An innovative seniors mental health program led by CMHA Ontario was featured this week on CBC’s flagship news program, The National. The segment focused on mental health challenges faced by older Canadians, who have the highest suicide rate of any age group. One third of seniors in Canada experience anxiety and depression.
“It’s a time of loss. You’re losing friends, you’re losing loved ones, your body is changing, your purpose in life is changing,” Jenny Hardy, coordinator of the Living Life to the Full for Older Adults project told The National.
The Living Live to the Full course offers an opportunity for participants to shift their thinking and behaviour, she said.
Living Life to the Full is an evidence based course based on the principles of cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT). In eight, 90-minute sessions, participants gain skills and knowledge that help them cope with life’s challenges. While the course is intended for all ages, CMHA Ontario recently led a provincial initiative to bring the course to older Canadians, demonstrating its benefits for this population.
To view the full segment, check out the video below.
For more information on Living Live to the Full project, visit the program webpage.