Ontario Child Health Study Getting Revival

In 1983, the late Dr. Dan Offord co-authored and led the Ontario Child Health Study, the largest and most comprehensive child mental health study of its kind at the time. Thirty years later, they're going even bigger.

Dr. Dan Offord (source: offordcentre.com)

CBC News reports that the study will expand its sample to 10,000 children from 7,020 families across Ontario. The study will also increase it's age range on the tail end by 2 years so now children between the ages of 4 and 18 years old will be included.

Study showed that 1 in 5 children have a mental health problem.

The original study used a sample of 3,294 children from 1,869 different families and determined that one in five children from the study had some type of mental health problem. (These conclusions drew worldwide attention and earned the study a reputation for being the most significant population-based study on children's mental health conducted anywhere. It became a model study for researchers of child health for the years to follow.)

We hope this study will once again bring the topic of child mental health issues to the forefront of society. We hope this study once again proves mental health affects more people than we think it does. 

Above all, we hope this study can once again start an open dialogue about mental health. Want to start that conversation sooner? We do, too. Drop us a line on Facebook or Twitter!

How to spot signs of a mental health concern in children:

"Brain Food" by Eden and Brian Prockert

 Foods that aid in the development of functions within the brain are considered “Brain Foods

A good example of this is fish. Rich in omega-3 fatty acids, Blood vessels of the brain are able to stay healthy and fluid. Allowing cells to function at their highest, fish provides nerve cells within the brain, improving mental health and cognitive function.  It may help relieve or prevent such mental illnesses as depression, bipolar disorder, and Alzheimer’s. Being high in protein and low in calories and saturated fats, salmon is one of the most nutritious fish out there. Having a mild, tender taste, salmon lends itself to a variety of recipes and spice combinations.

There’s more to salmon than just omega-3 fatty acids. Protecting your body from damaging effects of free radicals, which can damage cells and leave them vulnerable to cancer, infection or other diseases, a trace mineral known as selenium, serving as a powerful antioxidant, is found in salmon. High levels of B vitamins, particularly B3 (niacin) and B12 (cobalamin) are also contained in salmon, which are vital for a healthy metabolism and good mental health.

Check out these great recipes from Eden and Brian Prockert ...

Imagine Supports Pink Shirt Day

Bullying is a major problem in our schools, workplaces, homes, and over the Internet. Today,February 27, 2013 we encourage all of you to wear something pink to symbolize that we as a society will not tolerate bullying anywhere. We wish we could take credit for this idea but it comes from two incredible Nova Scotia high school students. Here is a snippet of the Globe & Mail article which inspired it:

“David Shepherd, Travis Price and their teenage friends organized a high-school protest to wear pink in sympathy with a Grade 9 boy who was being bullied [for wearing a pink shirt]…[They] took a stand against bullying when they protested against the harassment of a new Grade 9 student by distributing pink T-shirts to all the boys in their school.

‘I learned that two people can come up with an idea, run with it, and it can do wonders,’ says Mr. Price, 17, who organized the pink protest. ‘Finally, someone stood up for a weaker kid.’

So Mr. Shepherd and some other headed off to a discount store and bought 50 pink tank tops. They sent out message to schoolmates that night, and the next morning they hauled the shirts to school in a plastic bag.

As they stood in the foyer handing out the shirts, the bullied boy walked in. His face spoke volumes. ‘It looked like a huge weight was lifted off his shoulders,’ Mr. Price recalled.

The bullies were never heard from again.”

Do you have a story about being bullied, how you stopped a bully or about how bullying has affected a loved one? Share your experiences here by leaving a comment.

If you are a student, print off this web page and give to your Principal / Headmaster / etc. so that your school can get involved. Also, drop us an email to let us know who you are and which school you attend.

More information and details about this project will be posted on this website soon. Until then, be sure to click on the links / menu items at the top of the page to learn how you, your school, business or organization can get involved.

Also, join the Facebook Event by clicking HERE. Last year over 160,000 people committed on Facebook to wear pink and help stop bullying.

