4000 Rep Challenge Aims To Raise Awareness And Start Conversations About Mental Health

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Peterborough local Joe Keating will host the second annual ‘4000 Rep Challenge’ to promote open and honest dialogue regarding mental health.

Joe and his daughter Alexis during last years event. Photo courtesy of Joe Keating.

In 2021 Keating started the 4000 Rep Challenge after struggling with depression his whole life.

“I saw something saying that 4000 people commit suicide every year in Canada,” said Keating. “I’ve had personal experience with suicide, I’m very open with my own mental health issues. One of the ways I help to mitigate my symptoms is through exercise.”

Keating, who is a certified kettlebell instructor, says the 4000 Reps Challenge is a way to recognize people who have taken their own lives and a way to open up conversations that may help someone from getting to that point.

“Exercise helps me overcome some of my struggles,” he said. “For me exercise combined with medication helps me with my symptoms everyday. It’s not for everyone but I would encourage everyone to exercise even 20 minutes a day to help them out. It’s like a physical meditation - if that makes any sense. It may not be the answer for everyone but it certainly can’t hurt to try.”

The challenge invites participants to join Keating virtually via Facebook on April 23, and complete 4000 reps of any physical activity.

Keating says he will start the day at 10 a.m. and complete 1000 reps per hour until 2 p.m. His daughter will join him lifting kettlebells while his other children will encourage them throughout the day. His wife plans to go for a 4 km run, then cheer Keating an his daughter on for the rest of the day and manage the Facebook group.

The 4000 Rep Challenge is not a fundraiser. Keating says he considered it, but ultimately decided to simply invite people to have a conversation and to let others struggling with their mental health know they are not alone.

Participate in the 4000 Reps Challenge by joining the Facebook group here.

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Ontario Government Invests Over $360,000 Into Mental Health and Addictions Pilot Project to Aid 320 People

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The Ontario Government is funding $367,480 to non-profit organization Right to Heal for mental health and addictions services for 320 people announced at the Peterborough County-City Paramedics on Friday.

Peggy Shaughnessy, Founder and President of Whitepath Consulting (pictured) has had her organization in operation since 2005. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The project, “Moving Beyond Addiction” will service over a 16-month period will use the Redpath program via Whitepath Consulting to treat addictions by using psychology-based methods to identify the reasons behind substance abuse and developing the social, emotional and practical skills to move beyond addiction and fully reintegrate back into society.

“Individuals with addictions more often than not develop addictions by using substances to either feel something or numb something. The root cause is almost always trauma; whether it’s from abuse, mental health challenges or pain,” said MPP Dave Smith. “If we are truly going to address the mental health and addictions crisis, a wide variety of treatments options need to exist locally.”

The program will work under a referral process administered by the Elizabeth Fry Society, enabling the funding for the pilot to flow fully to program services.

Clients referred to the program will typically be homeless, at-risk of homelessness, living with mental health/addictions issues and trauma, or disconnected from appropriate services.

Peterborough Police, Peterborough County-City Paramedics and Peterborough Regional Health Centre can refer clients who have experienced or are at risk of experiencing opioid overdoses.

Health and social services can refer clients from places such as the Consumption and Treatment Services/Opioid Response Hub, Brock Mission, Cameron House, and One Roof Community Centre. The program accepts family and self-referrals.

“With the recent announcement regarding the Consumption and Treatment Services funding, this funding will help expand addiction treatment services in our area and allow funding for the Redpath program that has shown great success in other areas,” said Peggy Shaughnessy, Founder and President of Whitepath Consulting.

Once referred, clients will undergo a rigorous and evidence-based assessment to determine the correct treatment for their unique needs.

The assessment will consider multiple variables to determine their needs including backgrounds of trauma, abuse, domestic violence, housing status, financial situation, and level of substance abuse.

After the assessment, they will enter into one-on-one counselling and/or the Redpath Intervention Program. It consists of 21 counselling and training sessions in three-hour spans in both community and institutional settings.

Sessions focus on identifying trauma and the cause, understanding why a client uses substances, the development of coping mechanisms and practical, emotional and social skills.

Clients will enter an After Care Program, requiring two hours on a weekly basis for group training sessions focusing on personal development and fully reintegrating back into society.

“We have had the opportunity to connect clients to the program and are witnessing firsthand the impact Redpath has. We at Elizabeth Fry can see this program coming alive through our referrals from various connections within the health care and criminal justice sectors,” said Debbie Carriere, executive director of the Elizabeth Fry Society of Peterborough. “As someone who has completed this program myself, I can truly speak to the excellent opportunity this is bringing to our community for healing.”

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#WellTogetherPTBO Campaign Raises $12,000 For CMHA HKPR New Mobile Mental Health Unit

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PTBOCanada and Fresh Radio’s #WellTogetherPTBO campaign raised $12,000 to help fund Canadian Mental Health Association Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge branch’s new mobile mental health unit.

