Program
8:30 – 8:45 am Plenary Session - Opening Remarks & housekeeping - Rotary Club of West Ottawa President Marcia Armstrong
8:45 – 10 am – Session 1 - Registrants MUST choose ONLY ONE of 3 options (1A, 1B or 1C) for Session 1:
1-A. Angela Lorusso – “Take A Stance: A Bullying Prevention and Intervention Workshop: Everyone Has A Role to Play”. Bullying is a serious and complex issue with devastating effects on victims, those who bully, and bystanders. Research demonstrates that community and school-based interventions can reduce the level of peer-to-peer bullying. Using a community development model, participants will learn the dynamics of bullying with a specific emphasis on prevention and intervention. We will also explore the definition of bullying (including cyberbullying), facts, and warning signs and provide practical tools and strategies for building sustainable partnerships and relationships with children, parents, schools, police, and the community.
1-B. Talking to Youth about Substance Use and Behavioural Addictions: Lorna Jackson, Assistant Manager, and Heather Simon, Clinical Manager, Youth and Young Adult program, Rideauwood Addiction and Family Services, present the most up-to-date, evidence-based approaches to prevention, education, and treatment. Parents and caregivers will learn ways to engage effectively with youth in their lives on this important health issue, in addition to helpful resources to support youth and their loved ones.
1-C. Body Image “Helping a young person with an eating disorder”–Leah Paul, Youth and Family Counsellor, Youth Services Bureau:. This presentation will include what to look out for, tips and tricks in supporting a young person with an eating disorder and an interactive session. Additional resources will be provided.
10-11 am Extended coffee break – Information table visits
An hour long coffee break for registrants to visit the information tables set up by various organizations dealing with youth mental health issues.
11am -12:15 pm - Session 2 - Registrants MUST choose ONLY ONE of 3 options (2A, 2B or 2C) for Session 2:
2-A Dr. Ian Manion – “Parents Navigating Youth Mental Health: What to Look for and What to Do” In this interactive session, Dr. Manion will talk about the signs and symptoms of emerging mental health issues in young people. The emphasis will be on what parents can do to support their youth and to better foster resilience. Significant time will allow for dialogue with participants as they raise general issues where more guidance would be beneficial.
2-B Dr. Laura Armstrong – "Strategies to Promote Child Mental Health: A Hands-On Workshop" Participants will learn a "toolbox" of strategies that can help children ages 5-12 develop skills for resilience. Some of these strategies come from our school and community-based mental health education program called D.R.E.A.M. (Developing Resilience through Emotions, Attitudes and Meaning). These strategies have been found to reduce behavioural concerns, increase social-emotional literacy skills, enhance emotional well-being, as well as build Meaning Mindset (agency over thoughts and behaviours; hope for the future; positive self-concept; and openness to learning, feelings, and other new experiences). Come prepared to have fun!
2-C. Parents Lifeline of Eastern Ontario - Join PLEO as we delve into the challenges of school refusal and avoidance. As parents and caregivers, we understand the struggles when our children find it difficult to attend school – it affects the whole family. How many of us have experienced the daunting task of dragging our kid out of the car to the school door, receiving texts from our child pleading to go home when they should be in class, taking time off work or being late because our child would not get ready for school, or having to leave work early to pick them up when they can’t make it through the day? In this workshop we will share strategies and insights to help you navigate these challenges while maintaining a healthy relationship with your child.
12:15 – 1pm - Closing plenary – Emily Balla, Program Manager, Mental Health Services, Ottawa Carleton District School Board, will moderate a session with three young people who have successfully navigated the system.