Staying Positive During The Holidays

For many people the holidays are a time of happiness, cheer and spending time with friends and family. We at Imagine, understand that for some that this is not the case,  and that the holidays can often be a hard and depressing time for those with mood and mental health disorders.  The days are short and cold, (especially in Winnipeg),  and it can be hard to watch others enjoy the holidays when you feel less then cheerful.  

We found a great article that discusses ways that you can stay positive during the holidays.  Everyone at Imagine and Eden Health Care Services wish you and your family a safe, positive and happy holiday season! Source: Positively Present 

5 Ways to Stay Positive During the Holidays...

Lace Up: Why We Run.

Though one of the top priorities of our walk/run is to fundraise for Eden Mental Health, another important goal is to help fight the stigma often associated with mental illness.

The stigma associated with mental health prompts many people to avoid working, and socializing with people who have a mental disorder. To move forward as a community, improve care and encourage knowledge the stigma must be stopped. 

Bipolar Disorder, ADHD, Depression, and  Anxiety are conditions that some people deal with on a daily basis. It is these same people that most would not recognize in a crowd full of the mentally stable.  These people are mothers, sisters, athletes, businessmen, doctors, and husbands living lives full of much more than just their mental disorder.


To get ourselves ready for this Saturday's Imagine run we wanted to bring you back to why we do what we do. You are the most powerful proof of the belief in our cause.

We want to prove that mental illness is just as worthy of attention as heart disease and cancer. Knowledge is  half the battle when fighting stigma. Eden Mental Health provides resources to better educate people on the presence and definition of mental illness, along with ways to eliminate the stigmas often associated with it. 

Whether you're a runner or a walker, lace up this weekend and show that you are not ashamed to say that you care for your own mental health. 


More on Eden Mental Health Centre's services:

• Psychiatric assessment and treatment for persons dealing with acute mental health issues.
• In-patient treatment for persons requiring hospitalization.
• Out-patient psychiatric services

Eden's psychiatric specialists team provides recovery based treatment utilizing best practices.

Head for the Hills - Eden's Bike Ride

Need something to prepare you for Imagine's September 22nd Run? Your in luck, Eden's Head for the Hills Bike Ride is scheduled is Saturday,September 8th.  This year will mark the event's 10th anniversary ride. 

The Head for the Hills Bike Ride has become one of Eden's most important fund-raising events of the year, with the last two years having raised in excess of $62,000 each year.  The goal for the 10th anniversary ride is to raise $80,000 and if that goal can be achieved, the bike ride can accurately claim to have raised $500,000 in ten years.

James Friesen the CEO of Eden Health Care Services combined his passion for riding with his compassion for those who deal with mental health issues and the Head for the Hills Bike Ride became a reality.

Over these past nine years, riders from all over have come to ride in the hills.  The ride is scenic and roughly follows the Trans Canada Trail from Colert Beach near Morden, MB meandering southward for some 36 kilometers to a destination along the edge of the Pembina Escarpment not far from the US border.  As in previous years, two routes are planned, one which takes the rider along a groomed trail through wooded areas as well as road ways and the second route taking the rider along a road course and equally as scenic as the first.

The cost of registration is low so that as many people as possible can have the experience of riding in an organized event.  Funds are fully tax-deductible and will be used to support the efforts and programs that the community has called Eden Health Care Services to provide on its behalf.

Riders can register online and those who are willing to sponsor a rider can also access the list of riders and donate in support.

Stay Strong

I know it's not easy when life takes away
All the things that you've learned and the things that you know
To replace them with heartache and pain and sorrow

I know all too well how easy it is to give up the fight
When the downs take hold with no end in sight
And the pain will go on through the night til' tomorrow

But soon things will change, the ups will return
You'll rearrange very fast when you learn
The smiles remind you that good times always do follow 


-Kirsty Richards

Imagine Run 2011

Imagine a world where we could personally talk about schizophrenia, depression, addictions, suicide or phobias in an atmosphere as relaxed as talking about hip-replacements or tennis elbow. It's important to get the topics out of the closet because Mental Health really Matters!

Imagine is a group of caring individuals who are committed to raising public awareness and removing the stigma that surrounds mental health issues & suicide.


