Representing Scarborough and Mental Health, keep hope and AAMH alive, July 14 2011, from 31:20 to 36:57. Peace out!
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
BIRTH DAY: A Fundraiser for AAMH Canada (in Ottawa!)
Come and be part of BIRTH DAY: the first-ever event held by the Artists' Alliance for Mental Health Canada (and not coincidentally, the 35th birthday celebration for AAMH Canada founder Greg Frankson!) on Thursday, January 28 at 7 pm inside the East African Restaurant (376 Rideau Street, Ottawa).
This fundraiser will include the following:
- Spoken word from Ritallin (Ottawa) and Monica King (Lanark County);
- A special performance from Mahlikah Aweri & Isaac Riverwalker of the indigenous music/poetry group the Red Slam Collective (Toronto);
- A musical performance by Ottawa singer-songwriter Rita Carter;
- Stand-up comedy from Emily Olding, Heather Bruce and Andrew Woglemuth -- members of the Ottawa chapter of Stand Up For Mental Health;
- Visual art from Komi Olaf's Angels of Music collection, with prints available for sale from the artist;
- and Von Allan joins us with his graphic novel "the road to god knows ..."
All of this is for AAMH Canada, which is dedicated to awareness raising, advocacy, research and collaborative action in support of people living with mental health concerns.
Get there early to get a seat, and to sample the fine Ethiopian food on the menu! Admission is $8 at the door.
For more information about us, check the AAMH Canada FB page, or our website at http://www.aamh.ca/, or email aamh.canada@gmail.com.
This fundraiser will include the following:
- Spoken word from Ritallin (Ottawa) and Monica King (Lanark County);
- A special performance from Mahlikah Aweri & Isaac Riverwalker of the indigenous music/poetry group the Red Slam Collective (Toronto);
- A musical performance by Ottawa singer-songwriter Rita Carter;
- Stand-up comedy from Emily Olding, Heather Bruce and Andrew Woglemuth -- members of the Ottawa chapter of Stand Up For Mental Health;
- Visual art from Komi Olaf's Angels of Music collection, with prints available for sale from the artist;
- and Von Allan joins us with his graphic novel "the road to god knows ..."
All of this is for AAMH Canada, which is dedicated to awareness raising, advocacy, research and collaborative action in support of people living with mental health concerns.
Get there early to get a seat, and to sample the fine Ethiopian food on the menu! Admission is $8 at the door.
For more information about us, check the AAMH Canada FB page, or our website at http://www.aamh.ca/, or email aamh.canada@gmail.com.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Documentary: The Downside of High
This is a message passed along to AAMH Canada by Caroline Butler, our colleague in BC:
I wanted to alert you to an upcoming documentary on CBC's "The Nature of Things" with David Suzuki. Please forward this on to anyone you think would be interested!
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"Is strong pot damaging young minds?"
That provocative question is at the heart of THE DOWNSIDE OF HIGH, a new documentary about the science behind marijuana and mental illness.
"Teenagers who start smoking marijuana before the age of sixteen are four times more likely to become schizophrenic."
That’s the startling conclusion of some of the world’s top schizophrenia experts, whose research is featured in The Downside of High.
The scientists’ groundbreaking work on the connection between marijuana and mental illness also reveals that, for all young adults, smoking marijuana nearly doubles the risk of developing recurring psychosis, paranoia and hallucinations – the hallmarks of schizophrenia.
"The Downside of High" premieres Thursday, January 28 at 8:00 P.M. (8:30 NT).
Visit http://www.dreamfilm.ca/ for more information. Dreamfilm is a Gemini Award-winning production company in Vancouver, BC.
You can also contact me:
Caroline Butler
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Interesting new research on BD in BC
Courtesy of one of our BC members, here is an article on some very interesting new research being conducted by psychologist Erin Michalak in Vancouver on bipolar disorder. Read the article here.
This article is of particular interest because of the focus on individuals who are not dependent on drug therapies for symptom control but rather use other non-pharmaceutical methods to improve their quality of life. This is research more concerned with thriving as opposed to the tradition focus on disorder and dysfunction. It's refreshing to see researchers moving out of the stereotypical boxes to look at what people with lived experience are actually doing. May we only hope that more research of this kind gets done for a wider variety of mental health conditions!
