Our meeting today was held at the Hillside Building (part of the Traditional Cottage Program for Recovery and Rehabilitation) on the grounds of the Riverview complex. We were welcomed to a great breakfast by Beata Zaleska who is the Program Director—Ethics Committee Chair/Privacy Officer.
The sun was shining, we did get a 'little' lost, but what an inspirational meeting. Thank you Darrell for organizing and to past member Beata for hosting us.
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There were only a couple of announcements:
- Al S reminded us that tomorrow's meeting is to highlight where we are in planning for our Year 5 Port Moody Rotary RibFest.... LET'S SEE WHO READS THIS.....WEAR YOUR RIBFEST SHIRT TOMORROW IF YOU HAVE ONE.
- Bill announced we are organizing a work crew for Saturday morning April 13th at EagleRidge Manor at 9:30. It seems the garden beds are being taken over by ivy and we have been asked to help them pull out and bag from both the front entry area and from the courtyard sitting area. We will provide pruners, loppers, gloves but if you have your own you prefer using feel free to bring them along. Signup sheet at our next meeting.
- NOTE this date was picked by the Manor and is the same day as our Heritage Mountain cleanup so we will schedule to start Heritage Mountain a little earlier—see announcements & times from meeting this week.
Our members met with a number of the Lodge clients in their “great room after the meeting. Beata gave a brief introduction a) 2003 started for clients from Colony Farms, now for clients with drugs and alcohol dependency, b) started with 15 clients now for 40 people. She introduced us to 2 of the key personel.
Lena—Manager of Rehabilitation.
Melanie—Councillor, therapist she is responsible for how programs are implemented. She explained we would get to hear from 4 different speakers who are all part of the program run at the Hillside. These 4 speakers told us their personal stories and how the programs at the Centre have brought them to what we see today:
Stacy: has a husband and family in the Fraser Valley. Has been in care for 8 months with anger issues. Stigma is the hardest part to get over. She has been taught CBT (Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy) a form of Psychotherapy that treats problems and boosts happiness by modifying dysfunctional emotions, behaviors, and thoughts. Practice S.T.O.P.—Slow down, Take a deep breath, Observe what’s set you off, Positive thoughts (replace I can’t or I won’t with I can and I will). They wear an elastic band on their wrist they snap to remind them to STOP.
Shawn: Has a family, former pro athlete, suffers from Schitzoaffective Disorder which is a chronic mental health condition characterized by symptoms of schitzophrenia (hallucinations or delusions) and symptoms of mood disorder like mania and depression. He stressed people here genuinely care. Learning to be the “driver in their own car” and using his spirituality to aid in his recovery.
Fraser: Also suffers from schitzoaffective disorder. He’s very high strung and nervous. Cognitive dysfunction. Both he and Shawn are part of a “Cognitive Remediation” program at UBC twice a week. It is a new non-pharmaceutical program based on using simple games as a way to give the brain a work out to strengthen the circuits like strengthening the body muscles in the gym. It has made a huge difference for both of them.
Sari: Suffers from manic depression and schitzophrenia. Put up for adoption at 4, attempted suicide at 18. Cognition issues, problem solving, couldn’t cope with crisis. Now she is using the STP process and has reached a point where she will be going back to society.
All are at or near a point they can leave but the system for them will allow them to come back regularly each week so not just a cold turkey leaving. Some will be coming back to be mentors for new attendees.
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