Brief Summary

• General overview of most common youth mental illnesses, i.e., depression, anxiety, etc.Why it is important to talk with youth
• Practical tips on how to start and continue a conversation with youth
• Helpful resources, links
• Questions and answers

Registration is requested: If you would like to attend the February 22nd session, you can register by clicking HERE.  Admission is FREE.

Presenters
Dr. Smita Thatte, Clinical Director, Youth Program
Dr. Judy Makinen, Youth Program

Date
Thursday February 22, 2012
Presentation and Q&A Session – 7:00 to 8:30 pm
(Doors open at 6:30 pm)

Location
Auditorium, The Royal, 1145 Carling Avenue, Ottawa

For more information, please contact Sue Riley at sue.riley@theroyal.ca.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCBcN0st_e4

February 7, 2012 (Ottawa) – D.I.F.D. at The Royal has launched a mental health awareness video in support of the Power to the Purple Challenge.  Power to the Purple is about creating awareness, inspiring conversations, and raising funds to transform youth mental health.  The video, produced by Sound Venture Productions in support of D.I.F.D., includes personal stories from young people and families who have been touched by mental illness and can serve as a basis for discussions on mental health and suicide prevention.

The mental health awareness video is available online and has already received significant attention among youth through social media. The video has also been shared directly with schools which are participating in the Power to the Purple challenge in order to support their efforts to raise awareness about youth mental health. The Power to the Purple school challenge centers on February 7, 2012 when students are encouraged to wear purple and show their support for youth mental health.

 “With the mental health awareness video, we will be able to reach a wide audience of young people with the message that mental health can and should be discussed openly, and that help is available for those who need it,” said Andrée Steel, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Royal Ottawa Foundation for Mental Health. “The team at Sound Venture Productions has created a powerful and thought provoking tool which will help inspire ongoing conversations about youth mental health.”

The mental health awareness video can be viewed on the D.I.F.D. website or on You Tube. DVD copies are also available directly from The Royal.

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For more information:

Karen Monaghan
Media and Communications Manager, The Royal
613.722.6521 ext. 6449
Mobile: 613.784.9482
karen.monaghan@theroyal.ca

February 1, 2012 (Ottawa) – D.I.F.D. at The Royal today launched the Power to the Purple Challenge presented by Giant Tiger. Power to the Purple is about creating awareness, inspiring conversations, and raising funds to transform youth mental health. Ottawa Senator and 2012 NHL All Star player, Colin Greening is championing Power to the Purple, encouraging young people to talk about mental health and to ask for help when they need it.

“Mental health is not always easy to talk about but it’s definitely worth talking about,” said Colin Greening. “We don’t talk about mental health the same way we do physical health – I want to help change that. We need to discuss mental health openly and encourage young people to do the same.
The earlier a mental illness is recognized and treated, the better the chances for recovery. Through conversation we have the power to build understanding, end stigma, and save lives.”

“In Canada we lose close to 200 children and youth to suicide each year.  We need to reduce this tragic statistic,” said Andrée Steel, President and CEO, Royal Ottawa Foundation for Mental Health. “By participating in Power to the Purple, young people and adults will be inspired to talk about mental health without fear of judgment; assist in breaking down the stigma that has prevented those from seeking help in the past; and help to transform youth mental health by raising funds for research, education and suicide prevention.”

The Power to the Purple Challenge engages schools, corporations and individuals in the community to raise awareness and funds in support of D.I.F.D. The Power to the Purple school challenge centers on February 7, 2012. On that day, students are encouraged to wear purple to show their support for youth mental health. In the corporate and community challenges, companies, individuals and community groups are encouraged to start conversations about mental health, host anti-stigma events, and wear purple throughout the month of February. Each challenge also has a fundraising component. Participants are encouraged to get sponsors when they wear purple or run a fundraising event. More information about each of the challenges is available on the D.I.F.D. website.

