Every Mind Matters Newsletter
Back-to-School 2021 Edition
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From The Psychology Foundation of Canada |
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Thriving Is Our Birthright: Using Resilience Beyond Survival
Join Us November 30th
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Despite all the challenges this past year, we have remained dedicated to nurturing resilience in kids and youth across Canada. We have pivoted to deliver our programs fully online, developed new resources, including the Stress-Busters Activity Book, and piloted new programs to help kids combat stress, including the Stress Busters Summer Camp. Imagine what else we can accomplish with your support? Join us for our 17th annual Breakfast for Champions on November 30th, 2021. This is our single biggest campaign to raise funds for the development and delivery of our critical psychology -based programs that nurture resilience in youth.
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“Building resilience in our kids today will make a difference in building a healthier tomorrow.” - Founding Chair, Dr. Eric Jackman
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Special volunteer performance |
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Dr. Natasha Williams, Radical Self-Care and Self-Leadership Expert, Clinical Psychologist, Best-selling author and International Speaker.
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Canadian Country Music and Juno award winning Brett Kissel performing Gold Certified hit Tough People Do.
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Thank you to growing network of Breakfast for Champions sponsors
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The Hatanaka Family Foundation |
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Corporate Friends: Alter Psychology Professional Corporation
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I want to support the 17th Annual Breakfast for Champions
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New Addition To Our Growing Network Of Supporters |
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Welcome to the Quinn Family Future Foundation |
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We are excited to announce support from the Quinn Family Future Foundation. “We are proud to support Strong Minds Strong Kids, Psychology Canada and their efforts to nurture resilience in children and youth. Resilience building is key to addressing poverty and advancing education which is a focus area of the Quinn Family Future Foundation. We are excited to be making this investment in helping our children build a strong foundation of mental health.” Thank you for your commitment to ensuring every child in Canada has the opportunity to thrive.
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Supporting The Transition Back-To-School |
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Easing Back into School: Helping Ourselves and our Kids Prepare for a New School Year Workshop
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Though the Fall has always been a time of transition for students, this September brings with it new learnings and adjustments for some. In preparation for this transition, we developed a workshop led by our Stress Management Expert, Anne Murray. Watch this recording to access tangible tools and strategies to support children and youth in their return to school this September.
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YTV’s The Zone featuring our Trustees and Child Psychologists |
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Research by a Canadian team in the Journal of the American Medical Association examined data from over 80,000 children around the world and found that the prevalence of depression and anxiety in people 18 and under has doubled during COVID-19. To help support kids during this difficult time, leading child psychologists Dr. Rebecca Pillai Riddell, Dr. Robin Alter, and Dr. Kofi-Len Belfon appeared on YTV’s The Zone and answered some common questions from children today. Watch the videos here:
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Other resources that will help you and your child manage fears and worries as we move into the Fall |
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What are your back-to-school concerns? We would like to hear from you! |
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Please take a moment to complete our 4 question survey so we can better understand what your concerns are for your children returning to school. And, if you have a youth in your house 13-17 years old, we would like to hear from them - please ask them to complete this 4 question survey.
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Learning To Respond To Stress In A Fun And Healthy Way |
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Stress Busters Activity Book |
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The Stress Busters Activity Book is a vibrant and interactive workbook that provides an opportunity for children ages 7-12 and the supportive adult in their lives to connect and discuss how best to support the child’s stress management skills. Complete with word searches, reflection questions, and tons of tips and strategies, the Stress Busters Activity Book is another innovative product that will help children build a strong foundation for mental health. We are grateful to Bell Let’s Talk for their support of this new initiative and to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Calgary and Area for their partnership in sharing it with their Bigs and Littles. Get your copy here.
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NEW first-ever Stress Busters Summer Camp
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This summer, we partnered with Friendship In Action (FIA) to deliver a unique and timely program to children with the support of Upper Grand District School Board. Through an online delivery approach, we brought our evidence-based Kids Have Stress Too! (KHST!) program along with FIA’s Kids Helping Kids Manage Stress peer-support group to 11 children ages 7-14 years old.
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This innovative pilot program has provided children and their families with education and support in relation to stress management and resilience.
A couple of comments kids shared with us in the last session:
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"It’s helped me get out of my comfort zone and it helped me be more myself around people because before I was really scared to be myself."
"It's a very open place where you can share all your thoughts and everyone won’t judge you. It’s a very welcoming place where no one is judgemental."
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Developed in collaboration with Dr. Diana Brecher, clinical psychologist and co-founder and director of ThriveRU at Ryerson University and member of our Board of Trustees, the Resiliency Quiz is designed for youth ages 16-18 to gauge their own level of resiliency, while learning important information about how to manage stress over their lifetimes.
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We are grateful to the RBC Foundation for their investment in the quiz and for their ongoing support of Stress Lessons: Tools for Resiliency, our stress management program for high school aged youth. Feel free to share our Resiliency Quiz with the youth in your life today. Take the quiz here.
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We have several award and grant opportunities. Please click here for more information and 2021 RFA details for the Dr. Bea Wickett, Dr. Harvey Brooker, Dr. Jean Pettifor and Dick Pettifor, and Dr. Mary J. Wright awards and grants. NEW this year is The The Judy Hills Internship Award. Read more here for English and here for French.
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Welcome Siobhan and Susie and all the best Mandi! |
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We are thrilled to welcome Susie Francouer as Trainer & Partnership Associate for French Canada. Susie has experience in providing a variety of psychological services and resources to students from grades K to 12, parents and personnel in the school. She has knowledge in various counselling and behavioral modification techniques, as well as in laws pertaining to privacy and reporting. She also specialize in learning disabilities, behavior disorders ADHD/ODD, autism spectrum disorder and anxiety/stress or anger management. |
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We are excited to welcome Siobhan Laverdiere as our Manager, Programs and Community Partnerships. Siobhan brings a wealth of experience supporting youth mental health and well-being from her time working at Our Kids Network where she developed and implemented a community initiative that empowered youth to promote positive mental health. She also has knowledge working with Indigenous communities through her time with Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres and Métis Nation of Ontario. Siobhan will join us September 13 for a year long maternity leave contact.
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Congratulations to Mandi Hickman, our Senior Manager, Programs and Community Partnerships, as she is expecting her first child in late September. Mandi has been instrumental in leading the transition of our programs to digital delivery, and direct to parent/child. We thank her for her expertise and commitment in support of nurturing resilience in children and youth. We wish Mandi all the best as she embraces the adventures of parenthood. Mandi will be leaving on September 3rd for a year long maternity leave. Enjoy every precious moment, Mandi!
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When you invest in Strong Minds Strong Kids, Psychology Canada you invest in a brighter future for our children and youth ensuring they have every opportunity to thrive. |
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Please share our newsletter within your social media channels |
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We want to hear from you: How can we best support you in nurturing resilience in the kids in your life? Please contact us with your feedback and suggestions
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Strong Minds Strong Kids, Psychology Canada
From The Psychology Foundation of Canada
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