Success Stories

Run Group Therapy Working for Teens at Credit Valley Hospital

A fantastic run group therapy is doing wonders for teens who are patients at Mississauga's Credit Valley Hospital. The program, started by Dan McGann, puts teens through a 12-week session of running at least twice per week, ending in a run of 5kms. Dan has spoken to our charity organization, CameronHelps (www.cameronhelps.ca) and we are supporting Dan's program and with his help, hope to duplicate the success of this program in other regions under the brand, Team Unbreakable. The CEO of CameronHelps also volunteers at the sessions, as one of the coaches.

The Path to Self-Care: Using film to explore the gift of diabetes

The Gift of Diabetes is an award winning film that explores the ongoing impacts of colonization and historical trauma on mental, physical, spiritual and emotional health. As the film opens, we learn that Ojibway filmmaker Brion Whitford has not taken any steps to manage the diabetes he has lived with for many years. He now faces serious complications. During a visit to an Elder, Whitford learns about the Medicine Wheel, a tool used by some Aboriginal communities to explain the interconnectedness of four dimensions of health: mental, physical, spiritual and emotional.

Some Serious Carnival Game Ideas

The physical activity program at Haldimand-Norfolk Resource Centre (HNRC) is moving outside the box – and their building. HNRC program manager Susan Roach explains how they were inspired by the television show Minute to Win It to play some new games, and then brought them outdoors to shake out a smile.

Dancing the dark away

This personal story reveals how one woman leads others to dance despite her struggle with anxiety and panic attacks.

Moving from the kitchen to the garden

Eating, cooking, growing: the healthy eating programs of the Canadian Mental Health Association, Grey-Bruce Branch have involved consumers in a number of ways. The “healthy brunch” program offers a hot brunch daily to those in need, as a part of their drop-in program. Donations of food have been received from local grocery stores (food near but still before its expiry date), from farmers at harvest time and from local butchers. Word of mouth and local media coverage have encouraged community donations.
Continue reading CMHA Grey-Bruce Branch's story...

Stretching One's Reach

I have been teaching Pilates and Yoga at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) since April of 2007. My program is a closed program for inpatients within the Women's Unit at the CAMH College Street Site. We meet once per week, on a weekday evening...
Continue reading Lynn's story...

Finally Fit!

Nadine Reid, a community service worker at Sound Times Support Services in Toronto, offers a personal account of her fitness success and how she was inspired to develop healthy living programs for the consumer/survivor community.
Continue reading Nadine's story...