Author: A Dodge

News

Recent News

A Dodge

Recent News: Two Kaleidoscope facilitators attended Pathway for Assisitng Life (PAL) Suicide First Aid. In this two-day workshop, we learned to invite connection and communication to those experiencing suicidal thoughts and behaviour. These skills are valuable and integral for our facilitators to develop and maintain a safe(r) space in our support groups. In this training, we learned: that suicidal thoughts and behaviors are more common than one may think; skills on how to ask people if they are suicidal; and how to intervene and help a person who is experiencing suicidal thoughts and behaviours. You are not alone if you feel moments of distress, and our Kaleidoscope facilitators are now more comfortable to provide this support.

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Coping with Uncertainty

A Dodge

Course facilitated by the VCH Peer-led Workshop Program

Feeling stressed by the news of the day? Join others to explore strategies to help cope with uncertainty and manage stress.

Developed during the pandemic, this virtual 4-session series will look at stress and anxiety, and common thinking traps that can affect our mental wellbeing. This course also includes a workbook with many additional tools. Two consecutive sessions of the course will start in January 2022.

The course is being offered as part of a research study on peer-led mental health education using the Recovery College model. 

Participants’ involvement in the research will include:

  • Completing a questionnaire before and after the course
  • Completing a measure of fidelity to the Recovery College model
  • Participating in a 2-hour focus group
  • Sharing basic information about themselves (e.g., age, location, gender identity). Participants are welcome to skip over any questions they don’t want to answer

There is a small honorarium for participating in the research.

If you’re interested in participating in the course and research, email Tracy Windsor: tracy.windsor@dal.ca. 

If you have specific questions about the course itself, email Sue: sue.macdonald@vch.ca


 We hope to see you there!

News

UBC Thrive Event Screening of “That’s Just Crazy Talk” by Victoria Maxwell

A Dodge

November 19, at 7:30-9:30 pm at UBC in the Nest viewing room 2601

Kaleidoscope is excited to present ‘That’s Just Crazy Talk’ for UBC Thrive 2021. The screening will be followed by a one-hour discussion facilitated by Kaleidoscope Support Group Facilitators.

Victoria Maxwell’s critically acclaimed theatrical keynote ‘That’s Just Crazy Talk’ looks at both the light and dark side of living with bipolar disorder, anxiety and psychosis. It describes one woman’s journey of coming to terms with mental illness within herself and in her family, uncovering long kept secrets. An intimate, yet universal story exploring the judgment we face not only from others, but from ourselves and the mysteries of family secrets. This funny and achingly truthful presentation both entertains and educates, exploding stigmas and portraying the love and resilience it takes to stay together as a family in the midst of illness and the beauty that can result when we face our fears. ‘That’s Just Crazy Talk’ is endorsed by the Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) as one of the most effective anti-stigma tools in Canada.

News

Become a Peer Support Facilitator!

A Dodge

Interested in becoming a Kaleidoscope Facilitator, or curious about how to become a better listener? Join us for our next training!

To view the full volunteer position description for Facilitator, click here.

If you are interested in becoming a Peer Support Group Facilitator, please send your resume and cover letter to tracy.kaleidoscope@gmail.com, and come check out one of our groups (our current schedule is here).

Or for more details email info@the-kaleidoscope.com

For other volunteer opportunities, see our volunteer page, as well as our resource page for a list of other mental health-related organizations on campus and in the community who also may have volunteer opportunities.

September 9, 2021. 5-8pm.