Changing Minds Workshop

Changing Minds was created in order to address a community need for mental health education, stigma reduction and to promote a better understanding of mental health and mental illness. This powerful and engaging program will change your mind regarding people with mental illness.

2 day workshop running December 9 & 10 from 9:00am to 5:00pm both days. Participants must attend both days in full to receive certificate.

In understanding an individual who has a mental illness we must first understand the illness, the impact of the illness on the individual, their family and their “fit” within their communities. Mental Illness is more challenging to understand than other kinds of illness. It’s easier to understand the mental illness when we get to know the individual with the illness and the effect it has on their lives.

Modules:

1. Understanding Mental Health and Mental Illness
Goal – To introduce the concepts of mental health and mental illness and explore our response to mental illness.

2. Living with a Diagnosis of Mental Illness
Goal – To increase our ability to understand and relate to a person who has been diagnosed with a mental illness.

3. Understanding Depression
Goal – To understand major depression and barriers to sensitive communication.

4. Understanding Anxiety
Goal – To recognize the effect of fear and anxiety in mental illness and develop the ability to respond to people’s needs for safety.

5. Understanding Psychosis
Goal – To learn to relate to someone who is temporarily experiencing a different reality.

6. Understanding Mania and Mood Swings
Goal – To understand the impact of mood cycles on a person’s relationships and interactions.

7. Understanding Trauma, PTSD, and Personality Disorders
Goal – To gain a better understanding of how trauma can impact social emotional development and mental illness.

8. Understanding Substance Use Disorders & Using Our Skills
Goal – To understand the cycle and stages of substance use disorder and its impacts, as well as to practice the skills we have learned.

Layout: Two full days, 15 hours total