On September 24, 2011 we will be holding the 4th annual 2011 Imagine Run. The event consists of a half marathon, 10K run/walk and this year we have added a 5K run/walk. The run takes place in Hespler Park, Niverville. 


Join us for Family Fun Day/Bands on Route/Park, Balloonist, Petting Zoo, BBQ, Party Bouncers & Children's Games.

To Register or for more information visit www.imaginementalhealth.com

Your Questions on Depression Answered

This article features commonly asked questions on Depression and how you can overcome it.


I think I'm depressed, where can I get help?
Talk to your primary or family physician. He or she will be able to review the signs and symptoms of depression with you, as well as rule out a possible physical cause for your symptoms. Following diagnosis, your physician can then initiate antidepressant therapy or refer you to a psychiatrist and/or threrapist or an EAP (employee assistance program) if you have one, for appropriate evaluation and treatment. Another route is to consult with your clergy, local hospital, community mental health center or telephone hotlines in your area for a referral for an appropriate evaluation.

It seems that more people are depressed nowadays than in the past. Is the rate of depression increasing?
Depression is common. That having been said, it is also important to point out that this is a seemingly simple question that requires a very complicated answer. While research documents an increase in the number of cases of depression reported and the number prescriptions for antidepressants, it is unclear whether this results from either a true increase in depression due to the stresses of modern life or from increased awareness and recognition of depression as a treatable medical illness. In any event, it is clear that major depression is common.

What is the difference between grief and depression?
Grief is a natural reaction to the loss of an important relationship. As human beings, our bonds to each other develop early (virtually at birth), are strong and often influence major decisions in our life. When we lose a significant relationship in our lives, it is natural for us to feel sadness or other depressive symptoms, such as loss of appetite and disturbed sleep. In fact, about 30 percent of people who have lost a significant other will continue to have these symptoms two months after the loss. These symptoms, however, usually lessen within six months.

Although both conditions may have depressed mood, loss of appetite, sleep disturbance and decreased energy, people with depression usually experience a sense of worthlessness, guilt and/or low self-esteem that is not common in normal grief reactions. For some, a grief reaction can develop into a major depression. For example, about 15 percent of grieving individuals will develop major depression after one year of a loss.

When is being depressed a normal reaction and when is it truly major depression?
All of us have days when we feel "depressed." Usually, these feelings are temporary, and we can have a great day tomorrow. Even when we have a bad day, we can still find enjoyment in things. These occasional bad days are part of life and not depression. Remember, a diagnosis of depression requires that you have these symptoms every day, or nearly every day, for a period of two weeks.

Sometimes, these feelings may persist for several days or even a week. This is common following the break-up of a relationship or other unpleasant event. Still, while you may have some of the symptoms of depression, it is unlikely that you have major depression unless a number of the symptoms are present and impair daily functioning. Even if you do not have major depression, you may have an adjustment disorder that would benefit from professional help. A trained professional can differentiate between a period of the blues and clinical depression.

How do most people react when they are diagnosed with depression?
For some people, a definitive diagnosis is a relief: "At last I know what I have," is their reaction, even if it comes months or years after the onset of symptoms. For others, however, the diagnosis comes as a terrible shock. Many people are ashamed of having a mental illness. Both reactions are quite normal.

Even when a definitive diagnosis is made and accepted, there may be additional concerns about the unknowns of the disorder: its course and outcome, worries about work, effects on family and frustrations about physical and emotional limitations. It is not unusual for these concerns to be expressed as anger, which may further deepen the depression. What is important is to know that depression is treatable and carries a good prognosis. Whatever your reaction, you are not alone, as depression is a common and very treatable problem.

What can I expect regarding other people's reaction?
A person suffering from fatigue and weakness, two symptoms of depression that can occur without obvious signs of physical disability, may look fine. Family members and friends may unsuspectingly expect more from the depressed person than he/she is capable of doing. Those symptoms may, then, be seen as character defects. Fatigue, for example, is frequently interpreted as laziness, or lack of initiative; depressed mood is sometimes seen as self-pity. These reactions may lead patients to begin to doubt their own self-worth. It is important to discuss this issue with your therapist and identify ways of handling this. It is important to remember that millions of people are disabled from a chronic injury or disorder and are living life to the fullest if they get proper treatment.

