More than drinking, more than drugs, more than crime or cancer, suicide is now the second leading cause of death in Canadians 15-24 years old. On Sunday August 1, 2010, Michael Schratter, a Vancouver teacher and social columnist will embark on a one year global journey, cycling 40,000 km, crossing 6 continents and 30 countries, in an effort to bring awareness to mental illness and help shatter the stigmas that surround it. All gross proceeds raised during the campaign will go to the Canadian Mental Health Association BC Division.

From the road, Michael will be sharing his story and those of others, talking to students and the public to open the discussion of mental health in classrooms. “Canada’s youth suicide rate is already the third highest in the industrialized world” says Michael. “We must do everything we can to ensure these kids have solid support networks and above all, a sense of freedom to discuss mental health.”

Documenting his travels through the campaign blog along with twitter and facebook, followers will be able to witness first-hand every crack and cranny of this grueling expedition. “As much as the blog is to document my progress, above all it’s a platform for people to break their own silence,” says Schratter. “Creating a safe place for people to take a stand, and share their own struggles is the first step in empowering those affected by mental illness. Through education and understanding we can strip the stigma” he finished.

As someone who understands the pain and debilitating fear of discrimination that accompanies mental illness, Michael has vowed to do his part to help dispel the misconceptions from which stigma arises. In a campaign to rid the shame and bring reassurance to those affected, this endeavor is more than cycling trip; it is an international movement for personal rights.

Raising awareness, expectations, and funds, Michael Schratter will help shatter the stigma that is literally killing our youth.

(From Pamela Groberman’s press release)

Mental Health Camp is organized by Dr. Raul Pacheco-Vega and Isabella Mori.

Many thanks to our volunteers, on and offline!

Many thanks also to our sponsors:

Freelance Camp Vancouver 2010
Development Disabilities Association of British Columbia
Cosmic Blend
ROI Studios
Marketwire
Wilcox PR
Cathy Browne

Volunteers will be recognized by their bandanas.

All media must first register with our media concierge, Cathy Browne.

Confidentiality: While our media concierge will communicate with the media that they need to take great care to respect anonymity where desired, we are unable to guarantee it. Please take precautions as you see fit. Please discuss any questions you may have about this with Cathy Browne.

Social Media Users and Public Media Representatives: Please treat participants’ anonymity with utmost respect and only identify people who give clear indications that they wish to be identified.

Twitter Presence: We have volunteers who are gently shepherding the twitter stream. Our hashtag is #mhcyvr10. Our moderators are mhcmod1, mhcmod2 and mhcmod3.

Self Care: Please take care of yourself during this conference. Go for a walk, give yourself some quiet time, breathe. If you need a bit of a sounding board, please see Jael in the specially marked “Quiet Room” area.

Program

9:00-9:30
Welcome
Raul Pacheco and Isabella Mori
Auditorium

9:35-10:20
Arts Based Advocacy
Jay Peachy
Auditorium

The role of Art in therapy needs continuous awareness. Can art therapy be used for advocacy? J Peachy shares his personal journey in creativity and showcases some of his initiatives. Through ‘Sound Therapy Radio’ he brings people into the conversation. Guests share stories from their perspective on Arts and Mental Health.

BIO

J Peachy, a collective member at Gallery Gachet, is an arts based advocate for mental health. He saw his art as a means for survival in dealing with his challenges with Bi-Polar Disorder.

soundtherapyradio.com
twitter: Soundtherapyrad
FACEBOOK: Sound Therapy Radio

9:35-10:20
What it would take to go public with having ADHD? ADHD adults answer this question.
Pete Quily
Room 1

Pete says: “One reason people with mental health conditions get stigmatized is few go public about their condition, speak out and reduce stigma. I did a survey asking what would it take for ADHD adults to go public with ADHD and got 70 responses. Let’s discuss the answers and implications.

Pete Quily is a professionally trained Adult ADHD coach, speaker, blogger and ADHD advocate. He leads the Vancouver Adult ADD Support Group. This will be his 2nd talk at Mental Health Camp.