The new mobile clinic is in the process of being launched. It will consist of two retro-fitted vehicles that will service the four counties.

“The intent is to be able to provide mental health support to people who are living remotely, facing barriers and for many reasons have not been able to access service,” said Jeff Cadence, manager of the new mobile clinic. “This is now a process of bringing that help directly to the people.”

The $12,000 donation will be put towards the purchase of a second unit, as the first one was payed for by funding from the Ontario government.

According to Cadence the vehicle will be about 36 ft. long and wheelchair accessible. Onboard will be a waiting room, a washroom and two meeting rooms where patients can meet with professionals in person or via. video chat.

Each unit will have mental health clinicians and nurses on site and will be able to provide access to psychiatry and other medical professionals through tele-conference.

The #WellTogetherPTBO campaign raised funds by selling shirts and toques. The shirts featured art by artist Jason Wilkins that was inspired by his painted mural at the PTBOCanada studio.

Leons Peterborough, Ashburnham Realty, Gauvreau Accounting, Circul Air Corp., Red X Technologies, Overtime Hockey, Fontains Source For Sports and Friendly Fires made significant contributions to this campaign.

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#WellTogetherPTBO Fundraising Campaign Launched For Mental Health and Addictions Services

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PTBOCanada has launched their #WellTogetherPTBO campaign to support mental health and addiction services by selling t-shirts and toques beginning Monday.

Caitlin Mcintosh, CMHAKPR communications and community relations specialist displaying the back of the campaign t-shirt. The mobile health unit is expected to be operating by roughly Jan. 1. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The shirts contain art by artist Jason Wilkins that was inspired by his painted mural at the PTBOCanada studio.

All proceeds from the clothing sales will go towards the Canadian Mental Health Association Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge (CMHAKPR).

"It's a great initiative especially with the holidays coming up,” said Caitlin Mcintosh, CMHAKPR communications and community relations specialist. “It’s great that the money is going to fund our new mobile mental health and addictions clinic."

Leon’s Peterborough kickstarted the campaign by donating $1,000 during its announcement at the PTBOCanada studio.

"It's awesome to be able to contribute back to our community," said Tom Reburn, Leon’s Peterborough general manager. "This is a really important cause, everything with that's been COVID going on, people's mental health has definitely been at the forefront of everything and being able to contribute something positive to the community is priceless for me.”

The charity apparel can be purchased online at the PTBOCanada shop. Every shirt and toque purchased will have $10 and $5 go to CHMAKPR respectively. All PTBOCanada caps proceeds will also go towards the campaign which runs until Christmas.

"Everyone has started to feel some pandemic fatigue, everyone wants their lives obviously to be back to normal so this is a great way to bring the Peterborough community together and demonstrate wellness, mental wellness and togetherness," said MacIntosh.

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First Mobile Clinic For Mental Health and Addiction Coming to Peterborough Area

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A custom-built retrofitted bus for mental health and addiction services is coming to Peterborough and the surrounding area announced by the Ontario Government at the Knights of Columbus Doyle Hall on Thursday.

Hon. Michael Tibollo (left), Ontario’s Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions has previously spent a decade as an addiction counsellor. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The setup will have a team of nurse practitioners, social and service workers to provide resources, support — including psychiatric — with follow-ups as necessary. The bus is expected to be operating by roughly Jan. 1.

“The first mobile health unit to be deployed in the province of Ontario is being funded by the Ontario government,” Hon. Michael Tibollo, Ontario’s Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions. ”The unit will provide support and services to individuals to their local communities without having to have them come into the hospital or go to one of the other cities to get support for mental health and addictions.”

The Canadian Mental Health Association Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge (CMHA-HKPR) will be responsible for overseeing the development and operation of the mobile mental health clinic in Peterborough. They provide programming and services to the counties of Haliburton, Northumberland, Peterborough and the City of Kawartha Lakes,

The mobile unit reduces the need for people to travel to find services and can meet more clients in more places.

“Through our government’s Roadmap to Wellness we are committed to breaking down barriers to accessing high-quality mental health and addictions services where and when it’s needed,” said Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “This innovative partnership will help to bring needed mental health and addictions services directly to individuals living in Peterborough and the surrounding areas.”

“Since the release of Roadmap to Wellness last year, our government’s top priority has been to continue making critical investments that will fill urgent gaps in mental health and addictions care, reduce waiting lists and address extensive wait times,” said Tibollo. “Through the development of the mobile mental health clinic, clients and families in Peterborough and the surrounding region will have greater access to high-quality, evidence-based care in a setting where they are fully supported on their journey towards recovery.”

A second bus will be added through fundraising efforts from the CMHA. One for Peterborough and Northumberland County and the other for Haliburton and the City of Kawartha Lakes. The Ontario government will help fund the operation of both mobile units.

"Mental health is a pandemic,” said Hon. Michael Tibollo, Ontario’s Associate Minister of Mental Health and Addictions. “We have to remember that people's mental health is fundamental to any recovery."

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