End of an Era. For any Man or Woman Living with Mental Illness

Transcription

1 For any Man or Woman Living with Mental Illness Issue 33, September & October 2016 Editor Jo-Ann Paley End of an Era Jo-Ann Paley, pictured above, with grandchildren, Jasmine and Cedar. It has been quite a journey. This is the last issue of The Sharing Tree Newsletter. Thank you to all the recipients of the newsletter and those who have supported us with fundraising. We hope you have enjoyed reading this newsletter over the years. Due to increased costs of production and mailing it has been decided that the most effective way to distribute information is on line and through the Reasons for Hope newsletter. Thank you to Jo-Ann Paley who started out as the editor of The Sensitive Scoop newsletter in January She oversaw the transition from the 69th edition of The Sensitive Scoop in August 2011 through to the 33rd edition of The Sharing Tree newsletter, September & October 2016 edition. That makes a total of 102 newsletters that Jo-Ann has edited for MSS. Congratulations and thank you, Jo- Ann, for your many years of service to the Manitoba Schizophrenia Society. Following is a message from our editor, Jo-Ann Paley. Shall we take flight on a trip as I reveal my many reasons for being happy while editing these two newsletters. Specks of gold in my eyes and yet to you the readers nostalgia from remembering the past. Join me here in reminiscing on the ideas that took flight, and inspired you to work a bit harder, on your individual lifestyles. The biggest highlight with the newsletters occurred in 2004 when Dr. Michael Eleff took 30 issues of The Sensitive Scoop to Russia, in the End of an Era cont. on page 2 INSIDE End of an Era cont......p.2, 3 MSS Women s Group activities.....p.2 A Blast from The Past P.3 Peer Support & Women s Group outdoor Games Day P.4 New Home for the Homeless P.4 Partners In Awareness P.4 Peer Support & Women s Group Activities &Comments......P.5 H.O.P.E.S. Support Group.....P.6 Voice Hearers Support Group...P.6 Family Support Group... P.6 MSS Peer Support Group Schedule..... P. 7 MSS Women s Group Schedule.....P. 8 If you would like to send some comments about this newsletter or if you would like to continue to have the Peer Support and Women s Support Group schedules mailed to you please call the office or Karen at: Karen@mss.mb.ca or write us at: The Manitoba Schizophrenia Society, Fort Street, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3C 1C4

2 Page 2 End of and Era cont. from page 2 cities of Moscow, Stavropol and Omsk. Until the end of June 2016 Dr. Eleff was the Medical Program Director of the Schizophrenia Treatment and Education Program at the Health Sciences Centre here in Winnipeg. He spent three weeks in South Russia teaching on behalf of the Canada Russia Disability Program. His first seminar was in response to psychological trauma. He followed with a talk with the New Choices organization, which led to running teaching programs and demonstration projects, and in working toward a more responsive and accessible model of self-help. In his write-up in the Issue 31 on Jan/Feb 2005, of the Sensitive Scoop, Dr. Eleff opened up his article saying I took several people to Russia in spirit and you re one of them, Jo-Ann. That statement moved me. One interesting fact Dr. Eleff shared was that at the time it was mainly sons who were thought to live with schizophrenia in Russia. While there Dr. Eleff spent most of his time establishing the branch of the New Choices program that was run by parents, primarily mothers, for their sons. The Manitoba experience, with the establishment of separate programs for women, was discussed in Russia. While the relative absence of women in the programs of New Choices had been noticed, no one had really thought about how to address it. I believe The Sensitive Scoop had a timely purpose there. That is a comforting thought! I now am going to talk about my career to date. I am busy putting together a book of my Designer Poetry from the past 26 years, that I hope you will enjoy. It takes up all my energy these days. With respect to the newsletters, I would like to thank Karen for offering me advice. She is somebody who I learned a lot from through her professionalism. Thanks to all the people who offered some time as assistant editors including Brandi Randell, Lynne Demarcke, and Monika Anema. Such is the life of an assistant editor, leaving footprints in the sand reaching out with original ideas that may have appeared quite unexpectedly to me, and which I am very thankful for carrying me, when I needed humbling, and inspiring me. To all of my assistant editors, I hope these experiences have helped you in your writing careers. A special thank you to Gloria Taylor and Sheila Levine for helping with the mail out process of the newsletters for so many years. I know there were others End of an Era cont. on p. 4 On September 8th the MSS Women s group decided to have a f un day playing games that many of us enjoyed as children. These included playing with yo-yos, skipping rope and playing hopscotch. In addition we played Ladder Toss and the 7-Up ball game. Being in the Moment It was fun pretending to be a child again. We had a lot of fun. I enjoyed the Ladder Ball game and playing Hopscotch. Skipping rope brought back lots of great memories of when I was a kid.

