A pair of Canadian Mental Health Association programs were featured by CTV Toronto in the lead up to Bell Let’s Talk Day this week.
Health and lifestyle reporter Pauline Chan covered CMHA Toronto’s InkWell creative writing workshops for individuals with lived experience of mental health or addictions issues, as well as CMHA Ontario’s provincial cognitive behavioural therapy-based telephone coaching program BounceBack.
Chan’s story on InkWell features CMHA Toronto client, Puja, who shares her story of severe anxiety and depression and how creative writing has helped her through it. The BounceBack piece features program graduate Shealyn, who discusses how monthly calls with her telephone coach and guided workbooks helped her manage her thoughts and reactions to emotionally-challenging situations. Chan also toured BounceBack’s telephone coaching centre operated by CMHA York and South Simcoe.
InkWell’s creative writing drop-in workshops are free and are led by award-winning professional writers with lived experience of mental illness. Anyone over the age of 18 who self-identifies as having a mental health or addictions issue is welcome to attend. No registration necessary.
BounceBack is a free skill-building program designed to help Ontario adults and youth 15+ manage low mood, mild-to-moderate depression and anxiety, stress or worry. Delivered over the phone with a coach and through online videos, it provides tools that will support you on your path to mental wellness.