Peterborough Petes General Manager Wins Award

The Canadian Mental Health Association Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge (CMHA HKPR) has awarded Petes GM and vice-president of Operations Mike Oke with the 2024 Naresh James Champion of Mental Health Award.

Photo supplied by peterborough petes

The annual award recognizes an individual who has championed, critical challenges, pioneered initiatives and achieved lasting impacts in support for those who live with mental health issues.

CMHA HKPR’s Jack Veitch nominated Oke for the award, citing his dedication to the work on the OHL’s Talk Today Program as well as his commitment to the mental health of his players and staff.

The award was presented at Wednesday's CMHA HKPR Annual General Meeting.

“Mike Oke transformed the Peterborough Petes' approach to mental health and wellness,” said Veitch. “In 2013, he and the Petes partnered with the CMHA to pilot the 'Talk Today' program, which became a national movement in Canadian junior hockey.”

“We piloted the Talk Today program in 2013 after the initiative was brought to us by Dave and Heather Pogue,” Oke added. “We were the first team to implement the program with our players and staff here in Peterborough, it then became mandatory in the entire CHL, growing to involve other junior hockey leagues in Canada.”

Oke noted they know of at least one situation where the work of the team’s support staff has had direct life saving impact in the community.

“These individuals work very closely with our players and staff daily to help eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health,” Oke said.

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Peterborough Police Partner With Wounded Warriors Canada to Provide Additional Mental Health Support to Officers and Their Families

In an effort to provide additional mental health services to first responders, the Peterborough Police Service and Wounded Warriors Canada have announced a partnership on Monday afternoon.

Wounded Warriors Canada is a nationally recognized organization and mental health service provider dedicated to serving ill and injured trauma exposed professionals and their families. The group is currently working with over 100 police services across the country. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The partnership will aid Peterborough Police Service members and their families. 

The Peterborough Police Service Peer Support Team has been actively seeking partnerships with external agencies to benefit all Service members. Wounded Warriors Canada has been chosen as its first priority partnership according to a press release.

“I was part of organizations both at York Regional Police and London Police Service where we partnered with Wounded Warriors so when this came to my attention here in Peterborough, it was a natural that I would support this here as well for the benefit of our members,” said Chief Stuart Betts of the Peterborough Police Service.

Peterborough Police officers often encounter traumatic experiences which is something the public may or may not be aware of, explained Betts.

“Most people are going to see one or two really terrible things that happen in their lives,” he said. “Our police officers can see one, two, three or five in a single 12-hour shift and there's an accumulative effect that goes along with that. Some of our folks are responding to things where people do the most horrible, imaginable things to other individuals out there.”

“That's what the police are affront to and exposed to,” said Scott Maxwell, Wounded Warriors executive director. “What they could see in a shift could be more trauma than an individual maybe hopefully in their lives. But the reality of that requires very tailored, culturally-specific, occupationally aware, training and counselling assistance to make sure that we are getting in front of this reality.”

Anyone from the Police Service can confidentially apply for Wounded Warriors’s services.

Some available programs include:

• Trauma Resiliency Program

• Spousal Resiliency Program

• Couples Overcoming PTSD Everyday

• Couples Resiliency Program

• Warrior Kids Camp & Virtual Program

• Surviving Family Program

• PTSD Service Dogs

• Operations Stress Intervention Dog

“We specialize in residential facilitated group counselling programs for individual members, couples counselling, supports for spouses, surviving families (line of duty death and deaths by suicide) and support for kids aged 8-16 years old,” said Maxwell.

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9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline Launched Nationwide With CMHA HKPR As Local Provider

The Canadian Mental Health Association Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge’s (CMHA HKPR) new 9-8-8 Suicide Crisis Helpline has launched and is available nationwide as one of 40 national 9-8-8 partners announced on Thursday.

TRACY GRAHAM, CMHA DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMS AND SERVICES during the initial announcement of the suicide crisis helpline at the Peterborough and the Kawartha Chamber of Commerce. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

“We are incredibly excited about the launch of 9-8-8 and a proud partner,"“ said Mark Graham, CMHA HKPR CEO. “Individuals in crisis now have access to a three-digit, easy-to-remember number for support available to them 24/7. We believe this will have a huge impact on access to support in our region and across Canada.”