This article is of particular interest because of the focus on individuals who are not dependent on drug therapies for symptom control but rather use other non-pharmaceutical methods to improve their quality of life. This is research more concerned with thriving as opposed to the tradition focus on disorder and dysfunction. It's refreshing to see researchers moving out of the stereotypical boxes to look at what people with lived experience are actually doing. May we only hope that more research of this kind gets done for a wider variety of mental health conditions!
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Sound Therapy Radio
I will be on CJSF radio in Burnaby, BC, next Monday between 10 and 11 EST, 7 and 8 PST, discussing the AAMH and my poem 'Recovery'. Just tune in 90.1 FM, or, if not in BC, log onto http://www.cjsf.ca/ Thanks to Jay Peachy for the opportunity!
Monday, December 28, 2009
AAMH Canada Hits Its 1,000-member Facebook goal!
The Artists' Alliance for Mental Health Canada hit the 1,000-member mark on Christmas Day! What a wonderful gift for our group ... our first major milestone reached in less than six weeks! Thank you to all our members and if you haven't joined the group, what are you waiting for?
AAMH Canada has begun forming Local Artists' Caucuses in Halifax, Ottawa, Lanark County ON, London ON, Toronto, Vancouver and on Vancouver Island. The Caucuses will bring together artists at the local level for grassroots-driven actions and fundraising, and to support our national campaigns in your city. If you're in any of those areas, send a message to your Caucus Lead. If there's no Caucus Lead in your area, contact Greg Frankson at aamh.canada@gmail.com to start one!
AAMH Canada has begun forming Local Artists' Caucuses in Halifax, Ottawa, Lanark County ON, London ON, Toronto, Vancouver and on Vancouver Island. The Caucuses will bring together artists at the local level for grassroots-driven actions and fundraising, and to support our national campaigns in your city. If you're in any of those areas, send a message to your Caucus Lead. If there's no Caucus Lead in your area, contact Greg Frankson at aamh.canada@gmail.com to start one!
Goodbye Vic.
Dear Vic,
You actually don’t know me. I had recently become a distant fan, truthfully I hadn’t really listened to your music much or know much about you. However your story from your personal tragedy and struggles to rise as a musician was something that really interested me. You recently had come to Vancouver and it was my intention to meet and speak with you, particularly about your journey as a survivor, an artist and as a human. It is with great regret that I didn’t get that chance.
Your passing affects me deeply. I really don’t know what it is; but the story of the challenges you faced and the fact you had come so far, fascinated me. It was an inspirational journey, I wanted to tap into that for myself and have the opportunity to share with others. I would think that many others would have lots in common. Now it seems that you could not escape from the demons you felt, no one will ever likely know the truth. Some say the truth hurts, but not knowing can be just as painful.
Whatever it was, I really wished it hadn’t been resolved in this manner. I wish you had spoken out more, reached out more, but not this. But then, it is also likely not your fault. The truth is, the world really wanted you to stay.
Vic Chesnutt, who was quite open about his mental struggles, died of an apparent suicide on December 25, 2009, he was 45.
You actually don’t know me. I had recently become a distant fan, truthfully I hadn’t really listened to your music much or know much about you. However your story from your personal tragedy and struggles to rise as a musician was something that really interested me. You recently had come to Vancouver and it was my intention to meet and speak with you, particularly about your journey as a survivor, an artist and as a human. It is with great regret that I didn’t get that chance.
Your passing affects me deeply. I really don’t know what it is; but the story of the challenges you faced and the fact you had come so far, fascinated me. It was an inspirational journey, I wanted to tap into that for myself and have the opportunity to share with others. I would think that many others would have lots in common. Now it seems that you could not escape from the demons you felt, no one will ever likely know the truth. Some say the truth hurts, but not knowing can be just as painful.
Whatever it was, I really wished it hadn’t been resolved in this manner. I wish you had spoken out more, reached out more, but not this. But then, it is also likely not your fault. The truth is, the world really wanted you to stay.
Vic Chesnutt, who was quite open about his mental struggles, died of an apparent suicide on December 25, 2009, he was 45.
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