2009/10 ANNUAL REPORT - Canadian Mental Health Association

ACHIEVEOn January
Mental Health
Promotion
18, 2010 our second annual Blue
Monday event received unprecedented media
coverage and ensured the event’s success. Over
40 vendors (including for the first time, several for
profit health related services) met with nearly 200
people, most of whom remained throughout this
mental health event to hear our impressive speakers.
Both Feel Good Bingo and Stress Bingo have proven
to be popular educational tools, allowing the
department increased access to youth (grade school
and secondary) and newcomer populations.
Achieving Balance and Control: The ABCs of Coping
with Stress and Change (6 weeks at a nominal fee)
has seen a sharp increase in popularity. Plans are
underway to meet this need by offering it again
before fall, with the Summer 2010 program to be
located in the county. Over 50 inquiries were made
regarding the Winter 2010 Session, ensuring that
group capacity was met handily. Summer 2010
pre-registrations are already being received. As
one Winter 2009 participant shared with his BIA
colleagues, family and friends, it was “the best $40
I ever spent!”
In 2009, Education offered 46 presentations
(on a variety of mental health/illness topics) and
disseminated information at an additional 40 health
fairs throughout Windsor-Essex County (18 of which
were held in the county). The program continues
to reach both a substantial percentage and diverse
cross-section of Windsor-Essex County due in large
part to the energies and commitment of trained
Agency Ambassadors, Speakers and Resource
Centre volunteers. While Education has experienced
a steep decrease in the number of volunteers,
it has witnessed a marked increase in the quality
and commitment of those assigned. Due to the
efforts of volunteers (Eleanore, Jean and Rachael)
in particular, CMHA-WECB now offers a staggering
array of mental health and illness-related topics in
over 45 languages. The program has networked
with Multicultural Council of Windsor and the New
Canadian Centre of Excellence to guarantee these
resources reach those in need.
Fall 2009 saw the official kick-off of Finding Your
Voice. This speakers’ bureau project provides a
platform for those in recovery to share their stories
and wisdom. Over 80 people attended one of the
two Finding Our Voice presentations during Mental
Illness Awareness Week 2009.
Last year, 205 people lined up for a Mental Health
Check-up (at Blue Monday, St. Clair College, Seniors
Centre and University of Windsor). We continue to
widely promote our free, anonymous online Mental
Health Checkups to reach people who heretofore
suffered in silence. In 2009 542 people took this
online test.
1 FTE.................Number Served 11,399 (2009)
11,684 (2008)
11,661 (2007)
12
MENTAL HEALTH PROMOTION
FOR OLDER ADULTS
The Gerontology Mental Health Promotion
Program provides information to and about older
adults through public education, consultation and
caregiver support as well as training workshops
for professional caregivers regarding mental health
needs of older adults in Windsor-Essex. In 2009-
2010, our Mental Health Promoter – Gerontology
conducted 83 educational talks or information
tables. A key activity over the past two years has
been a partnership between this program and the
Community Health Worker for Older Adults at
Sandwich Community Health Centre. These two
positions targeted at-risk older adults in Windsor’s
West End by offering a three-prong approach to
programming. Each workshop offered elements of
mental health education, healthy lifestyles education
and socialization. This method of programming has
seen average attendance at workshops double from
10 in past years to a current average of 21. As a
result, CMHA and SCHC were invited to conduct
a poster presentation at the Annual Canadian
Association of Gerontology conference in October
2009.
2008/2009 1 FTE – 1908 served
2009/2010 1 FTE – 2682 served