Toronto Western Hospital offers a wellness group within its mental health and addiction services for Portuguese-speaking clients. Once a week for about one hour a group of us meet to do physical activity. Usually I (a mental health clinician) lead an aerobics class or we meet at a gym in the hospital and the participants work out on their own with guidance. This is done in Portuguese for PMHAS clients.

Included in the program are discussions about physical health, healthy eating habits and mental health, as well about 20 minutes of guided relaxation with a focus on mindfulness. It is a fun group. This is all done in Portuguese.

We service many clients who would benefit from physical activity but getting them to actually try the class has been difficult. Another challenge has been getting funding to purchase resistance bands for strengthening. The success is evident among the clients who do try to keep coming back. I have a steady number of six participants.

For more information, contact:
Noemia Cerqueira
Mental Health Clinician
Toronto Western Hospital
Phone Number: (416) 603-5974
E-Mail: noemia [dot] cerqueira [at] uhn [dot] on [dot] ca
Website: http://www.uhn.on.ca
 

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