9-8-8 is for anyone across Canada thinking of suicide or who is worried about someone they know. CMHA HKPR will have six 9-8-8 responders on standby to listen and provide confidential support without judgment and are available 24/7.

Individuals calling from a local area code in Peterborough, Haliburton, Northumberland, or Kawartha Lakes, will be routed to local call takers at the CMHA HKPR call center in downtown Peterborough and connected with local supports.

CMHA HKPR’s Four County Crisis, widely known as ‘4CC’, has been rebranded into the Integrated Crisis Intervention Services Model. Individuals who are experiencing thoughts of suicide or emotional distress or who are worried about someone they know can now call 9-8-8 instead of Four County Crisis.

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CMHA HKPR Becomes Provider For National Suicide Crisis Helpline Launching On Nov. 30

The Canadian Mental Health Association Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge (CMHA HKPR) will be a local provider for the new 9-8-8 National Suicide Crisis Helpline launching on Nov. 30.

Tracy Graham, CMHA Director of Programs and Services (left); Ellen Watkins, CMHA Director of Corporate Services (middle) and Mark Graham, CMHA CEO. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The progrma launch officially starts at 3 a.m. on Nov. 30. Anyone can can call or text 9-8-8 to access the helpline.

“We are thrilled to announce that we have been selected as one of nearly 45 national providers for the new 9-8-8: Suicide Crisis Helpline, which will launch on November 30th, 2023,” said Mark Graham, CMHA CEO.

The helpline has been federally funded nationwide for $156 million. It is for anyone in Canada thinking of suicide or those concerned of someone contemplating it. CMHA will have six 9-8-8 responders on standby to listen and provide confidential support without judgement and are available 24/7.

9-8-8 is a national helpline but anyone calling from a local area code in Peterborough, Haliburton, Northumberland, Kawartha Lakes and surrounding Six Nations reserves (Curve Lake, Hiwartha, Scugog and Alderville) will be routed to local call takers at the CMHA HKPR call center in downtown Peterborough.

As a result of the helping, CMHA HKPR’s Four County Crisis — widely known as ‘4CC’ — has been rebranded and is growing into the Integrated Crisis Intervention Services Model. Individuals who are experiencing thoughts of suicide or emotional distress, or who are worried about someone they know, can now call 9-8-8 instead of Four County Crisis.

It becomes the direct line for their Safe Beds program and after-hours housing support. If individuals call the line (705-745-6484) in crisis, they will receive a message to hang up and call 9-8-8.

“Through our strategic planning process, we learned that our community, clients, and staff were all looking for an easier to navigate crisis system with the opportunity for more meaningful connections,” said Graham. “With the launch of the new helpline, we will also be restructuring our current crisis services to provide easier to navigate, streamlined crisis support to individuals in Peterborough and County, Northumberland, Kawartha Lakes, and Haliburton.”

The Model includes adding an additional eight Brief Services Mental Health Workers who will be distributed across the four counties. It also includes moving the Safe Beds facility from a residential neighborhood to downtown Peterborough and increasing bed capacity at Safe Beds with an opportunity for transitional housing according to a press release.

Individuals who are looking to access Safe Beds can call 705-745-6484. Community partners can send referrals for Safe Beds to safebeds@cmhahkpr.ca.

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CMHA HKPR’s Change the Cycle Event Raises Over $40,000 for Garden Homes

The Canadian Mental Health Association Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge’s (CMHA HKPR’s) first-ever Change the Cycle event raised over $40,000 for the Garden Homes project on June 24.

photo courtesy of cmha hkpr.

The event took place at at Nicholls Oval with over 60 cyclists and volunteers.

“We would like to sincerely thank our sponsors, riders, and donors for making our first Change the Cycle event our most successful cycling fundraiser to date,” says Jack Veitch, manager of community engagement and education with CMHA HKPR.

In years past, CMHA HKPR participated in a nation-wide cycling fundraising event but this year, with the goal of keeping all the money right here in our community, we launched our own cycling fundraiser.

photo courtesy of cmha hkpr.

The fundraising kicked off with a generous donation of $25,000 from the Community Foundation of Greater Peterborough. Klusterfork Entertainment also donated proceeds from their most recent production, ‘Schools Out,’ to the event.

