CMHA Ontario and the Rotman Research Institute at Baycrest have partnered to evaluate the Living Life to the Full for Caregivers 55+ project. This unique venture works to understand the impact of a mental health promotion program currently being delivered in Toronto in partnership with community agencies. The program, Living Life to the Full, is an 8-week course based on the principles of cognitive behaviour therapy. Also known as “12 hours that can change your life”, Living Life to the Full provides groups with skills and knowledge to cope with life’s challenges. In a study titled Community-based group intervention for older adult caregivers experiencing low mood and stress: A Toronto study, CMHA Ontario and the Rotman Research Institute will work to answer questions related to access, satisfaction, and impact on isolation, mood, stress, and overall wellbeing for caregivers participating in the program.
The study, which runs from September 2017 to October 2018, will help to shed light on caregiver mental health and impact of programs such as Living Life to the Full.
Dr. Nasreen Khatri, a researcher with the Rotman Research Institute, is leading the study as the principal investigator. Dr. Khatri is a registered clinical psychologist who specializes in the assessment, treatment and research of mood and anxiety disorders. She joined the Rotman Research Institute, a brain institute fully affiliated with the University of Toronto, in 2012 where she continues to study how depression impacts the aging brain. Dr. Khatri joined the Living Life to the Full team in 2014, when she partnered with CMHA Ontario on a pilot project to study how Living Life to the Full impacted older adults in community settings.
Spaces are still available for Living Life to the Full courses in Toronto. If you or someone you know is a caregiver over the age of 55, and would like to register for the course, please visit the program webpage at www.ontario.cmha.ca/caregivers-toronto!
Questions about the project? Please contact Jenny Hardy, Program Manager, at jhardy@ontario.cmha.ca.