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

“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

We will have 15 sessions between 45 and 60 minutes’ length.

The topic is “Breaking Our Silence. Setting us Free.” We would like to examine how silence hurts mental health, and, even more importantly, how using our voice helps us achieve and maintain mental health.

We are looking for session leaders who speak from personal or professional experience with mental health or mental illness.

We will have 9 slots for prearranged speakers (e.g. approved by the selection committee), and will keep 6 slots open for “Mental Moose” – a continuation of the unconference tradition of MooseCamp at Northern Voice. During Mental Moose, participants who are interested in leading a session can pitch them on Saturday morning with a quick 30-second talk. Everyone will then vote on which sessions will be presented, and the winning sessions will be scheduled.

Also, we would like to experiment with having one or two virtual sessions. Do you live in New Zealand and would like to present? Are you unable to leave your children and your dogs alone in rural Quebec but have an important story to share? If you have the technical know-how, let’s talk about using technology to bring you right into our conference here in Vancouver.

Would you like to present? If so

• please contact us and send us a short proposal, containing
• your name(s) and email,
• an overview over what you would like to discuss (100-200 words), including how your talk relates to the topic of “Breaking Our Silence. Setting Us Free.”
• a bio (30-100 words)
• indicate your social media presence (e.g. your blog, twitter address, etc.)
• tell us a little (30-100 words) about your personal and/or professional experience with mental health and mental illness
• indicate whether you’d like to present in real life or whether you propose a virtual session

This call for speakers is open during all of May 2010 – which, incidentally, is Mental Health Month.

And I’m hoping that’s where social media can really make some inroads. For one thing, it’s always there – you can post to a blog or go on to Twitter at any time. And when you feel you have no one to talk to, no friend to call, it’s nice to know that you can find whole communities of people who may be dealing with some of the same things as you or even just fellow twitterers to help distract you from what you may be going through.

When I first « came out » as having a mental illness, I was really hoping – almost expecting that I would be accepted, even embraced by those around me. That it would now be easier to get the support I needed – but that wasn’t the case at all. If anything, I felt that people would use my diagnosis against me – in ways that even affected my daughter. Friends, family, colleagues, the government, it seemed like I was taken dismissed as being almost a lesser person because of my diagnosis.

When I started my first twitter account about three months ago, I was worried about what to put in my bio because having a mental illness is a big part of who I am. But I decided to be open about my struggles, and for the first time, I was embraced for it. People followed me BECAUSE of my diagnosis, not IN SPITE of it. If I tweet that I am feeling down, people respond with virtual hugs.

And I have found out about things like the Coping Digitally panel at Northern Voices, MentalHealthCamp and other events, ressources and contacts where I can be be myself, be proud of who I am and – the best thing of all – not have to feel lost, alone or helpless.

My goal for MentalHealthCamp is of course to expand my knowledge of both mental illness and social media, but most of all, I’m looking forward to meeting in person the people I have met online and coming up with new ways to fight both mental illness and the stigma that surrounds it online and off.

This all started with Coping Digitally – click here to see what it’s all about

Thanks to Airdrie for kickstarting everything – here’s a link to her NV09 abstract and her original blog post on the topic.

Thanks to Tod and Isabella for opening up to the world and sharing their stories too. Thanks to Tris as well for sharing his.

Follow up articles:

Isabella’s gathering place for all thoughts on topics and things that need to be discussed – click here to see that blog post.

Raul’s proposal of Mental Health Camp – many useful comments are also stored here – click here to read that blog post

Isabella’s proposal of Mental Health Camp – read the comments – click here to read that blog post

If you want to know when and where Mental Health Camp takes place – go here.