A Reason to Hope YOGATHON FOR PEACE OF MINDS

A Reason to Hope
Spring 2011
SPRING 2011
THIS ISSUE
Yogathon for Peace of Minds P.1
Get to know SSO’s Board P.2
SSO’s JAMH Program P.3
SSO Volunteers P.4
2011 Events P.4
Support SSO and Membership P.4
Jacqueline Hennessy, Purple Passion Gala Host (left)
Mary Alberti, Chief Executive Officer,
Schizophrenia Society of Ontario (right)
YOGATHON FOR PEACE OF MINDS
MAKE A DIFFERENCE BY SUPPORTING THE WORK OF SSO
SSO’s annual Yogathon event brings together
yoga enthusiasts from all across Ontario to raise
money and awareness for schizophrenia.
There are many ways to support our work across the province and be part of our
community of hope for families and others affected by schizophrenia. Here are
some ways you can help:
"LITTLE WALKS"
Little Walks provide an
opportunity for people who
don't have a Walk of Hope
in their region to create their
own event. Grab your family
and friends, raise pledges
and do your own one hour
Walk of Hope in your
city! You can register and
fundraise online or print a
hard copy of our pledge
form and raise funds
offline. Click on "Little
Walks" to register your own
community event today!
• Make a donation to SSO – you can make a donation easily by cheque or credit
card. Simply visit our website at www.schizophrenia.on.ca and click “Donate
Now”.
• Make a gift of securities to SSO and receive a tax receipt for the total amount
donated, while eliminating any capital gains tax on your gift of stock, bonds or
mutual funds.
• Include SSO in your will to invest in the future of our work. For more
information on making a Planned Gift, please call 1-800-449-6367.
• Attend a fundraising event or other SSO activity taking place in your area.
• Monthly Giving is an easy way to invest in improving the lives of those affected
by schizophrenia year round by making monthly donations to the SSO.
Contact us at 1-800-449-6367 or visit www.schizophrenia.on.ca and click
“Donate Now” to use our secure online donation system, just click “Donate
Monthly”.
Donors who contribute $100 or more will regularly receive this newsletter.
MEMBERSHIP…
If you would like to become a member of SSO or renew you membership, please:
• call 1-800-449-6367
• email [email protected]
• visit our website at www.schizophrenia.on.ca and click “About SSO” and
then “About the Organization” and “Become a Member”
For more details regarding the benefits of either a Family Membership ($35.00) or an
Associate Membership ($50.00) visit our website at www.schizophrenia.on.ca
Becoming a Member of SSO is a great way to receive updates on research and on
programs in your community – it’s also a great way to make your voice heard!
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“Karma yoga
is all about
yoga of
selfless
service for a
noble cause.
SSO’s 2011
Yogathon
beautifully
illustrates
how yoga
and the
health of our
communities
are linked”
Over the years, SSO’s Yogathon has grown into a
must attend event. The Yogathon is ideal for
participants who want to breathe, stretch, and
relax -- while raising funds and awareness for
SSO’s youth engagement programs. This year our
three signature locations - Toronto, Oakville and
Peterborough - saw more participants than ever
before. Over 120 people enjoyed a fun-filled day of
yoga with instructors from studios in their
community.
To broaden the reach of the event for this year,
yoga studios across the province were invited to
host mini Yogathons of their own. Over 30 studios
from across Ontario took part - the most support
from the yoga community the Yogathon has ever
received!
The Yogathon could not have happened without
the tireless support of this year’s Chair, Tracey
Currie. Tracey has been teaching yoga for over 10
years at both Breathe Yoga Studio and Mindful
Movement in Toronto.
At the Berkley Church in Toronto, Tracey lined up
an amazing group of senior teachers representing
a wonderful mix of styles and intensities that
enhanced the calming atmosphere at this historic
venue.
For the first time ever team fundraising was an
option at the Yogathon; “Team Breathe” of
Breathe Studio was the top team raising an
amazing $8,565.
Great work! We truly appreciate everyones
support and enthusiasm for this event. To learn
more and see more photos of the event visit
www.yogathon.ca.