Visit www.imaginementalhealth.com for more resources and information on mental health disorders

Exercise & Depression

Time and time again we hear about the importance of regular exercise for our bodies. But not only does such exercise help our bodies — it does wonders for our minds as well. The latest finding comes from two researchers who found that simple exercise can be helpful with some people’s depressive mood:

The researchers based their finding on an analysis of dozens of population-based studies, clinical studies and meta-analytic reviews related to exercise and mental health, including the authors’ meta-analysis of exercise interventions for mental health and studies on reducing anxiety sensitivity with exercise.

The researchers’ review demonstrated the efficacy of exercise programs in reducing depression and anxiety.

And this is good news, since not everyone can afford psychotherapy or medications, and most people who have depression never seek out treatment for it anyways. If they do, it’s most often through their primary care physician, and they are most often just prescribed an antidepressant and then call it a day.

Exercise is easy and free. Take a walk around your neighborhood every day. Ride a bike. Jog around the park or around the town. Do a few dozen push-ups and/or sit-ups in your apartment. You can’t beat it for the convenience factor, the price, and the ease of actual doing factor.

Research shows it works — something about exercise seems to help us out of the depressive mood that infiltrates our brains. Exercise appears to affect, like an antidepressant, particular neurotransmitter systems in the brain, and it helps patients with depression re-establish positive behaviors. For patients with anxiety disorders, exercise reduces their fears of fear and related bodily sensations such as a racing heart and rapid breathing.

Something to think about next time you forgo the walk outside, the playing ball with your friends or children, or don’t feel like getting off the couch. Our minds and bodies — they are the same and work together in conjunction with one another.

Source: Psych Central

Stigma around Mental Illness in the Workplace confirmed by Conference Board Study

A Conference Board study released on Monday at the Workplace Mental Health 2011 conference in Toronto confirms that stigma around mental illness still exists in the Workplace . The report reads that "when it comes to mental health, misinformation, fear and prejudice remain far too prevalent, it is time for a change."

Canadian Mental Health Association of Winnipeg (CMHA) Executive Director, Nicole Chammartin says “the report confirms what we have been aware of for a very long time, that stigma in the workplace is a huge barrier to people receiving appropriate help and supports.” Chammartin goes onto say “with 1 in 5 Canadians likely to experience a mental health issue in their lifetime, Canadian employers need to understand how this affects them and offer supports to their employees.”

A Winnipegger that experienced first-hand what the stigma can do is David Albert Newman. Newman was diagnosed with schizophrenia six years ago. In 2003, Newman lost his job as an accountant, which he blames on his mental illness and the company's refusal to see anything but the bottom line.

"The attitude was, 'We will just shove you out the door,'" Newman recalled. But the economic identity and social inclusion that comes from a job "is astronomical to your recovery," said Newman, a full-time internal auditor for the Manitoba government. Medication and therapy are helping Newman to manage his disease as he works on his master's thesis in his spare time.

The Study’s survey reports that 12 per cent of respondents said they were currently experiencing a mental health issue and another 32 per cent said they'd faced one in the past. The report goes onto state that “in addition to the effects of mental health on individuals, organizations are also feeling the financial costs. In 2009-2010, 78 per cent of short-term disability claims and 67 per cent of long-term disability claims in Canada were related to mental health issues.”

The Conference Board suggests the following improvements:

• Focusing on education and communication to reduce fear, stigma and discrimination in the workplace;
• Ensuring the organizational culture is conducive to supporting employees’ mental health;
• Encouraging senior executives to show demonstrable leadership around mental health; and
• Building managers’ capacity to support employees by providing the tools and training required in their role

CMHA Winnipeg offers courses such as Mental Health First Aid to employers and employees to assist in creating a greater understanding of mental health issues in the workplace. For more information call 982-6100 or visit www.cmhawpg.mb.ca

Source: Canadian Mental Health Association