Virtual Mental Health Forum Program 2020

The events of 2020 have been an incredible test of our resilience. The term new normal has become part of our shared narrative, but Dr. Robyne Hanley-Dafoe argues that this framing is not only unhealthy, but it also undermines the efforts of helping professionals who have been doing everything in their power to keep communities healthy, supported and safe. Even before the pandemic, the prevalence of mental health issues, addictions, stress and burnout put an immense strain on our communities. As COVID has created increased pressures and brought many aspects of daily life to a startling halt, it has also created an opportunity to re-examine how we can better foster resiliency in ourselves and our clients. With a message that is both practical and inspirational, multi-award-winning psychology and education instructor Dr. Robyne Hanley-Dafoe helps participants regain a sense of order in destabilizing times. In this interactive and engaging keynote, Dr. Dafoe will examine the fundamentals of resiliency, sharing strategies grounded in global research and real-world case studies that help foster resiliency within others and ourselves

COVID-19 has shown us how quickly our working world can be turned upside down, and Capital “L” Leadership can play a key role in helping teams manage mental health strain and develop new skills applicable to their teams, clients, and families. During this workshop, Brian Knowler will lead you through core elements that leaders need to ensure they and their teams can navigate the many impacts that mental health issues can have in today‘s uncertain world.

*This session is also available on Day 2

This session will explore how stress, anxiety, and traumatic stress impact the workplace and human services staff. Using best practices identified by the Canadian Mental Health Association, participants will explore how to notice, talk about, and collaborate on interventions to mitigate or eliminate the psychosocial risks associated with stress and trauma. Paying particular attention to secondary traumatic stress, participants will leave with a greater understanding of the impacts their work can have on their mental health.

Speaker: 

• Lawrence D. Blake, M.Phil, PhD(c), Certified Psychological Health and Safety Advisor Program Manager, Mental Health Works, Canadian Mental Health Association 

Under the Province’s new social assistance reform model, Ontario Works will increase its focus on stabilizing the lives of clients, and will no longer provide employment-related services. However, even service managers in prototype areas that are currently transitioning to this new model lack information about the overall vision for the new system and the details of how it will work. In this session, service managers in prototype areas will discuss how they are navigating this incredibly challenging situation in order to support, equip and prepare staff to support the mental wellness of clients.

Moderator: 

• Grace Mater, OMSSA Secretary and Director, Children’s Services & Neighbourhood Development Division, Healthy & Safe Communities Department, City of Hamilton

Speakers:

• Melissa Austin, Manager of Social Assistance and Employment Opportunities, Niagara Region Community Services
• Ann Marie Fitzgerald, Manager of Social Assistance and Employment Opportunities, Niagara Region Community Services
• Bonnie Elder, Director of Ontario Works, City of Hamilton
• Susan Evenden, Director of Social Assistance and Homelessness, City of Brantford
• Jennifer Glover, Ontario Works Manager, Northumberland County
• Janine Mitchell, Manager of Human Services, City of Kawartha Lakes
• Cheryl Faber, Director of Social Assistance, District of Muskoka

The COVID-19 pandemic has been especially difficult for those living in social and economic conditions that already contribute to poor mental health. Without equitable access to support and resources, social assistance clients are at greater risk of self-medicating to cope with isolation, loneliness, fear, and the resurfacing of traumatic memories. In this session, psychotherapist Megan Phillips will provide an overview of relapse warning signs, and brainstorm with the audience about creative ways to connect clients with they help they need in these very difficult times.

This workshop will teach front-line human services professionals how to diffuse challenging situations using speech, body language, locus of control, active listening, empathy, rapport-building, service navigation and maintaining boundaries. In addition, facilitators will explore how to overcome barriers to implementing these strategies.

Speakers:

• Abhilash Vanethu, Clinical Lead, 24/7 Crisis Support Peel-Dufferin, Canadian Mental Health Association Peel-Dufferin
• Angelica Fasulo-Matajic, Crisis Support Worker, 24/7 Crisis Support Peel-Dufferin, Canadian Mental Health Association Peel-Dufferin

The pandemic is shining a light on the social, economic and systemic inequities that place excessive stress on marginalized people, including many low-income, Indigenous, and African-Canadian families. The speakers in this session will discuss how the pandemic is amplifying the need for mental health supports in the communities they serve and discuss interventions for parents and children. This session will also include information about how staff in child care settings can learn to recognize and effectively deal with the signs of anxiety and stress in children, as well as in themselves. 

Speakers:

• Ekua Asabea Blair, CEO, Massey Centre for Women
• Cathy Syrette, Executive Director, Indigenous Friendship Centre, Sault Ste. Marie
• Kelly Smith, MSW, RSW, Child Therapist and Trainer, Crisis & Trauma Resource Institute

In this session, Wendy Beales, MSW, RSW and Supervisor of Programs and Specialized Services with the Region of Durham will explore strategies for tapping into and holding onto optimism during difficult and challenging times. Drawing from therapeutic models such as Acceptance Commitment Therapy, Mindfulness and Narrative Therapy, Wendy will explore ways to increase psychological flexibility and to add to our resiliency tool-kits for the days and months ahead.

*This session is also available on Day 2

Kim Katrin is a public researcher, human rights educator, and co-founder and Executive Director of The People Project, who credits her strong emotional resilience with her ability to heal as a survivor and sustain long term community-based development. Kim’s work is about creating an understanding of health equity through community engagement, and she balances both anecdotal lived experience and tangible practices for immediately reducing stress and confronting trauma. In this keynote, Kim will explore how intersections of race, sexual orientation, and gender impact mental wellness. Through shining a light on these connections, she will guide an inclusive discussion with a holistic focus on mental wellness and community engagement.

Speakers: