ON-BPD News | 2017, Issue 2

Following are some news stories from us, as well as some bulletins we've received that may be of interest to you. If you have news that would be of interest to us or our members, please send it to webservices@on-bpd.ca.

ON-BPD Updates:

News from our partners:

 

Family Connections

road-sun-rays-path_small.jpgON-BPD is now accepting applications to participate in our next session of Family Connections, a 12-week program designed to provide the adult family members and spouses of individuals with emotion dysregulation or borderline personality disorder with knowledge and skills for their own well-being and for better understanding their loved one. Our next session is full, but we do keep a waiting list, so don't wait to apply.

To apply, please download and complete the application form, and send it by e-mail to info@on-bpd.ca.

Continuing Connections

Continuing Connections is offered as a three-hour skills refresher and support group for Family Connections graduates. At these sessions, offered quarterly, a facilitator reviews topics that were covered during the 12-week course and provides further discussion. Participation is by invitation only.

Below is the Continuing Connections (tentative) schedule for 2017. Please save the dates in your calendars and stay tuned for your personal email invitation to the next Continuing Connections session. If you have completed a Family Connections course, but have not received any of the previous e-mails about Continuing Connections, please contact us at webservices@on-bpd.ca.

  • March 25: Effective Communication in the Family Environment
  • June 10: Family Education
  • October 21: Problem Management

We appreciate your support, attendance, and participation. If you have suggestions on how we can improve these workshops, we would love to hear from you. Please email : info@on-bpd.ca

Find us on Facebook!

Did you know we have a Facebook page? Two, actually -- one for English and another for French. We share updates there, and welcome your comments or shares as well. These are public pages, so please don't post anything personal or confidential.

Currently, we don't have as much French content as we would like – we would love to have a francophone page administrator. Interested? Contact wynnanne@on-bpd.ca.

Good News for Ontarians: Ontario Providing Faster Access to Mental Health Services for Thousands of People

The Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care announced, "Ontario is providing faster access to mental health and addictions services across the province, with new investments that will ensure thousands more people can get the support they need when they need it." While this likely won't solve all of our wait-list problems, it is definitely a step in the right direction! Read more here .

Bonnes nouvelles pour les résidents d'Ontario : l'Ontario offre à des milliers de personnes un accès plus rapide aux services de santé mentale

Le ministère de la Santé et des Soins de longue durée a annoncé « un accès plus rapide aux services de santé mentale et de lutte contre les dépendances dans la province, afin que des milliers de personnes puissent désormais obtenir le soutien dont elles ont besoin en temps opportun ». Bien que cela ne résoudra probablement pas tous nos problèmes de listes d'attente, c'est certainement un pas dans la bonne direction ! Encore d'info ici.

Road Trip? Family Day at the NAASPD

The North American Society for the Study of Personality Disorders will be holding its annual symposium in New York City. Again this year, they will host a unique Family Day and the opportunity to talk with leading world researchers and clinicians. Find more information about the conference on the NEA.BPD website (scroll down the page on the website).To register through PayPal, click here and enter a payment of $95 and add a "special instruction" to your payment indicating that it is for the Family Day. You will receive an e-mail confirmation.

Date: Saturday, April 8
Location: New York City
Special fee: $95
Register: on Paypal Donate Specify Family Day.

Free Webinar: “How to Speak Borderline: A Live Demonstration”

March 14, 10-11 am EST
Hosted by Karen A. Adler, MD, Staff Psychiatrist, Adult Outpatient Services and Gunderson Outpatient Program

A core symptom of borderline personality disorder is interpersonal hypersensitivity, which means conversations with loved ones often end in misunderstandings, conflict, and hurt feelings. In a previous webinar, Dr. Adler addressed the roots of hypersensitivity to perceived criticism and key roles of shame, fear and anger in fueling heated conflicts between individuals. Strategies were taught on how to identify common triggers of these underlying emotions and use validation to reduce conflict and engage in problem solving. For this follow-up webinar, we ask that registrants email Dawn Sugarman with real-life dilemmas they have faced or will face in communicating with their loved one and we will choose example scenarios to role play to demonstrate skills in action.

Registration

BPD Patient and Family Education live webinars are geared toward family members of loved ones with borderline personality disorder and are available free of charge. Advance registration is suggested.

Upcoming Webinars:

  • “Introduction to DBT Skills Training” Thursday, March 30, 2017, 4-5 pm EST
  • “Eating Disorders, Overeating, and Borderline Personality Disorder” Thursday, April 13, 2017, 4-5 pm EST

Archived Webinars (Browse this page to see more.)

 

Research into Caregiving of People with Personality Disorders

Paige Lamborn is doing research into the experience of people who care for others with personality disorders, and would like your input. Read more about it here: PDF about the survey.

Contact Paige Lamborn if you are interested in taking this survey.

Family Connections Videos

road-sun-rays-path_small.jpgThe National Education Alliance for Borderline Personality Disorder (NEA.BPD) has co-produced a series of videos demonstrating how Dialectical Behavioral Therapy helps patients and their families. This series was developed jointly by NEA.BPD (Dr. Alan Fruzzetti) and the National Office for Suicide Prevention in Ireland (HSE), who very generously funded much of its production. 

Open Your Mind Before You Open Your Mouth

NEA.BPD is the organization that developed the Family Connections program and course materials, and through which our facilitators have been trained.
 

Coping with Mental Illness – Family Information & Support Meetings

When: January to June, 2017 – Tuesdays, 6:00 – 7:30 pm
Where: The Royal, 1145 Carling Avenue, Ottawa - room 1425
Everyone is welcome - no need to pre-register.
Cost: free.

February 21 - Mobile Crisis Team
March 7 - “Fact and Fiction”
March 21 - Understanding Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
April 4 - Community Treatment Order (CTO)
April 18 - Borderline Personality Disorder and Emotion Regulation
May 2 - Registered Dietician
May 16 - An introduction to Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
June 6 - An introduction to Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
June 20 - Lived Experience

Information Session in Kemptville: DIALOGUE with Parents and Caregivers of Children & Youth with Mental Health/Addictions Challenges

Parents' Lifeline of Eastern Ontario (PLEO) is collaborating with Kemptville District Hospital and Children’s Mental Health of Leeds & Grenville to launch a CONFIDENTIAL Peer Support Group for parents in Kemptville and surrounding area. PLEO is a charitable, non-profit organization providing a range of support services to parents and caregivers of children, youth, and young adults (0-24) with mental health and/or addictions challenges. We are staffed by parents with lived experience supporting their own children.

WHAT:
Brief presentation about PLEO Services
Dialogue on parents’ supports

  • Have a voice in what happens next
  • Tell us what is important to you when seeking support and/or resources

WHEN: Thursday, February 23rd, 2017 - 6:30 to 8:00pm
WHERE: Kemptville District Hospital, Courtyard Lounge – 2675 Concession Rd., Kemptville, ON
An honorarium is available to parents for participation in the Dialogue. (There is no fee to attend, in fact, PLEO will compensate parent participants $25 for participating as our way of thanking them for attending.)
RSVP: Diane Oxborough, Family Peer Supporter, Parents’ Lifelines of Eastern Ontario (PLEO)
Email: diane@pleo.on.ca | Phone: 613-321-3211 (Toll free : 1-855-775-7005)