The funds will support the new Garden Homes Project, an initiative of CMHA HKPR’s Supportive Housing program, which aims to support vulnerable individuals who are at risk of homelessness in the Peterborough area by providing affordable, small homes.

For more information, visit the website.

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CEO of CMHA HKPR Mark Graham Announces Retirement

The Canadian Mental Health Association Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge (CMHA HKPR) announced Monday that their CEO of 31 years, Mark Graham, is set to retire Jan. 31.

file photo.

“Mark Graham is truly remarkable and impressive. He is counted on by many other partner agencies within the counties of the HKPR region. He has sat on many advisory tables and committees supporting CMHA HKPR and community-based mental health and addictions services. His multi-dimensional view on many different challenges will be sorely missed,” says CMHA HKPR board president John Lyons.

Mark started his career with CMHA HKPR in 1992 with a staff complement of 28 and an operating budget of $1.2 million. With his strong and professional work ethic, commitment to the organization and his established relationships with community stakeholders, CMHA HKPR now has 188 employees and an operating budget of just over $17.6 million. Through his leadership and employees, CMHA HKPR offers over 20 programs and services across the four counties. These services help to improve the mental well-being of our communities.

Although the work was hard, Mark and his team saw many rewards through the challenges. It is a true testament to what can be accomplished with a dedicated leader and a group of highly skilled and engaged personnel that embrace the challenges and forge ahead.

“As the President of the CMHA HKPR Board of Directors I, along with all the Board Members wish nothing but the best for Mark and his family as he ventures into the next much deserved phase of his life. I would also like to thank him for his selfless commitment, dedication, and contribution to the mental health field,” said Lyons.

The CMHA HKPR Board and Senior Management Team are committed to ensuring a smooth transition as they begin the search for his successor.

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Over $18,000 Raised For Suicide Awareness In Douro Boxer Cody Crowley's "55 for 55" Fundraiser

Boxer Cody Crowley’s ‘55 for 55’ fundraiser is off to a good start, raising $18,840 for Team 55: Let’s Tackle Suicide Awareness of their $55,000 goal in a cheque presentation at Dr. J’s BBQ & Brews on Monday.

Scott Elliott won the grand prize for the flight to Vegas to see Crowley’s fight. Photo courtesy of Addison Brown.

The fundraising raffle occurred last Wednesday that featured prizes such as dinner for Dr. J’s, WBC-signed gloves from boxing legends such as Julio Cesar Chavez, Roberto Duran, Gerry Cooney, a One With Life tequila package and a grand prize for a round-trip flight, accommodations and ringside seats to see Cody’s fight.

“Cody Crowley, James Julie Crowley and Kevin Williams really did something amazing by raising $18,840 in just two weeks with help from friends and family,” said Addison Brown, Dr. J’s owner.

Crowley announced the fundraiser in honour of his late father who passed away last year ahead of his 22nd professional fight on March 25 in Las Vegas. The 21-0-0 Crowley is scheduled to box Abel Ramos in a 12-round World Boxing Council (WBC) title elimination fight at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nev.

The proceeds are going towards the Assertive Outreach Suicide Prevention program run by the Peterborough Regional Health Centre Foundation and Canadian Mental Health Association.

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CMHA HKPR and Hospice Peterborough Partner On Survivors of Suicide Loss Support Group This Spring

The Canadian Mental Health Association, Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge (CMHA HKPR) and Hospice Peterborough have partnered to run the Survivors of Suicide Loss Support Group for Peterborough and the surrounding areas this spring.

photo courtesy of hospice peterborough website.

The group is an eight-week program designed to provide participants with information and support as they navigate the changes in their life following the death by suicide of someone close to them. The group will explore aspects of suicide loss, such as stigma, the neurobiology of suicide and tools for coping with grief after suicide as well as connecting participants and encouraging self-care.

“It is difficult to come to a group like this one, because acknowledging and accepting the death is one of the hardest yet most essential steps on our grief journey. A group of complete strangers connecting with one another from such a deep, painful and honest place allows an indescribable magic to unfold. They are committing themselves to this group because they don’t want to go through this alone,” says group facilitator Alice Czitrom.

Grief programming is not government funded and has been made available through the combined efforts of our community. Upcoming Survivors of Suicide Loss groups are made possible through this new partnership between Hospice Peterborough, CMHA and its community fundraising initiatives, such as CMHA HKPR’s 2019 Ride Don’t Hide event.

