"More than ever before, Canadians play many different roles in their lives. They are workers, parents, spouses, friends, caregivers of elderly relatives and volunteers in their communities. They must also make room in their lives for taking care of their own physical and mental well-being. Not surprisingly, achieving balance among all these competing priorities can be difficult. This overload can be heightened by new technologies that were actually intended to make our work lives easier – through email, cell phones and other electronic devices, many workers are expected to be available 24/7, making the achievement of a balance between work and the rest of our lives even more difficult." 

- CMHA National 2021-

The workshops below are designed for participants to learn how these stressors impact on mental health and how to find balance. They include valuable information, self-care strategies and practices that promote mental well-being.

Compassion Fatigue

This is a highly interactive full-day or half day workshop, incorporating a combination of solo, small group and whole group activities. Throughout the day, participants work through a personalized action plan that serves as a practical tool for dealing with the effects of their own compassion fatigue. Past participants have reported feeling inspired to make meaningful changes in their personal, professional and organizational lives in addition to learning practical strategies for identifying and dealing with the costs of caring.

Food And Mood: How Diet Can Affect Your Mental Health

This session offers participants insights into the connection between nutrition and mental health with practical tools for adding healthy choices into our day-to-day life.

Recent studies indicate a biological connection between what we eat and how it affects our mental and physical well-being. This session explores how food can affect our body’s natural physical and mental responses to stress and lifestyle.

Participants will also learn how to select foods that support well-being to ensure a healthy body and a healthy brain. Participants will be introduced to current trends and how healthy habits can optimize personal and professional performance and well-being.

Keeping Mentally Healthy Throughout Retirement

This session offers a proactive approach to planning for retirement, with a focus on keeping a mentally healthy perspective. Participants will learn how to navigate the emotional challenges of retirement by identifying fears and expectations, and by creating an active plan for an emotionally healthy retirement. This session is designed for individuals who are contemplating workplace retirement and their partners.

Mental Fitness

Physical fitness gets plenty of attention, and for good reason. A healthy body can prevent conditions such as heart disease and diabetes, and help you maintain independence as you age. Mental fitness is just as important as physical fitness, and shouldn’t be neglected. Including mental dexterity exercises into your daily routine can help you reap the benefits of a sharper mind and a healthier body for years to come. Participants will learn these strategies and many more.

Mental Health Impacts on Newcomers

Newcomers to Canada may face many challenges: being far away from family and friends, financial and employment challenges, learning a new language and adapting to a new culture. Through all of this, maintaining good mental health and managing stress is vital. This workshop will help participants understand the barriers experienced by newcomers and learn early warning signs of mental health problems and gain knowledge of common mental disorders. This workshop will also provide tips and tools to improve mental health as well as the resources available in your local communities.

Mindfulness for Emotional Resilience & Well-Being

This session offers participants insights and practices for adding mindfulness into their day-to-day life. Participants will explore the practices of mindfulness as a self-care tool that is easily accessible and can be practiced at any time. This session explores the topics of how the brain processes stress, what emotional regulation is, and how to develop resilience and self-care strategies, and is suitable for novice and experienced meditation participants who are interested in exploring and building a mindful practice.

Positive YOU

Improving Attitude And Thinking

Many factors have an impact on how we view ourselves but with some key strategies, we can improve our way of thinking, our self-esteem and self-confidence. Learn to focus on strengths, success and skills to feel better about build resiliency.

Stress Essentials

Stress can have a detrimental effect on your health and wellbeing, as well as a negative impact on productivity. Learn to recognize signs and symptoms of stress as well as simple but effective tools and strategies to manage stress, and take care of you.

Strategies For Families And Caregivers

Learn strategies to help manage your own needs through self-care, establishing healthy boundaries, and other helpful resources. Participants will gain an understanding of basic mental health signs and symptoms, and how to help.

Strategies To Work Better And Live Happier

58% of Canadians report “overload” associated with their many roles at work, at home with family and friends and in their community. Learn strategies to improve work productivity and balance the needs of home life and family commitments. Gain practical skills & techniques to decrease stress and improve happiness.

Technology And Your Mental Health

This workshop allows participants to learn the risks technology can have on your emotional, social, and overall mental well-being. Learn about the signs in this 1-hour workshop learn the risks technologies can have on your emotional, social and overall mental health. Breakdown the signs and symptoms to help better determine if/when your usage is affecting you in a negative way. Participants will learn a multitude of strategies to manage personal use, engage positively with technology as well as how to help others identify and better balance their own “tech time”.

How Racism can affect our Mental Health

This session is designed to offer participants insights into the effects of racism on our mental health. Participants will explore the signs and symptoms of common mental health conditions, and the impacts of racism on both physical and psychological health. Participants are introduced to  positive coping strategies to maintain mental well-being and build self care actions to support overall mental well-being.
Participants will:

• Explore the difference between mental health and mental illness
• Understand racism and the areas where racism can surface
• Identify the physical and psychological impacts of racism
• Define healthy coping strategies to maintain mental health
• Discover attainable self-care options to support overall mental wellness