Mental health and addictions specialists meet in Kingston

For Immediate Release - June 13, 2006 (Kingston)- The annual Eastern Ontario Summer Institute in Mental Health and Addiction will bring mental health and addictions specialists from across the region to Kingston for three days of learning and networking, from June 14-16, 2006. This educational event,sponsored by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) and hosted by Providence Continuing Care Centre-Mental Health Services(PCCC-MHS), will provide the latest information and professional development for service providers. The Institute is now sold out, attesting to the benefits of collaborative community partnerships, as well as the need for local training opportunities.

Event Highlights

Wednesday, June 14: In keeping with the province’s emerging focus on health promotion and wellness, the first day will focus on self-care and wellness for mental health professionals, with concrete strategies to increase personal success and capacity for self-care and wellness. Charles Marcus, best-selling Canadian author and motivational speaker from Toronto will deliver the keynote address entitled “Success is Not a Spectator Sport” in addition to a Self Care and Wellness Workshop, facilitated by Psychologist Dr. Jim Muirhead and Murray Hillier, Empowerment and Education Coordinator, both from PCCC-MHS.

Thursday, June 15:A plenary session: "Promoting Health, Ourselves and Our Community" will kick off the day, followed by sessions on Concurrent Disorders Screening Tools, and Harm Reduction: Treatment Strategies. Harm Reduction, a topic that can generate considerable dialogue and controversy, will carry over to the final day.

Friday, June 16:Two other courses, one focusing on practical strategies to nurture Mental Health Recovery, and a second exploring current therapeutic approaches to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder will complete the calendar. Faculty for courses have been drawn from Providence Continuing Care Centre, the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Addiction Services of Thames Valley, Hincks-Dellcrest Centre in Toronto, as well as Amy Long from the National Empowerment Centre in Lawrence, Massachusetts.

The plenary lunch on the final day will profile Paul Huras, CEO of the South East Local Health Integration Network (LHIN), and David Kelly of the Ontario Federation of Mental Health and Addiction Programs, speaking on the impact of the emerging Local Health Integration Networks: “What will LHINs Mean to the Mental Health and Addiction Fields,” with respondents reflecting on the significance and impact of LHINs to local mental health and addictions services.

In short, more than 200 participants working in mental health and addictions in Eastern Ontario can expect a rich learning experience in their own neighborhood.

The Planning Committee partner organizations include the Alliance of South Eastern Ontario Addiction Services, CFB Kingston, Champlain Addiction Coordinating Body, Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre, Frontenac Community Mental Health Services, Frontenac, Lennox and Addington Addictions and Mental Health Coalition, Hotel Dieu Hospital, Ontario Federation of Community Mental Health and Addiction Programs, Options for Change: Community Addiction Treatment Services, and the Royal Ottawa Health Care Group.

-30-

For more information or to arrange an interview with one of the Institute experts, contact:

Jennifer Barr, Education and Publishing Consultant, East Region, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health: 613-256-1397; Barbara Theman, Director of Communications, Providence Continuing Care Centre: 613-548-5567, ext. 5483

The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) is a specialized teaching hospital fully affiliated with the University of Toronto, and is the largest mental health and addiction facility in Canada. CAMH is also a Pan American Health Organization and a World Health Organization Collaborating Centre.