Blog: http://adultaddstrengths.com
Web: http://www.addcoach4u.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/petequily

9:35-10:20
Focusing and Natural Process Action Steps
Katarina Halm
Auditorium

1.The tale of Bradley the Engineer: how we learn to recognize our own best next steps.
2. Focusing and Change: allowing growth to emerge from “abiding with” our experience.
3. Group exercise: discovering Focusing’s famous Felt Sense.

Katarina’s background includes community psychotherapy with R.D.Laing, M.A. Institute of Transpersonal Psychology, teaching Inner Relationship Focusing in the tradition of Eugene Gendlin, Ann Weiser Cornell, and Barbara Mc Gavin.

http://happybones.wordpress.com/

10:20-10:40
Coffee Break, sponsored by Developmental Disabilities Association

10:40-11:25
Ripping the scab off through writing
Steffani Cameron
Auditorium

Shame keeps us all victims. Secrecy prevents healing. “If writing hurts, leaves me nauseous at the prospect of publishing, I know it’s what others need to read.” Steff’s goal is to leave listeners understanding the why and how of it, and wanting to reach for that same healing from openness.

Steffani has been blogging since 2004, chronicling a dramatic reversal of writers’ block and going into and coming out of depression. “Blogging’s cheaper than therapy, lasts longer than masturbation. What’s not to love?”

http://cuntinglinguist.com

@SmuttySteff.

10:40-11:20
“Digital Self Outing” – How I use social media to reduce stigma a voice for others who are not ready to share”
Steven Schwartz
Room 1

After being open about his Bipolar disorder for years, Steven started blogging this year, discussing what impact his openness has had on his life and others. He is also interested in talking about how social media can move the Mad Pride movement forward.

Steven is a TV journalist and has spoken on Radio and TV about mental illness.

Twitter: eatsshootsedits

http://theemperorhasnotoque.blogspot.com/

10:40-11:20
MENTAL MOOSE
Atrium

11:30-12:15
MHSM chat
Amy Kiel
Room 1

In this virtual session, Amy discusses creating the weekly Mental Health Social Media Chat (#mhsm) on Twitter and how it can be used a global forum. #mhsm is a means for professionals, activists, physicians, students, supporters and consumers alike to share their voice, collect ideas, and make a difference.

Amy is an advocate and a health activist, and has struggled with mental health issues herself. She has an education in psychology and has worked on a psychiatric unit.

twitter: abeeliever

http://unavitabella.com/

11:30-12:15

Covenant House’s blog “On the House”
Michelle Clausius

Michelle discusses how this blog helps break the silence around youth mental health issues through self expression and openness regarding mental illness. The young peoples` comics, poetry and photography have allowed Covenant House to spread the word about the prevalence of mental illness among youth while helping them to be heard.

Michelle Clausius is the Associate Director of Development & Communications at Covenant House Vancouver. Michelle has only recently dipped her toes into the social media pool.

www.covenanthousebc.org/blog

http://twitter.com/CovenantHouseBC

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Covenant-House-Vancouver/107216449311352?ref=mf

11:30-12:15
MENTAL HEALTH MOOSE
Atrium

12:15-1:45

LUNCH catered by Lunchbox Catering

1:00-1:30
Director Ken Paul Rosenthal screens the film “Crooked Beauty”
Auditorium

“Extreme sadness and sensitivity is not an illness, but a part of human experience to be explored with creativity and compassion”. The poetic documentary Crooked Beauty chronicles artist-activist Ashley McNamara’s transformative journey from childhood abuse to psych ward patient to pioneering mental health advocacy. She survived an alcoholic mother and battled substance-abuse issues when diagnosed as ‘bipolar’ at age 19 and incarcerated. Determined to overturn the stigmas around madness and develop authentic healing models for individuals diagnosed ‘mentally ill’, she co-founded The Icarus Project, a support network and grassroots media project. Ashley’s quest is to live with courage and dignity, and to critique standard psychiatric treatments.

www.crookedbeauty.com
www.kenpaulrosenthal.com

http://theicarusproject.net/

1:45-2:30
“Escape from Bummer Island – Imagining A Mental Health Adventure Game”
AJ
Room 1

Fun and Play are overlooked pathways back to healthy fulfilling living. What if computer game marathons were a game that actually helped bring people out of depressive episodes? How could we create a Farmville or Foursquare of mental health?