We thank all our participants, donors, sponsors
Yogathon Sponsors 2011
• Aperio
• Fairy’s Tonic
• Front Door Organics
• Kashi
• Lotus Palm Thai Massage School
• My Luscious Backyard
• Peachtree Health Foods
• Planet Organic Market
• Skinworks SPA
• Yoga Network of Canada
• Yoga Directory Canada
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In September 2010, the Schizophrenia Society of Ontario
(SSO) welcomed many familiar as well as
new faces to the Board of Directors.
SSO’S JUSTICE AND MENTAL HEALTH (JAMH) PROGRAM
When someone in your family develops a
serious mental illness such as schizophrenia, it
can result in significant changes to your own
life and to your relationship with the person
who is ill. If your family member with a mental
illness ends up in conflict with the law, or if you
experience traumatic incidents or abuse, the
impact of these changes can be even greater.
In 2007, the Schizophrenia Society of Ontario
(SSO) launched the Justice and Mental Health
Program (JAMH), the only program in Ontario that
works specifically with families of individuals with
mental illness who are in conflict with the law. The
number of people with mental illness in the justice
system is increasing at a rate of about 10 per cent
a year and the criminalization of people with mental
illness is a growing concern. We are proud to say
that our program continues to be a growing
success by proving valuable support and reliable
resources to those involved in the justice and
mental health system.
SSO’s JAMH program offers support and education
to families in a variety of modalities. ANCRSS
(Advocates of the Not-Criminally Responsible
Schizophrenia Sufferers) is a province-wide e-mail
support group for people whose loved one has a
serious mental illness and has had conflict with the
law. ANCRSS provides a confidential and
supportive space for members to support each
other through the challenges and stigma of their
situation and become empowered through
education and advocacy on issues surrounding
mental health and the law.
In addition, we have also developed Restoring
Hope and Moving Forward: Stories from Families
about Coping with the Challenges of Serious
Mental Illness. This resource consists of nine
stories, each told from the personal perspective of
a family member – a mother, father, husband,
daughter and sister – in a close, caring
relationship with the individual with a mental
illness. If you or someone you know has had a
particularly difficult time coping with a family
member’s experience with mental illness and find
it comforting to hear about other’s personal
experiences, then this resource may be beneficial
to you. To access this resource, visit our website
at www.schizophrenia.on.ca.
The JAMH program accepts referrals from anyone
in the community, including professionals, families
and self-referrals. If you are interested in more
information or would like to contact us, you can
reach us through our Ask the Experts program
please phone 1-800-449-6367 or email us at
[email protected].
ADVANCING YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH IN ONTARIO
It is well known that early identification and
intervention is an effective way of preventing more
severe mental illness in the long run. That is why
SSO puts a strong focus on raising awareness
amongst young people and those who work with
them about the signs and symptoms of psychosis
and how to get help. Unfortunately, those who try to
access youth mental health services are often faced
with long wait times and a lack of local services to
meet their needs. The average wait time for support
is 10 weeks, and 3 out of 4 young people with a
mental health problem will not get the help they
need. Advancing child and youth mental health is
clearly an important factor in making overall
improvements to the mental health system and the
people it serves.
SSO was therefore pleased to hear that the most
The board is made up of a group of diverse and passionate
individuals that bring together their unique backgrounds and
experiences to guide SSO. This group of passionate
volunteers makes SSO an organization that is highly
knowledgeable about schizophrenia, which educates and
raises awareness across the province, and is seen as making
strides in reducing the stigma associated with schizophrenia
Individual and ongoing counseling for families is
also offered by the JAMH Program Coordinator on
an ongoing and as-needed basis. Families often
undergo significant emotional distress and burden
when trying to get their relative the help they need
and often hit barriers when trying to navigate the
criminal justice system. Moreover, families can be
subject to destabilizing events, traumatic
circumstances and, in some cases even violence
when their relative is living with untreated mental
illness. This can leave families confused, lost and
in some cases, victimized.
Photo
Top row left to right:
Frances Connelly, Aamir Mian, Norm Tasevski, Stephen Ng, Joanna
Wilson Loudon and Chris Damaren,
Bottom row, left to right:
Paul King-Fisher, Madhuri Ramakrishnan and Andreas Buchholz
Absent: Michael Strickland and Denis Chamberland
GET TO KNOW SSO’S BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Paul King-Fisher, (Board President) His years of volunteer
involvement with SSO started over 15 years ago. Paul works with
the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources in Peterborough. He
brings 25 years of government experience to the SSO board.
