Wood's Homes Blog

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”.

Blue Monday is a term coined by a psychologist in the early 2000s for a marketing campaign to encourage people to fly south in January. Go on vacation to make all your worries and sadness go away.  

But the truth is…mental health is year-round.  

Every day can have its struggles and its frustrations. Having good mental health year-round means you have strong coping strategies in place as everyday problems pop up. And that you know who to talk to when your coping strategies are maxed out, or when a something devastating happens to you or your family – such as a significant illness or a death of a loved one. 

It's National Addictions Awareness Week (November 20-26, 2022). This year's theme, A Community of Caring, is about collaborating as a community to make meaningful changes for and help those with problematic substance use or who have a substance use disorder.

Being in an active addiction can be lonely and isolating. Many people feel shame and guilt about their addiction, and do not feel comfortable or safe to reach out for help. By creating professional and personal support in a holistic way, it is possible for those who struggle with addictions to feel safe enough to be unapologetically honest and open about what they need and how they feel.

Every year on November 20^th, Canada celebrates the rights of children on what is called National Child Day.

This year’s theme is ‘The Right to Participate'.

At Wood’s Homes, we value a child’s right to participate. Working from a client and person-centered approach, we listen to and value the feedback of the children we serve. By giving children the right to participate in their treatment and care, we give them a voice and teach them the skills they need to advocate for themselves as they grow into youth and journey into adulthood.

When discussing bullying, our minds often jump to Pink Shirt Day and “zero-tolerance policies” that have continued to develop over the last few decades. Bullying is often labelled as negative behaviour, encompassing “malicious” or “mean” characteristics. All of us can agree that bullying has profoundly negative impacts on children and youth and that it is necessary to work towards ending it. Bringing awareness and zero-tolerance policies for bullying are a few of the ways that schools and organizations work towards eradicating these behaviours.

Although these zero-tolerance policies and Pink Shirt Day have existed for years, we all still work in a world with children and youth where we witnessing clients engage in bullying behaviours on a relatively regular basis. So, what needs to be shifted in the conversation?

Today is World Mental Health Day and the theme this year is to make Mental Health and Well-Being for All a Global Priority.

From it’s inception on October 10 1992, the day provides an opportunity to reflect on and to continue the important conversations about mental health that need to be had in our families and communities.