program.
Volunteering: an enormous gift
Volunteers are the
heart and soul of any
non-profit organization.
There are
161,000 non-profit
organizations in Canada
who currently
benefit from the work
of over 19 million volunteers.
Wendat has
been truly blessed with
extremely dedicated
and giving volunteers.
We have a dynamic
board of directors with
a vast array of skills
and expertise. Their
caring and commitment
to persons who
are disabled by mental
illness is unwavering.
This is a group that not
only gives huge
amounts of their time
and talent (the average
tenure on the board is
ten years), they have
all made financial contributions
to the agency
as well.
Our fundraising volunteers
deserve special
mention. It has been
their hard work that
enabled us to expand
the building just two
years ago, and to continue
to expand our
programs today. No
less than 30 community
volunteers involved
themselves in
the capital campaign
and an equal number
routinely turn out to
assist with Tag Days,
bingo, raffle ticket
sales and special
events.
We are particularly
proud of the many employees
of Wendat
who also volunteer
during their off hours.
While we often joke
around the office about
“mandatory volunteering”,
the staff have a
strong feeling of commitment
to the agency
and to the people we
serve. It has been
demonstrated time and
again by the many employees
who step up to
the plate when the opportunity
to volunteer
arises. From participating
in the annual
variety show to painting
the building, the
volunteer efforts and
talents of the employees
are extraordinary
and greatly appreciated.
A total of 18 staff participated
in our two
Tag Days this year,
helping the whole
group of volunteers
raise more than $7,800
for Wendat’s programs.
Two of our
employees truly excelled
themselves with
the last Tag Day held
in August. Gord Atchison
and Bill Tickle

Page 6 WENDAT UPDATE
brought in a combined
total of $1,000. A big
thanks to Bill and Gord.
Bill Tickle
Thanks to the generosity
of the Ontario Trillium
Foundation and
transportation via the
Boston Pizza Bullet,
two staff and eight clients
enjoyed a great
summer vacation break
this June, in Huntsville.
The adventure started
with a stop at the famous
Webber’s Burgers
for burgers, fries and
ice cream. Once at the
Tally Ho Inn, we explored
the resort, went
swimming, rode the
paddle boats and played
Gord Atchison
It is also very gratifying
to see the number of
clients of our services
A Summer Vacation at Tally Ho Inn
horseshoes. Dinner was
provided in the Grand
Dining Room with a
choice of either steak or
fish after which everyone
retired to their cabins
to play euchre while
others had coffee or
watched TV. In the
morning, a choice of
bacon & eggs; homemade
waffles & sau-
sage; blueberry pancakes;
or French toast
was offered. After
breakfast everyone
went to the water to
enjoy the beautiful
who also volunteer to
help. Many clients get
involved in sorting the
clothing donations for
the clothing exchange,
preparing food for the
meals at the Social
Club, painting and
decorating the building,
and with fundraising
through bingo, raffle
ticket sales and Tag
Days.
view. Some went on
the paddle boats or
swam, while others read
magazines or books on
the deck of their cabin.
All enjoyed a picnic
lunch at the waters
edge, followed by a two
hour trip across Peninsula
Lake to Huntsville,
on a big pontoon boat.
After another big dinner,
everyone enjoyed a
camp fire by the water.
On our last day we had
breakfast, then headed
back to Midland. We
stopped in Huntsville at
a lookout to view the
beautiful town. On the
Wendat was happy to
recognize all of our volunteers
at the volunteer
luncheon held on September
28 th and expresses
an enormous
THANK YOU to each
and every one of you.
♥
Volunteering
is a
Work of Heart !
drive back to Midland,
we had fun trying to
guess old singers and
songs on the radio. The
client’s comments in-
cluded: “I feel more
relaxed”; “I had an
awesome time”; “I wish
we could have stayed
longer”; “The pontoon
boat ride was the best”.
Everyone thanked Wendat
for the experience
and asked “Can we
come back next year?”
From the clients and
staff “Thank you for
giving us the opportunity
to enjoy a great
experience”.

