Our program is designed to assist individuals who are 18 years of age and older, living in the City of Greater Sudbury, who have been diagnosed with a severe and persistent mental illness, and have experienced psychosis.

The overall goal is to encourage exercise and fitness as an integral aspect of the individual's weekly health routine.

Objectives:

1. To educate clients in the importance of exercise & nutrition to overall health & wellness
2. 2. To provide clients with the knowledge they need to make informed choices about their level of fitness and nutrition.
3. To provide clients with the opportunity for clients to participate at the YMCA throughout the 8 week program to increase their level of comfort with this environment.
4. To provide staff support to clients throughout the 8 weeks and beyond this within the maintenance program stream.
5. To provide the opportunity for clients to gain skills in safely using the facilities, equipment and programs at the YMCA.
6. To assist the client with incorporating fitness into their daily and weekly routines.
7. To educate clients in flexibility, strength and cardiovascular health exercises and routines.
8. To encourage clients to apply for a YMCA subsidized pass and assist with application process, if required.
9. To provide a solid educational and experiential basis upon which to begin the process of enhancing health and wellness.

Since the program is twice a week, one of the days is strictly health promotion education. Topics such as medication and metabolic syndrome, diabetes prevention and maintenance, heart and stroke, smoking cessation and nutrition are covered. Community experts are brought in to address many of these topics and these sessions are open to and advertized all clients of the clinic and their health providers.

We partner with the YMCA who provides our clients with a free membership for 8 weeks. They also have a trainer do individualized appointments and workouts for our clients. Peer graduates of the group can help with fitness regimen at the YMCA. Our YMCA additionally has a process of subsidizing memberships based upon income, so that the costs of membership, and therefore fitness, are not prohibitive to an individual on ODSP or CPP. Success is measured on a client by client basis, and may include, weight loss, change of eating habits, continued to participation in the YMCA by purchasing their own membership, assisting future groups as a peer helper etc. 
 

For more information, contact:

Karen Rebeiro-Gruhl, Occupational Therapist
Phone: 705-523-4988, ext. 4383
E-mail: krebeiro [at] hrsrh [dot] on [dot] ca

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