AJ Grew up in Toronto, did his undergrad at Princeton, has lived in London, Sao Paulo, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. He has had depression since he was 10 years old. He works as a leadership coach and facilitator.

Twitter: http://twitter.com/depression2_0
Blog – http://bit.ly/deptribe
Youtube – DepressionTribe

1:45-2:30
Removing the Split
Terra Attrill, Steffani Cameron, Steven Schwartz and Catherine Omega
Auditorium

Stigma surfaces anywhere, suggesting those with mental health issues should live double-lives: one where they seek wellness, another where they put on a happy face, silently suffering. What happens when we remove the split online, and become open about our struggles? Four panelists discuss their experiences, being ‘out’, and answer questions about how their lives have been affected.

Panelists: Terra Attrill (@zoeyjane), Steffani Cameron (@smuttysteff), Steven Schwartz (@eatsshootsedits) and Catherine Omega (@catherineomega) present their experiences as being ‘out’ about various forms of mental illness such as bipolar disorder, eating disorders, ADD, and post-partum depression.

1:45-2:30
MENTAL MOOSE
Atrium

2:35-3:20
Overcoming Obstacles: Social Media Meets the Healthcare Practice Community
Sean Cranbury
Room 1

Can we develop a ‘networked approach’ to patient care? Can we overcome reservations among decision-makers and change policy and culture within traditional institutions? What stories can we share that will help to show the power of social media in this context?

Sean Cranbury is a Vancouver-based communications/social media integration consultant working with arts organizations and non-profits. He is host and curator of Books on the Radio.

Twitter: @seancranbury

http://booksontheradio.ca/

http://cihc.ca/blog/

2:35-3:20
It’s not about Mental Illness
Isabella Mori
Auditorium

What ails our world is not the insanity of schizophrenia or addiction, it’s the insanity of global destruction. Isabella will make a connection between corporate dysfunction that facilitates disasters such as BP and Bhopal, and how this insanity might be lessened by the mental health expertise on the part of people with mental illness.

Isabella Mori is the co-founder of Mental Health Camp. A counsellor, she blogs about psychology, creativity, spirituality and social justice and occasionally deals with faulty wiring in her brain.

twitter: moritherapy

http://moritherapy.org

2:35-3:20
MENTAL MOOSE
Atrium

3:25-3:45
Coffee sponsored by Development Disabilities Association

3:50-4:25
Ride Don’t Hide – A Journalist Goes on a Bicycle Tour to Raise Awareness of Mental Health
Michael Schratter
Auditorium

Michael Schratter is about to embark on his 16-year-old goal: a one-year cycling trip around the world to create awareness, shatter the stigmas surrounding mental health and raise money for the Canadian Mental Health Association. He’ll talk about his adventure and how social media is going to make his trip more powerful.

Michael, a teacher and journalist for Vancouver’s 24 Hours, is an avid cyclist. Michael is also bipolar.

http://www.ridedonthide.com/

http://twitter.com/Michael24hrs

3:50-4:25
MENTAL MOOSE
Room 1 & Atrium

4:30-5:00
Ending Keynote
Auditorium

When I mentioned to Minna that we were still looking for sponsors, she consulted with her organizing team and suggested that “they could pay it forward”. That is, FreelanceCamp Vancouver 2010 would sponsor Mental Health Camp Vancouver 2010 so that we can reduce the admission fee from $25 to $10 per participant. Everything we collect from MHCYVR10 will go, in turn, to another charity. That’s our version of “Paying It Forward”.

Both Isabella and I (and particularly, myself) are very grateful to FreelanceCamp Vancouver 2010 and The Network Hub for sponsoring Mental Health Camp Vancouver 2010.

About FreelanceCamp Vancouver

An unconference style event for independent workers to connect, share knowledge, and become better freelancers.

About The Network Hub

The Network Hub mission is to become a catalyst for early stage companies to graduate into venture capital ready companies. Start-ups and entrepreneurs can capitalize on the experience, skills and networks that The Network Hub to provide to streamline development and accelerate commercialization of idea.

Ground-Breaking ‘Un-conference’ to Examine How Social Media Can Help Eradicate Stigma, Combat Discrimination

VANCOUVER, BC, June 15, 2010 – An estimated 20% of Canadians will personally experience some form of mental illness in their lifetime, with anxiety and depression being the leading challenges. Most Canadians have been touched by mental illness through a friend or family member. Yet mental illness is still a topic many people are silent about. According to the Canadian Mental Health Association, the stigma and discrimination surrounding mental illness present a serious barrier, not only to diagnosis and treatment, but also to acceptance in the community.