3 It was a beautiful day on July 20th and the MSS Peer Support had a Games Day outside in Bonnie Castle Park. Page 3 New Home for the Homeless People Dedicated to Hero Faron Hall Faron Hall was a homeless hero for rescuing a man from the Red River. He is also a legend - He took his shirt off and dove in - It would make you shiver! But Faron Hall later died- Trying to save someone else in the Red River! The swift current swept him under. It was a brave blunder. There is a new home for the homeless - Dedicated to Faron Hall- When trying to rescue people - He didn t stall! There is a painting inside this home- Of Faron Hall depicted as a hero, His spirit roams! This home called Morberg House Will focus on mental - health issues And addiction. And Faron Hall himself Was riddled with alcohol and drug affliction! Faron Hall would be pleased - To see this home s opening - The whole country heard about Faron Hall And among the homeless - There is a sense of pride growing! By Carolyn Gibson Partners in Awareness A peer support group made up of interesting dynamic professionals with schizophrenia. Receive support from those who understand! Contact: You Don t Have to Do It Alone! 4 Fort Street, Winnipeg 7:00 p.m. 8:30 p.m. Sponsored by: Message from the Editor We reserve the right to change the formatting of work received but we will not change the meaning of any work submitted.

4 Page 4 End of an Era cont. from page 2 but these two ladies stand out as particularly dedicated in helping with this project. Chris Summerville, no one is as lucky as we are to have you as a mentor. Please be a forever friend. Your experiences in these tumultuous days of mental health, not only enlighten me but it makes me feel blessed as I use your ideas as fodder to feed my intellect. Being with you, Chris, especially during the ten years that I was on the Board of Directors at MSS, under your leadership, was like attending University classes. I got a chance to exchange ideas with the best meaning all of the board members. This world is tumultuous and scary because everyone, at some time in ours lives has or will have symptoms of some type of a mental illness. Mental illnesses should be appreciated because it can bring people closer both spiritually and as friends. God doesn t give us more than we can handle. Through this, we learn mental toughness, and we begin to find leaders who are the Pictured above Melissa Paley, Jo-Ann Paley and the late Ruth McLean at the Celebration of the 50th Issue of The Sensitive Scoop newsletter on March 13, 2008 best of the best. I believe we need to walk in faith, believing that we see reflections in other people, of what is possible. God is looking for ways to give us gifts, so we have to be open to receive them. He s churning out leaders and we have to be ready to recognize them and to encourage them to use their skills God s gifts to us all! Communication is the key word for help in the future. Miscommunication is the reason for strife. Let s find appropriate and qualified interpreters and find out why people want to hurt each other. Expect openness in mental health to become openness also in translating ideas of how to recover, as they are doing in Russia, where they have been many years behind us in that sense. We need to help each other by becoming closer and learning from the skills we develop so we don t have to repeat mistakes made from history. It is important to appreciate the fact that newsletters like ours have left imprints on many and hopefully helped them shape their thinking in more positive ways. We all have gained new friendships from meeting the writers and many of the readers of The Sensitive Scoop and The Sharing Tree newsletters. My hope is that we all promote peace through all our personal thoughts and actions. I think this is already happening. Just look at the recent example of the Rio Olympics. By Jo-Ann Paley A Blast from the Past Pictured below, participants at the Footsteps IV Book Release on October 1, 2009; fundraiser for Footsteps V held on March 18, 2010 ; a birthday celebration for Jo-Ann; and women at one of the Retreats at St. Charles Retreat Centre on April 23, 2009.

