CMHA Kelowna Archives - CMHA Kelowna

CMHA Kelowna collaborates with HeChangedIt to launch new series, supporting men’s mental health.

November 8, 2022 By Jessica Samuels Leave a Comment

KELOWNA, BC, November 8, 2022 – CMHA Kelowna’s Discovery College is launching their new Real Talk series on November, 24th. The first of the series’ focus is on men’s mental health, in collaboration with HeChangedIt. The purpose of the Discovery College Real Talk series is to bring people together and know we’re not alone in our experiences.

Men’s mental health is an important, but frequently unspoken topic. November is often recognized as men’s health month through Movember. During Real Talk: MENtal Health, CMHA Kelowna hopes to break down the stereotype so often connected to “being a man” while also acknowledging the conversation about men’s mental health can’t stop at the end of November.

Stigma and shame so often contribute to why a man doesn’t seek mental health support, and men are three times more likely to die by suicide. That’s why CMHA Kelowna and HeChangedIt create change, giving men more mental health support and resources. Real Talk: MENtal Health’s goal is to open up the conversation with a panel of six men sharing their experiences, breaking down what it means to ‘man up’, and giving understanding about the realities that men are facing, and offering support for attendees. Panels will include HeCast podcast host Mike Chisholm, retired NHL burn survivor & Author, Aaron Volpatti, and local coffee roaster Dan Connolly of The Local Chemist.

Mike Gawliuk, CEO of CMHA Kelowna, said “Statistics on depression and suicide highlight how prevalent mental health challenges are with men. Unfortunately, men are much less likely to seek or receive mental health care. There needs to be a bigger shift in our culture so that openly discussing mental health issues and accessing supports is seen as an act of strength, not weakness.”

Andre Brosseau, President of Innov8 Digital Solutions spoke of why they chose to sponsor the event, “All too often there are men who are suffering in silence. The typical social norms suppress men’s ability to express and share the challenges they are facing and HeChangedIt & CMHA Kelowna are helping redefine this. We truly believe it is important to recognize and help bring this to the forefront.”

The in-person event will take place at Okanagan Co-Lab from 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM on Thursday, November 24th. Attendees will hear from a panel of guys talking about their experiences and also have the opportunity to browse some local men’s organizations and businesses, and network with guys who want to change what it means to ‘man-up’.

You can register online for your free in-person ticket at www.discoverycollegekelowna.com.
Real Talk: MENtal Health is proudly sponsored by Innov8 Digital Solutions, and brought to you by CMHA Kelowna’s Discovery College in collaboration with HeChangedIt, and support from Co-Lab & Rebellious Unicorns.

Foundry Kelowna celebrates five years of supporting youth and families.

November 1, 2022 By Jessica Samuels Leave a Comment

Kelowna, BC, November 1, 2022 – Foundry Kelowna, an integrated mental health clinic for youth aged 12-24 and their families, is celebrating five years of being in the community. Since opening its doors in 2017, more than 4,500 youth and 3,000 families have accessed mental health services at the centre.

Billed as a ‘proof of concept’, Kelowna was the second Foundry location to open in BC. The goal for the innovative model is to fundamentally change the way youth and their families’ access mental health care through an integrated approach with a focus on prevention and early intervention. Foundry Kelowna, operated by CMHA Kelowna, offers mental health and substance use counselling and supports, primary care, in addition to an array of social services such as access to housing, employment, income, and peer supports. Now, five years later, there are more than 20 Foundry locations open across the province.

Mike Gawliuk, CMHA Kelowna CEO says the demand for the services was almost immediate. “What initially sparked the journey of Foundry Kelowna, was the understanding that there was a gap in reaching young people with mild-to-moderate mental health challenges. We knew then that early intervention and prevention was key to supporting youth in our community.”
Gawliuk says the number of young people and their caregivers who are in need has increased with the onset of the pandemic. “At Foundry Kelowna, we adapted and expanded services in order to respond to the need during incredible uncertainty. Providing virtual services to youth and families during the pandemic was a mainstay for us in terms of continuing to offer help. 2021 also saw the launch of Foundry Kelowna’s Wellness on Wheels – a first of its kind mobile unit that travels to West Kelowna, Westbank First Nation, and Lake Country to offer services for young people in those communities.”

Collaboration and partnership have been cornerstones of the overall Foundry model. “No one agency can do it all,” adds Gawliuk. “By working together, agencies and service providers in the community have a better chance to make it easier for young people to access care and navigate systems. The pandemic made collaboration much more challenging and we are looking forward to finding better ways to support youth in our community. We are so grateful to our many partners over the years.

In 2017, the community caught the vision and really helped make Foundry Kelowna a reality through generous donations, service partnerships and simply daring to do things differently. We look forward to the many years of working together to support youth and families in our community.”

About Foundry Kelowna

Operated by CMHA Kelowna, Foundry Kelowna is an integrated youth and family clinic that unites partner organizations to provide coordinated services addressing the primary care, mental health, substance use, counselling and social service needs of youth 12-24 and their families. Foundry Kelowna supports young peoples’ well-being by intervening early so youth can find the help they need, when they need it. To learn more, please visit:
Foundry Kelowna.

Preparing your child for back-to-school

September 1, 2022 By Jessica Samuels Leave a Comment

The essential role sleep plays in your child’s mental health

Human beings really need to sleep. It’s as simple as that. Sleep is essential for recharging and rejuvenating our minds and bodies. It makes it possible to function in our daily lives and contributes to our overall health, well-being, and quality of life.

Sleep is vital at all ages but plays a particularly crucial role in a child’s development. Studies have shown that kids who regularly get an adequate amount of sleep have improved learning, attention, memory, behavior, and overall mental and physical health. However, studies also show that one in four Canadian youth are not getting enough sleep, with one in three have trouble going to sleep or staying asleep.

Not getting enough sleep alters children’s cognitive function and their ability to regulate emotions, impacting their overall well-being. If left unaddressed, this can increase the risk of developing mental health problems, such as anxiety and depression that may cause further sleep disruption.

Summertime can be busy, and routines can fall out of place. Children are out of school and may experience more disturbances with their sleep. With back-to-school around the corner, it is important to get back to basics, starting with your child’s sleep schedule.

It is suggested that children ages 5-13 years old should get 9-11 hours of sleep per night and youth ages 14-17 years old should get 8-10 hours of sleep per night.

So, how can you combat sleep disturbances and set your child up for success? Consider these tips when preparing for back-to-school:

Create a routine
Children need routines. as they influence emotional, mental, and social development. Setting a bedtime and waking up at the same time every day is the first step to promoting well-being.

Reduce screen time
Technology like social media, TV, and video games, can keep your child’s mind active at night, interfering with their sleep. It is important for your mind to unplug before bed. Turning off these devices and other bright lights an hour or more before bed can help your child sleep and prepare them for a good night’s rest.

Set up a good sleep environment 
A relaxing environment is conducive to falling – and staying – asleep. Ensuring your child has a comfortable mattress, dark curtains and a quiet space will support their sleep.

We are thrilled to partner with Sleep Country Canada this back-to-school season to highlight the connection between sleep and mental health. As part of the campaign, Sleep Country is donating $100,000 to the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) to support youth this academic year.

This article originally appeared on the CMHA National website.

CMHA Kelowna collaborates with HeChangedIt to launch new series, supporting men’s mental health.

Foundry Kelowna celebrates five years of supporting youth and families.

Preparing your child for back-to-school

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