Paul is a dynamic leader that keeps the board on track.
Joanna Wilson Loudon brings more than 15 years of public
relations consulting experience to SSO and is currently the vice
president in the Health practice at Edelman, a full-service global
public relations firm. Joanna is the chair of SSO’s Board
Nominating Committee.
Frances Connelly over twenty years of investment experience in
managing portfolios for pension funds, insurance companies,
mutual funds and private individuals has lead Fran to run her own
business. She currently chairs SSO’s Finance Committee.
Andreas Buchholz took a hobby of real estate and stock market
investing and grew it to a full time occupation that he now does
from his home. Andreas has been a long time member of the
SSO in Thunder Bay acting as both chair of the Walk of Hope
Committee and Vice Chair of the Chapter. Andreas has a brother
who lives with schizophrenia. He currently chairs SSO’s strategic
planning task force.
recent provincial budget included a significant
commitment to child and youth mental health - $257
million over the next three years. We will be working
with the current government as they determine how
these funds will be allocated, to help ensure that
they make a real difference.
Michael Strickland is a partner with the law firm Buset &
Partners, LLP in Thunder Bay. Mike practices in the areas of tax
and corporate and commercial law, with special emphasis on
small business. As part of his practice, Mike has been involved in
the establishment and organization of several registered charities
and public foundations.
We will continue to keep youth mental health on the
agenda my making it an election issue. SSO has
joined forces with several other provincial mental
health and addictions organizations to influence
parties to put youth mental health, amongst other
key priorities, on their election platforms.
Christopher Damaren is the Vice-Dean of Graduate Studies for
the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering at the University
of Toronto, where he has been a Professor at the Institute for
Aerospace studies since 1999.
Stay tuned for more information as we roll out this
campaign. To learn more on how you can have your
voice heard in the province election visit
www.schizophrenia.on.ca.
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Denis Chamberland is a partner with Baker & McKenzie LLP in
Toronto where he practices commercial law. He is recognized as
one of the world’s leading lawyers in The International Who’s
Who of Public Procurement Lawyers , and in Chambers Global, in
the category of Public Procurement. Denis is interested in the
work that the SSO is doing in relation to the education and
support for families as a result of a having a parent with
schizophrenia.
Stephen Ng is a Senior Consultant with Deloitte Consulting in
Toronto, where he has worked on facilitating the management
of change for clients undergoing major transformation, among
many other things. He has spent his time volunteering for
initiatives like the Greater Vancouver Regional Science
Fair/Foundation and Big Brothers.
Madhuri Ramakrishnan’s involvement with SSO began
through the Halton Regional Program, where she
has facilitated
Strengthening
Families
Together
and
volunteered for fundraising events. Madhuri is passionate
about issues in mental health. Her advocacy efforts having
taken her before the Select Committee on Mental Health and
Addictions, where her presentation included suggestions as to
the changes needed to the currently fragmented mental health
system.
Aamir Mian is currently the Vice President of Health & Welfare
Operations/ Implementations at Morneau Sobeco, a company
which specializes in providing comprehensive solutions for
pensions, benefits and workplace health and productivity.
Aamir is an active volunteer in his community, dedicating his
time to organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, where he is
a longtime build volunteer, and Woodgreen Community
Services, where he is a volunteer career placement counselor.
Norm Tasevski is a Management Consultant at Aperio, a
management consulting firm that works exclusively with
organizations (private and nonprofit) that have a social
purpose. Norm helps clients to idea generate, plan and execute
their social enterprises/social purpose businesses. He chairs
SSO’s social enterprise task force.
Mary Alberti is the CEO of the Schizophrenia Society of
Ontario, and has led the organization since 2001. Mary and the
board work collaboratively in setting the mission and strategic
vision for SSO across Ontario. Mary brings over twenty years
of experience working in the non-profit sector, with individuals,
families, communities, corporations, government and nonprofits. Mary has an M.A. from McMaster University, in the area
of social welfare policy and administration.
www.schizophrenia.on.ca
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