MentalHealthCamp is a unique ‘un-conference’ dedicated to using social media to combat this stigma. Introduced in Vancouver in April 2009, and held for the first time in Toronto this May, Vancouver’s second annual MHC, under the banner “Breaking our Silence. Setting us Free.” will be held at the UBC Aquatic Ecosystem Research Laboratory (AERL), located at 2202 Main Mall on the UBC campus from 8am-6pm on Saturday, July 10th, 2010.

“Keeping silent about mental illness and mental health diminishes their importance, fosters misunderstanding, and severely hampers sufferers who are in urgent need of counseling and treatment. We’re very excited to be providing a forum where these challenges can be discussed and overcome,” said Dr. Raul Pacheco-Vega, an environmental scientist and MentalHealthCamp co-founder. He and Isabella Mori, a psychotherapist and writer, are well-respected bloggers in Vancouver and avid users of social media tools including Twitter and Facebook.

“It is gratifying to see how quickly social media has helped so many people break down the barriers associated with mental illness by simply talking to and receiving support from others,” said Mori.
“One example is the weekly Mental Health Social Media chat on Twitter that brings activists, therapists and people with mental health issues together. This is unprecedented on a global level.”

Topics and talks to happen at MentalHealthCamp include (but are not limited to):

- Conversations around how to deal with discrimination within and beyond the mental health community.

- Discussions on how blogging helped a group of youngsters cope with mental illness.

- A live session with award-winning online radio show host Jay Peachy on using the arts for healing and advocacy in mental health.

- A session by blogger and “24 Hours Vancouver” journalist Michael Schratter about his international bicycle journey for mental health.

- A panel on the pros – and cons – of speaking out about mental illness/health.

In addition to a number of scheduled speakers, MentalHealthCamp’s un-conference model will allow for attendees to offer impromptu sessions. There will also be a ‘quiet room’ and counseling for people who need to take some time out. “We don’t just talk about mental health; we walk the talk and promote it,” said Dr. Pacheco-Vega. “Every effort will be made to ensure the comfort and anonymity of every attendee should they wish to remain anonymous.”

Registration to MentalHealthCamp is limited to 75 people. Admission is $25[Thanks to the sponsorship of Freelance Camp Vancouver 2010 we are able to reduce the admission fee to $10] but no-one will be turned away for lack of funds.

“This is a volunteer-driven, grass-roots event,” added Mori. “We are very grateful to UBC for donating space for the event, and thank our volunteers for stepping up and making this possible.”

Marketwire is a leading newswire service offering press release distribution, media contact management, multimedia, media monitoring services and other workflow solutions for public relations, investor relations, journalists and other communications professionals.

Thanks many to Gus Fosarolli, Senior Client Relations Manager for facilitating this sponsorship deal. Very much appreciated.

“Mental Moose” slots are opportunities for people to propose sessions the morning of the conference. The sessions will be voted on by participants, and the proposals with the most votes will be slotted into the available times. It’s called “Mental Moose” in nostalgic memory of Northern Voice’s Moosecamp.

9-9:30 Keynote

9:35-10:20
Room 1
Escape from Bummer Island – Imagining A Mental Health Adventure Game
By “Depression 2.0”

9:35-10:20
Room 2
Arts Based Advocacy: Sound Therapy Radio
By Jay Peachy

9:35-10:20
Room 3
Mental Moose

10:15-11:00
Room 1
Ripping the Scabs off Through Writing
By Steffani Cameron

10:15-11:00
Room 2
Digital Outing / Mad Pride
By Steven Schwartz

10:15-11:00
Room 3
Getting By With A Little Help From Our Friends
By Henry Jue

11-11:20 BREAK

11:25-12:10
Room 1
MHSM Chat – A virtual session about the weekly mental health chat on Twitter
By Amy Kiel

11:25-12:10
Room 2
How Covenant House’s blog “On the House” helps break the silence around mental health issues
By Michelle Clausius