5 Page 5 During the summer members of the Manitoba Schizophrenia Society Peer Support group and members of the Women s group did several outdoor activities. Summer outings included barbecues at Bonnie Castle Park, a picnic at Assiniboine Park, bowling and Mini Golf at the Golf Dome. Comments about Summer Activities and holidays The BBQ was good and so was the park. I enjoyed the bowling and trying to better my score. I enjoyed the picnic at Assiniboine Park. We had a really nice time at Assiniboine Park. It was fun. The food was good and it was a beautiful day. It was enjoyable and relaxing being with other people in a calming natural environment. I liked the activities that I attended, especially the Movie Day. This summer I really enjoyed getting to get out and go bowling with the Women s group. We all had a good time. The BBQ was great. I enjoyed the food, friends and the fountain! I like to go out for ice cream at The Forks. I like going to the Bell Tower Café. I moved and I like it where I live. I enjoy swimming with family and friends and walking in the park with my kids and my dog. We went on a trip to Calgary. It was so much fun. I do like to swim at the pool for exercise. I swim at the Rady Centre. I go with family or staff. I like the blue colour of the water. I went to Hecla Resort. It was very nice. I worked a lot this summer but I would have loved to go camping and fishing.

6 Page 6 for young people living with psychosis and schizophrenia If you are a person between 15 and 30 and are living with psychosis and schizophrenia, or schizoaffective disorder, H.O.P.E.S. or Hope and Opportunity through Peers, Empowerment and Support might be a place for you! 4 Fort Street, Winnipeg First Thursday of the Month 4:00 pm 5:00 pm Contact: the Manitoba Schizophrenia Society at FAMILY SUPPORT GROUP For families and friends of those experiencing schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and psychosis. The Last Tuesday of every month Time: 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m Schedule Sept 27 Oct 25 Nov 29 Dec 27 Multipurpose Room For more information contact or info@mss.mb.ca

7 Manitoba Schizophrenia Society 4 Fort Street Winnipeg, MB Phone: Need to talk to someone about your life with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder? Page 7 Then consider attending the PEER SUPPORT GROUP FOR MEN AND WOMEN On Wednesday afternoons SCHEDULE FOR SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER 2016 Meeting Time: 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM (Unless otherwise indicated) DATE ACTIVITY SEPTEMBER 7 Outdoor Activity Weather Permitting 14 Positive Affirmations & Inspiration 21 Video on Mental Health 28 General Discussion & Planning OCTOBER 5 Games Day 12 Movie Day 19 Life Before and After a Diagnosis 26 Halloween Party in Lunch Room

8 Page 8 WOMEN S PROGRAM SCHEDULE SEPTEMBER & OCTOBER 2016 Meetings are held on Thursday afternoon from 1:15 PM to 2:45 PM at 4 Fort Street (FACES) although sometimes we go on outings. Any women living with a mental illness are welcome to attend. Occasionally we are out of the office for an activity so please call to confirm your attendance at : SEPTEMBER ACTIVITY 1 Writers Group & Planning - Theme Farewell Summer 8 Fun & Games 15 Movie Day 22 Walk to The Forks Rain Plan Walk in the Mall 29 Bowling at Dakota Lanes 1085 St. Mary s Road - Please be there by 1:15 P.M. - Bus # 14 from down town OCTOBER 6 Pot Luck for Thanksgiving GROUP STARTS AT 12:30 PM FOR THIS OCCASION If you are bringing something please just bring something for yourself and one other person. 13 Movie Day in Lunch Room Karen will be away 20 Writers Group & Planning Theme Falling Leaves 27 Halloween Party Starting at 1:00 p.m. Funded by