Traditionally, Mental Health Week runs during first week of May. This year, though, due to the many events all happening during this year’s celebration, the Strathcona Mental Health Team opted to postpone its yearly Mental Health Week programming and offer it, instead, in early June.

And it all starts next week. From June 9 to June 12, Strathcona will host a series of presentations that explore various aspects of mental health and addiction, and the path to wellness.

The sessions are open to anyone who wants to attend, and advance registration is not required. Seating is limited so try to arrive early. And for those who arrive early, entertainment will be provided by some of the team’s top entertainers and buskers.

All presentations will run from Strathcona Mental Health Team offices, located at 330 Heatley Avenue (the corner of Heatley and Cordova), in Vancouver.

Hope to see you there

Monday, June 9, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. — Validating Variation in the Human Condition–the Hearing Voices Network: Voice Hearing, Then and Now. Presenters:  Renea Mohammed, Charlotte Jackson, and Jael Emberley.

Tuesday, June 10, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. — Getting Back On Track: Medication Assists and Mental Calisthenics to Aid the Resumption of Every-Day Life after a Hospitalization or Other down Time. Presenters:  Dr. Anthony Sehon, Strathcona Mental Health Team; Freddy Hehewerth, Occupational Therapist, Strathcona; and Martina Van Den Kerkhof, Patient Facilitator, Strathcona Mental Health Team.

Tuesday, June 10, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. — Trauma Practices and the Sanctuary Model. Presenters: Andrew Larcombe, Concurrent Disorders  Counsellor, Downtown Community Health Clinic; Crystal Arber, Concurrent Disorders Counsellor, Pender Community Health Clinic.

Wednesday, June 11, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. — At a Loss for Words?  Helpful Conversations When Working with Individuals with a Concurrent Disorder. Presenters: Sean Murphy, Occupational Therapist, Strathcona Mental Health Team; Roger Gale, counsellor, S.A.F.E.R.

Wednesday, June 11, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. — ACT Teams:  What are They, and How do They Work?  Presenters: Simon Davis, Grandview Woodlands Mental Health and Addictions; Andrew Ryan, Neil Arao, and Erin Emiru, Vancouver ACT Teams.

Thursday, June 12, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. — Operationalizing Support:  What Do We Mean by the Word, Support: a Hopeful Euphemism, or the Unarticulated Goal of All our Work?  Presenters: Tracey Schonfeld, Coast Foundation;  Amelia Ridgway, Rain City Housing; Richard Marquez, Lookout Emergency Housing Society; Coco Culbertson, Portland Hotel Society; Gerry Bradley, Strathcona Mental Health Team.

Thursday, June 12, 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. — A Hand Up.  First Nations Services in the DTES and Environs. Presenters:  Perry Omeasoo, First Nations Liaison Worker, Vancouver Mental Health and Addictions; Jackson Dion, Native Court workers of BC; and staff from the Aboriginal Patient Navigator Program and the Aboriginal Wellness Program, Vancouver.