The Capacity Building & Education division promotes awareness and reduces stigma around mental illness through developing and providing education and programming. We provide speakers and skill development workshops on topics like the myths and realities of mental illness, suicide intervention, mental health in the workplace and surviving war trauma and torture, in order to increase the public’s awareness of mental health and mental illness. See the Training section for information on all workshops offered.
Our education team holds events during Mental Health Week in May and Mental Illness Awareness Week in October. We also promote awareness of mental health related issues in the media to fight the stigma of mental illness. In our TAMI program, we make presentations in high schools on mental health, mental illness and suicide. We also lend out educational videos to the public about mental health.
Renée Ouimet
Division Director
613-737-7791 ext. 124
Staff
Linda O’Neil
Françoise Drouin-Soucy
Elise Laviolette
Kamilla Riabko
Tyrone Gamble
Marie-Claire Poulin
Media Relations
Tim Simboli
Executive Director
613-737-7791 ext. 249
Renée Ouimet
Division Director
613-737-7791 ext. 124
Education
Partners for Progress (volunteer program)
Partners for Progress is a peer support program which matches volunteers who have experienced serious mental health problems with people who are facing similar issues.
All our volunteers have personally experienced serious mental health problems and must be at least 18 years of age. They are friendly and interested in supporting others who are going through similar experiences. Our volunteers spend two hours per week with their peers for a minimum of six months. All peer supporters must be willing to attend orientation, ongoing training sessions and a supportive team meeting once a month.
Partners for Progress offers an orientation and skill training program focused on wellness and recovery. Training is provided in peer support and recovery principles, along with ongoing educational opportunities. Program staff provide support, supervision and consultation to our volunteers.
The Partners for Progress program encourages participants to grow in dignity and self-worth through supporting others. If you are interested in volunteering with Partners for Progress, please contact:
Kamilla Riabko
613-737-7791 ext. 118
Talking About Mental Illness (TAMI)
TAMI is a youth awareness program aimed at reducing the stigma associated with mental illness. Many youth who would benefit from getting help, do not get support for their mental health symptoms because of the negative stereotypes associated with having a mental illness. It’s important for youth and families to get help in order to deal with the stress and challenges of life.
Students benefit from the opportunity to interact with people who have experienced mental illness by hearing their stories. They learn how these individuals have successfully dealt with mental health challenges and to discover “they are just like everyone else.” TAMI also provides teachers with practical, ready-to-use information and materials on mental illness. Participants receive links to helpful resources for further information and community and professional support.
TAMI is currently being offered in different school boards and educational settings across Ontario and has been integrated in a number of high school courses.
The Teacher’s Resource Guide contains all of the information, support and tools teachers will need to implement Talking about Mental Illness in their classroom.
To book a classroom presentation, please contact:
Elise Laviolette
613-737-7791 ext. 126
Arts-related project
In The Wind is a vocational program that assists member artists with mental illness to market and promote their work. Visit the website at: www.moodsexpressed.com.
Capacity Building
CMHA Ottawa works to influence change that will improve the social determinants of health, including income, employment, housing, social inclusion, and culture and language for persons with serious mental illness. The division participates and provides leadership in numerous partnerships, coalitions, advisory committees and working groups including:
- Ottawa Suicide Prevention Network
- Alliance to End Homelessness
- Supportive Housing Network
- Table de Planification Francophone,
- Ottawa Developmental Network Services
- Champlain Human Services & Justice Coordinating Committee
- Mental Health Community Support Services
- CMHA Ontario Executive Directors network