How Did You Celebrate?

Last week, activities were held across the province in celebration of Children's Mental Health. In the coming weeks we will be sending out a Summary Report of Children's Mental Health Week 2012.

If you have not already done so, please send us a brief summary of the activities hosted by your agency, including events, news releases, media coverage... we'd love to have it all! As a knowledge exchange tool we'd like the report to be as comprehensive as possible.

Thanks for your help!

And the winner is...!

Congratulations everyone on yet another fabulous Children's Mental Health Week!

Here at CMHO we are pleased to say that Change The View 2012 was a huge success! Thank you to everyone who came out to celebrate at the Masonic Temple on Friday evening. It was our highest attendance to date and that is thanks to YOU!

This year we received 185 videos - fifty percent more entries than last year's contest.  With these numbers it is clear that youth are engaged and are taking a stand against stigma.  The grand prize winner of $2000 and the runners-up were selected by a panel of sixteen youth judges from CMHO's Youth Action Committee and East Metro Youth Services.

Check out our winning videos and our honourable mentions here! You can also watch them on our YouTube channel.

Thanks again!

CMHO Commercial Renewal Terms

Renewal terms for the Group Commercial Property and Casualty Insurance Program have been finalized between CMHO and Moore-McLean Insurance Group. We are happy to announce that the premium rates for the insurance renewal program for the effective dates of May 1 2012 – May 1 2013 are on an "as is” basis for all lines of coverage, with the exception of a 5% reduction to be granted on all Errors & Omissions policies.

Moore-McLean Insurance Group is able to provide 'on site' quoting sessions at your location. These sessions provide an opportunity for employees to receive in-person quotes from a Moore-McLean representative and further benefit from the advice our knowledgeable staff is able to provide. Sessions can be set up for time slots that are convenient for you and your staff (e.g., lunch hour, shift change, etc.). We are now booking times for July 2012.

Contact Shiraz Mohideen, Manager, Moore-McLean Group Home & Automobile Program, to set up a time that's best for you and your employees. Shiraz can be reached at 888-404-0000 or by email at: shirazmohideen AT mooremclean DOT com.

Say What You Mean, Do What You Say, and Most of All, Be Clear About It!

‘When composing written warnings…, it is absolutely crucial to use decisive language to convey the message, and to leave no room for assumptions.’ Using a real life example from one of our member centres, Moore-McLean Insurance Group illustrates how written communication needs to contain clear language, which sets out expectations and consequences for agency protocol violation. Click here to learn more.

Mental Health Commission of Canada Releases Strategy

The Mental Health Commission of Canada released its strategy Changing Directions, Changing Lives: The Mental Health Strategy for Canada on Tuesday, May 8, 2012. Included are six key directions:

1. Promote mental health across the lifespan in homes, schools and workplaces, and prevent mental illness and suicide wherever possible.
2. Foster recovery and well-being for people of all ages living with mental health problems and illness, and uphold their rights.
3. Provide access to the right combination of services, treatments and supports, when and where people need them.
4. Reduce disparities in risk factors and access to mental health services, and strengthen the response to the needs of diverse communities and Northerners.
5. Work with First Nations, Inuit and Metis to address their mental health needs, acknowledging their distinct circumstances, rights and cultures.
6. Mobilize leadership, improve knowledge and foster collaboration at all levels.

Download the strategy here
http://strategy.mentalhealthcommission.ca/download/

New Training for Recreation and Sport Leaders in Canada

HIGH FIVE® National, a division of Parks and Recreation Ontario, launched the first training of its kind to help sport and recreation leaders nurture children’s mental health. HIGH FIVE® Healthy Minds for Healthy Children builds on Parks and Recreation Ontario's existing expertise in healthy child development with an online tutorial and downloadable resource to help those working with children positively influence their mental health. To learn more about their training, click here (PDF, 7 pages).