“We are so pleased to have this partnership with CMHA HKPR to serve our community. This funding will help provide meaningful connections and give those grieving a suicide loss a place to turn to," added Hospice Peterborough executive director Hajni Hős.

After participating in the 8-week program, participants are invited to attend monthly follow-up groups where they can connect with peers from their group as well as attendees from past Survivors of Suicide Loss Groups.”

CMHA HKPR and Hospice Peterborough will also be launching a program for people who have experienced the death of someone close to them as a result of opioids in the fall of 2023.

Individuals can register for the Survivors of Suicide Loss Support Group by calling Hospice Peterborough at 705-742-4042 ext. 251.

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Canadian Mental Health Association Teams Up With Peterborough Petes for Talk Today Game Night

The Peterborough Petes and the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) are teaming up to host Talk Today Night during the Petes home game against the Windsor Spitfires Thursday night.

photo courtesy of the peterborough petes.

The game, presented by Syngenta and Grain Farmers of Ontario, will take place at the Peterborough Memorial Centre on Feb. 23 at 7:05 p.m. and will feature:

• CMHA and Grain Farmers of Ontario tables in the concourse handing out information about Talk Today

• Player content relating to Talk Today to be played and shared at the PMC on gameday

• PA and video board announcements

• A pre-game ceremony and a puck drop featuring representatives from CMHA and Grain Farmers of Ontario

Launched by CMHA Ontario in 2014 in partnership with the OHL, the Talk Today program has grown to become one of the most comprehensive sport mental health programs in Canada. Through Talk Today, CMHA branches across Ontario have been teaming up with their local OHL teams to educate and support their players on mental health and suicide prevention.

“The Talk Today program is an essential piece to reducing the stigma surrounding mental illness and encouraging players to access mental health support when needed. I’m proud to know the Talk Today program started here in Peterborough and to have been a part of it since it’s inception,” says Jack Veitch, manager of community engagement and education.

“Now, more than ever, it is important to talk about mental health; especially in sport. Game night’s like Talk Today provide a platform to speak about mental health and we’re proud to partner with CMHA, Syngenta, and Grain Farmers of Ontario to spread this important messaging and keep the conversation moving forward,” says Adam King, director of marketing with the Petes.

Tickets for the game are available by clicking here, or by contacting the PMC Grant Thornton Box Office in person or at (705) 743-3561.

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CMHA HKPR Launches New Mobile Wellness Clinic ‘The Road Ahead’

The Canadian Mental Health Association Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge (CMHA HKPR) has launched a new Mobile Wellness Clinic, ‘The Road Ahead’ Thursday morning at a media conference in Lakefield.

photo courtesy of The Canadian Mental Health Association Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge.

During the conference, media and dignitaries had the opportunity to tour and take photo and video of the new clinic as well as meet with the team and ask questions regarding how this innovative new service will benefit rural communities across the region.

CMHA HKPR’s ‘The Road Ahead’ Mobile Wellness Clinic operates out of two vehicles and supports individuals who may have difficulty accessing services by bringing a full range of mental health and addictions supports to rural and remote areas across Peterborough County, Northumberland County, Haliburton County, and the City of Kawartha Lakes. The program provides counselling and therapy, support with addictions and substance use, mental health education, medication support and access to other services such as psychiatry.

It was determined that to serve the rural communities across the region, the clinic requires two vehicles. One vehicle was funded through the support of the Government of Ontario.

"We know that the ability to connect to care, close to home impacts patients’ success rates, particularly when it concerns mental health and addictions. That’s why these Mobile Wellness Clinics are so vital. They help those on a path to wellness connect with the programs they need, where and when they need them,” says Hon. Michael Tibollo, associate minister of mental health and addictions.

For the past year, CMHA HKPR fundraised $300,000 to purchase the second clinic vehicle.

Both vehicles have been designed to meet the specific needs of the clinic, and thanks to support of local marketing company Outpost 379, the vehicles have also been branded with a creative and inspiring design. The design was chosen to be welcoming and positive and isn’t specific to mental health or addictions, taking into consideration the stigmas that still surround mental health and addictions and the barriers that they may cause.

For more information on The Road Ahead, visit the website.

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