Mental Health Education

Public Education Workshops

Strengthening our mental well-being is a continuous pursuit. It begins and thrives in nonjudgmental environments where curiosity, lived experience, and hope are valued and encouraged. It is about discovering our resourcefulness and possibilities with everyone in our community, including family members, friends, professional service providers, and others on a similar path to improved health.

Check out our course schedule and register online. For special requests, group booking, and questions, please contact our Communications & Educations Coordinator or call 204-786-1616.

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Hearing Voices That Are Distressing (3-hr Simulated Workshop)

This simulated workshop accurately portrays what someone who hears voices lives with every day, promoting a powerful understanding and awareness of the “hearing voices” experience. For caregivers, family members, workplaces, college/universities, paramedics, law enforcement and professional service providers who work with people who hear distressing voices. Participants will listen to recordings of voices through headphones while performing various tasks as the volume is adjusted.

The learning goals are:

  • Understanding the day-to-day challenges that people face who hear voices.
  • Becoming more empathic toward people who hear distressing voices.
  • Changing clinical practices to better address the needs of people who hear distressing voices.

Facilitated for people 18+ with access to a computer. Not recommended for those who are hearing voices.

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Dates:
  • Friday, July 30, 2021 (9‑12pm/1:30-3.30pm)
  • Friday, August 20, 2021 (9‑12pm/1:30-3.30pm)
  • Friday, September 24, 2021 (9-12pm/1:30-3.30pm)
  • Friday, October 1, 2021 (9‑12pm/1:30-3.30pm)
  • Friday, November 26, 2021 (9‑12pm/1:30-3.30pm)

This simulated workshop promotes a powerful awareness of what someone who hears voices lives with every day by having participants listen to recordings of voices through headphones while performing various tasks. For caregivers, family members, workplaces, college/universities, paramedics, law enforcement and professional service providers.

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Family Recovery Journey

Are you coping with a mental illness of a family member? Do you struggle with how to support your loved one?

This 5-session national education program is designed to meet the needs of family members, caregivers and friends of individuals living with and recovering from a mental illness. It is written from a recovery focus and aims to increase accessibility to Canadian-based information on the topics associated with family management and family relational health. The goal of this program is to strengthen family members and friends of individuals with a mental illness to live beyond the limitations of a mental illness with a sense of hope, purpose, meaning, and social inclusion.

At the end of the program, participants will be able to:

  • Define psychosis and describe its symptoms, course, prognosis, possible causes, and bio-psychosocial-spiritual management.
  • Identify how culture and context influence the understanding and management of psychosis.
  • Define recovery and identify factors that promote recovery for individuals and families.
  • Describe strategies for building and maintaining a strong family despite the impact of illness.
  • Understand the mental health system and mental health law in their region.
  • Describe strategies for partnering with service providers and advocating for improvements in mental health services.
  • Feel a sense of empowerment leading to effective advocacy.

Facilitated for people 18+ with access to a computer, iPad, or tablet and can attend all sessions.

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Dates:
  • July 14 – August 11, 2021 (every Wednesday from 9-11pm)
  • September 1-29, 2021 (every Wednesday from 1-11pm)
  • October 27 – November 24, 2021 (every Wednesday from 1-11pm)

Are you coping with a mental illness of a family member? Do you struggle with how to support your loved one? This 5-session national education program is designed to meet the needs of family members, caregivers and friends of individuals living with and recovering from a mental illness. It is written from a recovery focus and aims to increase accessibility to Canadian-based information on the topics associated with family management and family relational health. The goal of this program is to strengthen family members and friends of individuals with a mental illness to live beyond the limitations of a mental illness with a sense of hope, purpose, meaning, and social inclusion.

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Name That Feeling - Coming Soon!

The challenges that families face when a loved one is living with a mental illness can be huge and devasting. Imagine how much greater the distress might be for a child and teenagers who does not really comprehend. This seven-week program offers young people (ages 7-13) the opportunity to discuss their needs and feelings as they relate to living with a family member with a mental illness and how this has affected their lives and homes. Using interactive learning activities, discussions, crafts and games, children join in developing healthy attitudes and coping skills that will promote resiliency.

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Dates:
  • January 6 – February 17, 2022 (every Thursday from 2-3pm)
  • April 4 – May 16, 2022 (every Monday 9:30-10:30am)
  • September 12 – October 24, 2021 (every Monday 9:30-10:30 am)

The challenges that families face when a loved one is living with a mental illness can be huge and devasting. Imagine how much greater the distress might be for a child and teenagers who does not really comprehend. This seven-week program offers young people (ages 7-13) the opportunity to discuss their needs and feelings as they relate to living with a family member with a mental illness and how this has affected their lives and homes. Using interactive learning activities, discussions, crafts and games, children join in developing healthy attitudes and coping skills that will promote resiliency.

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Understanding Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a mental health challenge that affects 300,000 Canadians and remains widely misunderstood. This one hour presentation is designed to promote a greater understanding of early psychosis, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and the resulting stigma.

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Dates:
  • June 22, 2021 (1-2pm)
  • August 17, 2021 (10-11am)
  • October 19, 2021 (10-11am)
  • December 7, 2021 (3-4pm)

Schizophrenia is a mental health challenge that affects 300,000 Canadians and remains widely misunderstood. This one hour presentation is designed to promote a greater understanding of early psychosis, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, and the resulting stigma.

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Peer Connections Manitoba acknowledges that our work is conducted in Treaty One and Treaty Two territories, the original lands of the Anishinaabe, Cree, Oji-Cree, Dakota, Dene and homeland of the Métis Nation. We are dedicated to moving forward in partnership with Indigenous communities in a spirit of respect, truth and reconciliation.  

