CMHA York Region's free education program expands with $104K grant

College of Health and Well-Being offers courses on topics related to mental and physical health, building your best life, finding your voice, increasing skills, connecting to community

Newmarkettoday.ca
Jan. 12, 2023
Elizabeth Keith

Canadian Mental Health Association York Region and South Simcoe's education program focusing on recovery, well-being and knowledge has expanded after receiving an Ontario Trillium Foundation grant of $104,000.

The College of Health and Well-Being offers free courses on topics related to mental health, physical health, building your best life, finding your voice, increasing skills and connecting to community.

CMHA-YRSS was able to hire an educator to expand the curriculum and train staff on virtual and in-person education programming after receiving a $104,000 Resilient Communities Fund grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation in 2022.

The funding also helped with the development of an online system for students and other technological enhancements.

"All courses at the CMHA College of Health and Well-Being are designed to inspire hope, support learning, and provide new opportunities for growth and connection,” said Rebecca Shields, CEO of CMHA-YRSS, in a news release. “We are incredibly grateful for OTF’s generous grant that’s enabling our CMHA College to bolster mental health and recovery support to marginalized clients in our community.”

The courses provide "a welcoming, collaborative and inclusive environment" where people can learn from others' lived experience, professional expertise and develop tools for growth.

Courses offered this term include communication for fostering relationships, health and well-being for newcomers, managing cannabis use, and rent smart training. Course lengths vary from one to eight sessions.

Newmarket-Aurora MPP Dawn Gallagher Murphy and Aurora-Oak Ridges-Richmond Hill MPP Michael Parsa visited CMHA-YRSS to celebrate the grant and learn more about the college.

“It is critical that our community members continue to have access to the resources and support that they require in order to improve their mental health,” Gallagher Murphy said. “I am proud of our government’s initiative to help not-for-profits like the Canadian Mental Health Association realize their own digital transformation to moving toward a hybrid model of service by expanding and adapting the recovery college programs.”

The courses are free and open to anyone with lived experience, family or friends, or those looking to strengthen their well-being.

Registration is still open for some courses in the winter term and you can sign up online.