WENDAT UPDATE Page 7
My Story by Lauraine M.
I had my first encounter
with mental illness
when I was 18. I had
graduated from Grade
13 and was enrolled in
the Nursing Program in
Barrie. Instead, I ended
up in the Mental Health
Centre.
I was very sick – a
physical and mental
breakdown. They told
me it was catatonic
schizophrenia. My
mom told me I was in a
coma for 3 weeks. The
first six months, I don’t
remember anything. I
did not even know my
parents. I know I had
shock treatments and
lots of pills. Finally, I
started to come around.
I started attending programs
and it all helped.
At that time I met people
about my own age
and they are friends to
this day. After two
years in hospital, I was
discharged but went
back to see the psychiatrist
on a regular basis.
Then I did something
foolish. I was feeling
so good I stopped my
medication. I lost a lot
of weight then and felt I
was pretty and sexy.
During that time, I told
my Dad I was getting
married. He got very
angry and more or less
disowned me. This all
led up to another visit
to the Mental Health
Centre. It was a shorter
visit this time, only
about 8 months. Again,
shock treatments, therapy
and more pills.
When I got out I moved
in with my husband to
be. We got married in
April 1972. We both
had jobs and life was
good. In 1974 we decided
to move to Toronto
for work. All was
well. We had a job as
superintendents in a
very nice, classy apartment
building.
My dad died in 1977
and when I went and
saw the gravestone, I
had another breakdown.
I was put in the Clarke
Institute and got the
same treatment as before.
I was there for 9
months. When I got out
I was not able to do the
superintendent job anymore.
So my husband
and I got an apartment
and he worked as a construction
worker and I
worked in factories.
Things went very well
for quite some time but
I got sick again in 1986.
I was put in Wellesley
Hospital’s psychiatric
ward. Things were
really different this
time. I was not “out of
it”, just really mixed up.
I remember this visit
and all that went with it.
I was re-diagnosed as
manic depressive and
discharged in 8 weeks.
This was my last admission
to a psychiatric
ward.
Since then my life has
changed. I started to
get involved in things
and with people. I felt
different about my life
– more energy. I decided
to get out of the
city and moved back to
the Midland area in
1989. My husband and
I were not getting along
and we divorced in
1991. I got involved
with Out Patient Services
of the Mental
Health Centre, with
Wendat, my church and
new friends.
My life now is fulfilling.
I feel good about
myself, my social life,
my involvement and
learning about mental
illness. My job at Wendat
as a Peer Support
Worker has been good
for me, my self esteem
and my self respect.
Plus I know I have the
respect of many others.
My plan for my life is
to take one day at a
time, have faith in my
God, keep things simple
and always to take my
pills.

Page 8 WENDAT UPDATE
The Back Page
Wendat has been voted their favourite Mental Heatlh Service by readers of the Midland Mirror.
Happy
Halloween
If you can give one Wednesday
afternoon per month
Wendat has an opportunity
for you!
We are looking for people to help
us run Decision Bingo from
3pm to 6:30 pm
at the Angel Gate Bingo Hall
in Penetanguishene.
If you can volunteer, please call
Charlotte at 526-1305.
I want to
help Wendat
“ rebuild a life…
renew a dream.”
Here is my
DONATION FOR
CLIENT TRANSPORTATION
Please send me a charitable receipt
In the amount of $__________
Name: ____________________________________
Address: _________________________
_________________________
Thank you from
Wendat Community Psychiatric Support Programs
Box 832, Midland, ON L4R 4P4
Wendat Update
A publication of
Wendat
Community Psychiatric
Support Programs
237 Second Street
PO Box 832
Midland, Ontario L4R 4P4
705-526-1305 Fax 526-9248
Lorna@wendatprograms.com