Contact

(204) 786-1616
FAX: (204) 783-4898
[email protected]

Our Main Office: 100 – 4 Fort Street |
Winnipeg, Manitoba | R3C 1C4

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Gillian Nattress
Vice President Peer Connections Manitoba
Gillian is the Vice President of the Board of Peer Connections Manitoba, who joined the board in March of 2020. Gillian is a Registered Nurse who is part of the management team with Shared Health. She manages the Support Staff and Nurses of the Float Pools at Health Sciences Centre. She has been a nurse for over 20 years and first became involved with the former Manitoba Schizophrenia Society when she worked for the University of Manitoba and brought nursing students to many of MSS educational programs. Gillian has family members living with mental illness and feel passionately about being a part of a culture that normalizes taking care of mental health.
Alex Sawatsky
President
Alex Sawatsky is the Director as well as an Associate Professor with the Faculty of Social Work at Booth University College where he has been teaching for the last 15 years.
His previous career was in mental health services in the U.S.  He was a member of the board of directors for 6 years with the Manitoba Institute of Registered Social Workers (MIRSW; 2007-2013) and presently a member of the board of directors of the Manitoba College of Social Workers (MCSW).
As of January 2017, he is newly elected as a member of the board of directors at the Manitoba Schizophrenia Society (MSS) and the acting president of the board of directors for Peer Connections Manitoba at this time.
In his spare time, he tries to run all the time and on trails as much as possible.  He still thinks it’s a hobby and not an obsession.

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Florence Keeper
My name is Florence Keeper, I am from Nelson House, known as Nischawasik Cree Nation. Grew up and attended school there, attended high school in Thompson. Later attended Brandon university. I am a mother of six, 5 sons, one daughter, a grandmother of two wonderful boys and a granddaughter. So, I’ve been busy! We’ve lived in Winnipeg now for 20 years.

My work experience has always been health delivery. Medical Transportation and Referral Services. WRHA with the Aboriginal Health Service as Discharge Planning Coordinator. I have been involved with Boards as a member in CMHA, Mental Health Community Service, Women’s Crisis Centre in Thompson. I retired in 2014, not my wish but due to health issues. In 2002, a loved one became ill with a mental illness. I found ourselves, meaning the whole family in distress. Not understanding the illness and our new journey began. With supports, resources various hospitals and community programs, we would have not survived. Today, we are in better situation but continue to live with it. When I asked to be member of the MMS board, I was eager as I feel I better understanding and can contribute to support the issue for others. I am proud to say we have provided support to other parents here and in the northern area as we know many people from there. I enjoy talking to people, reading, bead w travelling, explore new things when I can.

Felica Owadara
Hi everyone, my name is Felicia Owadara, but my family mostly calls me Felicity, and I am from Nigeria. I like going for a walk, and part of my daily routine is reading a book daily. I love to engage in meaningful conversation to enrich my knowledge.
Professionally, I worked for a couple of years as a health social worker in the Psychiatric Unit at the Teaching Hospital Ibadan, where I develop an interest in the social integration of mental health service users. I later travelled to the United Kingdom for a master’s degree in social policy and social work research. While I was in the UK, I joined the Kyra women project, an organization that focuses on women’s wellbeing, until I returned to my country.

I am currently undergoing a doctoral degree program at the Faculty of Social work, University of Manitoba; I am a member of the board of director for the Manitoba Schizophrenia Society agency, now referred to as Peer Connection. Joining the organization is relatively novel to me and shaping my experience and knowledge; I am happy to be here and help in a way that I could.

Stephanie Loewen
Secretary to the Board of Directors

Stephanie is the Executive Director of Policy, Programs and Learning for the Manitoba Civil Service Commission. She has been with the Manitoba Government for 12 years, with 10 years spent in mental health, suicide prevention, and addictions policy and oversight. Before government, Stephanie worked as the outreach manager for the Manitoba Schizophrenia Society for six years in both the south and northeastern regions of Manitoba. Since her teenage years, she has had a keen interest in mental health and well-being, playing “therapist” to her friends. Having experienced episodes of debilitating depression and anxiety in her early adulthood, she became well-aware of the inadequacies, gaps and barriers in the healthcare system, as well as in mental health services. Stephanie is a passionate advocate for mental health promotion, destigmatizing mental health and mental illness, and sharing our common and diverse human experiences with compassion, self-love, grace, and humour (wherever possible!) When not working, she loves beating her family in ping pong, tasting and rating Manitoba’s amazing craft beer selections, and listening to podcasts about leadership, self-compassion and bravery.

Gillian Nattress
Vice President Peer Connections Manitoba
Gillian is the Vice President of the Board of Peer Connections Manitoba, who joined the board in March of 2020. Gillian is a Registered Nurse who is part of the management team with Shared Health. She manages the Support Staff and Nurses of the Float Pools at Health Sciences Centre. She has been a nurse for over 20 years and first became involved with the former Manitoba Schizophrenia Society when she worked for the University of Manitoba and brought nursing students to many of MSS educational programs. Gillian has family members living with mental illness and feel passionately about being a part of a culture that normalizes taking care of mental health.
Best part of my workday; Recruiting future nurses and encouraging the development of best practice standards.
I love to decorate, cook, and bake, and am very social. I am looking forward to entertaining again sometime soon.

I am constantly making lists and checking off some accomplishments…makes me feel like I am getting somewhere with my daily tasks!

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