Wood's Homes Blog

Spanking has been a traditional method of child discipline used by parents. In fact, it’s estimated that up to 43% of Canadian families use spanking to discipline their children. However, as child protection legislation has shifted over the years, its effectiveness is being questioned in light of new research

Every culture and religion has unique rites of passage and ways to celebrate youth coming of age, and at the Learning Centers, ours is focused on graduation.

Alex came to a mental health program on the Parkdale campus in the summer of 2018. He was referred to Wood’s Homes by the team at Foothills Hospital, and was initially reluctant. It took weeks for Alex to feel comfortable enough to stay overnight with us.

My story started at a junior high school unaffiliated with Wood's Homes and I was described as an impulsive person with some anger issues and had been described as irresponsible with anything. My grades were rarely meeting the level I was capable of and sometimes I was outright failing. 

In times of crisis, navigating the mental health system can be overwhelming. Eastside Community Mental Health Services (ECMHS, or Eastside) has offered crisis meetings and single session therapy sessions to individuals, couples and families for 30 years. Today, we also offer support navigating our social and health care systems. 

I hold a BFA, MSW, and BEd., My brother has often joked that I won’t be happy until I have more letters after my name than in my name – Not an easy feat, considering the length of my name! Ironically, I’ve never been enamored with academia; I simply love learning, and I enjoy being in an environment where I can share this passion with others

“Best Field Trip Ever!” 

 That was what the boys were shouting while we rode the giant cheese wagon back to the school. The full-size school bus for 5 students and 4 adults was the icing on the cake for the first field trip that our Starting Points (partnership program between CSSD and Woods Homes) class - or any Starting Points class - had ever taken. Of course, the kids all sat at the very back.

Each February the Canadian Psychological Association celebrates Psychology Month focusing on a theme that highlights the contributions of Canadian psychologists.  The field of psychology “works to help – people live healthy and happy lives, their communities flourish, their employers create better workplaces, and their governments develop effective policies”. 

This year’s theme is “Future of Psychology” and - to paraphrase a popular song from the 1980s – students of psychology are our future.   

As a Youth Employment Counsellor (YEC) in the LEAD program, working with clients with high levels of anxiety / job stress is a common occurrence. Every client requires different levels of support, and I meet them at their location to provide individualized support. Some clients simply need a ride to get around instead of taking long routes on city transit or walking in sometimes tough weather. Some need a kind and supportive voice to provide a little encouragement and motivation. And some clients need step-by-step guidance and support throughout the process. One such client, Trudy*, was connected to LEAD through the mental health clinician at the Hub.

Since 2011, #BellLetsTalk has been used and promoted over 1 billion times to raise awareness and reduce the stigma around mental health. Every last Wednesday of January, you may have noticed your social media platforms filled with messages of support for those who struggle with their mental health.

Most of the messages are heart-warming, thought-provoking and insightful. I found myself wishing how great it would be if this was everyone’s response to mental health struggles year-round. Imagine if we lived in world where it was comfortable to say, “I’m having a hard time with my thoughts” or, “I feel so stuck”.