The Power to the Purple Challenge has been made possible in part by a generous sponsorship from Giant Tiger, the Founding Presenting Sponsor of D.I.F.D’s Power to the Purple. “Through its involvement in Power to the Purple, Giant Tiger is demonstrating true corporate and community leadership which is hugely important in the fight against mental illness,” said Steel. “With support from Giant Tiger, we can encourage more youth as well as parents, teachers and other adults to make mental health part of their daily language.”    

“Our youth is our country’s greatest natural resource and they deserve our greatest attention as they are our future.  Giant Tiger is proud to be the Founding Presenting Sponsor of D.I.F.D’s Power to the Purple. We have supported and believed in the importance of this cause from its inception and challenge everyone to get involved,” said Lauren Moir, Vice President Marketing, Giant Tiger
Stores Limited.

D.I.F.D. is a youth-driven initiative focused on raising awareness and inspiring conversations about youth mental health. Created by friends and family of Daron Richardson who lost her life to suicide at the young age of 14, D.I.F.D. is inspired by hope for a future where young people will reach out for help without fear or shame. D.I.F.D. supports programs and initiatives aimed at transforming youth
mental health.

About The Royal

The Royal is one of Canada’s foremost mental health care and academic health science centres. Its mandate is simple: to get more people living with mental illness into recovery faster. The Royal combines the delivery of specialized mental health care, advocacy, research and education to transform the lives of people with complex and treatment resistant mental illness. The Royal Ottawa Foundation for Mental Health raises funds that support The Royal’s work while placing a sharp focus on awareness building through the You Know Who I Am campaign. For more information, please visit www.theroyal.ca.

For more information:
Karen Monaghan
Media and Communications Manager, The Royal
613.722.6521 ext. 6449
Mobile: 613.784.9482
karen.monaghan@theroyal.ca  

Presenter: Virginia Lafond, MSW RSW

Come learn CBT Basics including techniques found to be helpful in managing symptoms as well as stress.  Please note that this series is open to all – first hand consumers, family and friends.  Please join us!

All family and friends are welcome. Your family member does not have to be a patient of The Royal. These sessions are free of charge and offered in English.

Click here for PDF. For more information, please call 613.722.6521 and ask for one of the following:

Siovone Bourgeois, MSW RSW x 6836
Emily Deacon, MSW RSW x 6774
Vanessa Morel, MSW RSW x 6207

Date: Thursday December 13th, 2012

Presentation and Q&A Session: 7:00 to 8:30 pm (Doors open at 6:30 pm)

Location: Auditorium, The Royal, 1145 Carling Avenue, Ottawa

For more information and to register for the December 13th session, please contact Sue Riley at sue.riley@theroyal.ca.

Date: Thursday November 15th, 2012

Presentation and Q&A Session: 7:00 to 8:30 pm (Doors open at 6:30 pm)

Location: Auditorium, The Royal, 1145 Carling Avenue, Ottawa

For more information and to register for the November 15th session, please contact Sue Riley at sue.riley@theroyal.ca.

Date: Thursday October 18th, 2012

Presentation and Q&A Session: 7:00 to 8:30 pm (Doors open at 6:30 pm)

Location: Auditorium, The Royal, 1145 Carling Avenue, Ottawa

For more information and to register for the October 18th session, please contact Sue Riley at sue.riley@theroyal.ca.

Date: Thursday September 20th, 2012

Presentation and Q&A Session: 7:00 to 8:30 pm (Doors open at 6:30 pm)

Location: Auditorium, The Royal, 1145 Carling Avenue, Ottawa

For more information and to register for the September 20th session, please contact Sue Riley at sue.riley@theroyal.ca.

Date: Thursday June 14th, 2012

Presentation and Q&A Session: 7:00 to 8:30 pm (Doors open at 6:30 pm)

Location: Auditorium, The Royal, 1145 Carling Avenue, Ottawa

For more information and to register for the June 14th session, please contact Sue Riley at sue.riley@theroyal.ca.