11:25-12:10
Room 3
Mental Moose

12:15-1:40 LUNCH

1:45-2:30
Room 1
ADHD and stigma
By Pete Quily

1:45-2:30
Room 2
Panel: Being ‘out’ about various forms of mental illness such as bipolar disorder, eating disorders, ADD, and post-partum depression
By Terra, Steve, Steff and Catherine

1:45-2:30
Room 3
Mental Moose

2:35-3:20
Room 1
Who gets to talk about mental health? When, where, why, how?
By Isabella Mori

2:35-3:20
Room 2
Mental Moose

2:35-3:20
Room 3
Mental Moose

3:50-4:25
Room 1
The Power Of Words and The Power Of Bikes – A Journalist Goes on a Bicycle Tour to Raise Awareness of Mental Health
By Michael Schratter

3:50-4:25
Room 2
Mental Moose

3:50-4:25
Room 2
Mental Moose

4:30-5:00 Closing Statements

A raging success

creativefusion
@kevinclauson I think people believe #MHCTO was a “raging success” Any cool media opps lately?

comingoutofdark
Amazing people @mhcto incl @depression2_0 my heart is full of appreciation, gratitude & new ways of communicating #mentalhealth

comingoutofdark
RT @cborlido: Feel inspired by Mental Health Camp and walked out feeling a little more tech savvy.

aureliacotta
Best part of #mhcto? It was a safe space. No one called me a drug addict for taking meds. Unlike other places on the net.

remarkk
Leaving an emotional and satisfying close to #mhcto. An amazing group of people.

Some links

comingoutofdark
@mhcto @depression2_0 @AureliaCotta @comingoutofdark ’s response 2 Depression? It’s just the new trendy illness!

comingoutofdark
@mhcto @depression2_0 @aureliacotta have u seen this tragedy? -Depression? It’s just the new trendy illness!

comingoutofdark
check out the schedule of topics discussed at Mental Health Camp Toronto #mhcto MentalHealthCamp TO

Plans

bipolarsis
RT @comingoutofdark: RT @sharingstrength: What is the wishlist to create a peer support community. Will start with #mhsmca to meet Tuesdays at 7pm EST

madpsych
RT @hummingbird604: .@MHCTO @MadPsych Awesome to hear you’ll be on @CBCSpark – thanks @nora300 for making it happen!

earth_call
@madpsych Well done with #mhcto! I hear it might come to UK? I’m writing a mental health feature & would love to discuss #mhcto with you

Other Stuff

aureliacotta
My #mhcto tweeps should follow @kgranju because she has the uncommon bravery to blog about her son’s battle with #addiction

nocx
Thanks+#FF for 4000km combined travel to get to #mhcTO. @outofshell @gordonglenn @depression2_0 Rangers all.

1. CMHA_VB

   “Bipolar/postpartum depression/post traumatic stress disorder/social anxiety dismissed as a quack diagnosis”

   Blogging Against Disablism Day, 2009 « Raising My Boychick

   CMHA_VB

   When going to therapy is viewed like going to check in with a parole officer – Blogging Against Disablism Day #BADD

   Social Security benefits & women, working while disabled, and stigmatizing mental health terminology! « Undercover Punk

   CMHA_VB

   Viewing a disability as something that makes you “other” – About Autism/Aspergers – Blogging Against Disablism Day #BADD

   Daughter of the Ring of Fire » Blog Archive » Blogging Against Disablism Day 2010: Fear & Othering

   CMHA_VB

   “Daring to confess any sort of mental illness and/or instability can be used against u” Blogging Against Disablism #BADD

   Blogging Against Disablism Day: On Depression — The Curvature

   CMHA_VB

   “Sometimes I speak out, but sometimes, I’m ashamed ” National Blogging Against Disablism Day

   Blogging against disablism – Invisible disabilities « Diary of a Nobody

   CMHA_VB

   `Is being battered considered a mental health or a physical health issue?` National Blogging Against Disablism Day

   A Radical Profeminist: Blogging Against Disablism Day: What is a Disability in a Corporate Racist Patriarchy?

   CMHA_VB

   “Disablism = when a doctor ignores physical health problems bec you have mental health problems.” National Disablism Day

   incurable hippies musings and rants: Blogging Against Disablism Day: What Is Disablism?