SSO 2014/2015 Annual Report Read our Annual Report

Our Work.
Our Partnerships.
Our Stories.
2014/2015
ANNUAL REPORT
Message from the Board Chair & CEO
Ask anyone at SSO what motivates us. And our answer is
always the same. HOPE.
The hope of a better life for people living with schizophrenia. The hope of a future without
discrimination. And the hope that our clients carry with them, even in the face of mental
illness.
This year was an incredible one at SSO. We delivered programs, provided education to the
community and created solutions to improve the lives of people living with schizophrenia.
We influenced policy, built partnerships and brought people together throughout Ontario.
The embodiment of what we have accomplished this year can be seen in the stories that
are shared in this annual report – stories of our clients, partners and supporters.
One core belief we have always had is that all people living with schizophrenia deserve
access to the services, supports and treatments they need. This belief is central to everything
that we do. From our programs and services to our research, they all work towards
improving the lives of people with mental illness and their families.
Every day we hear the experiences of people who have been unable to get the help they
need and deserve.
Access to mental health services in Ontario is a lottery. Whether someone gets the help
they need is dependent on many factors including location, wait times, cultural competency
of service providers and even the type of services that happen to be available at any given
time. These variables make the mental health system a difficult maze to navigate – and
we are here to lead the way.
This year our Strengthening Families Together program gave families and friends the tools
to support their family member living with mental illness and our Ask the Expert service
provided counseling and brought people to the services they needed. Our youth program,
Sound Off, engaged and mobilized young people and our research program studied new
ways to address the needs of diverse communities.
When we look back at all that we have accomplished this year and all the lives we have
changed, we see that the hope of a better life for people living with schizophrenia is
absolutely within reach.
Mary Alberti
Chris Damaren
CEO
BOARD CHAIR
Table of Contents
Ask the Expert: Meeting You Where
You Are
1
Strengthening Families Together:
Caring for Caregivers
3
Sound Off: Making the Voices of
Youth Heard
5
Policy: Advocating for Change
7
9
11
Education: A Step Towards Change
Speakers Bureau: Educating Through
Experience
Volunteers: A Way to Give Back
Research: Looking Towards the Future
Culture and Race in Mental Health:
Eliminating Stigma Among Racialized Youth
13
15
16
Creating Supportive Communities: LGBTQ
People Living with Schizophrenia
17
Fundraising: Rallying Around a Cause
18
22
23
Third Party Events
Thank You to our Donors, Funders
and Sponsors
Financial Statements
24
Ask the Expert
Meeting You Where You Are
For individuals, families and healthcare workers who
don’t know where to turn for mental health information,
support and system navigation, our Ask the Expert
(ATE) program is a lifeline. Our counselors and crisis
intervention workers are available over the phone,
online and in-person to anyone in need of help across
the province. We provide direct support and connect
people to the right services, in the right place, at the
right time.
ATE by the Numbers:
Unique individuals
served:
1144
288
775
43
Communities across
Ontario served
Number of family
members served:
934
People living with
mental illness served:
158
AGES:
25-34yrs
Mental health
professionals served:
52
1
I
35-44yrs
45-54yrs
55-64yrs
Schizophrenia Society of Ontario
94
88
146
142
Ask the Expert Opened
My Eyes
Susan MacLachlan found out about SSO’s Ask
the Expert program through a Google search
of the word “schizophrenia.” Her brother-in-law
had moved in with Susan and her husband
following the death of his wife who had schizophrenia and died by suicide. “My brother-in-law
began showing signs of psychosis – with the
loss of his wife and the transition of moving in
with us, he was under a lot of stress,” Susan
says. “My husband and I didn’t know what to do
and didn’t know what supports were available
in our area.”
SUSAN’S
STORY
That was when she turned to SSO. “I sent an
email to Ask the Expert explaining my situation,
it was easier than speaking to someone on the
phone because I really didn’t know what to say,”
Susan says. “I got a response from a counselor
the next day. I was surprised how quickly they
responded to me.”
Through email correspondence, Susan and her
counselor discussed ways to talk to her brotherin-law, how to encourage him to get help, what
mental health services would benefit him
most and what resources were available in her
community.
Ask the Expert is the
“
only place you can go to get all
the information you need.
”
“The personality of the counselor who helped
me really came through in the emails. She
understood what I was going through and gave
me the information I needed,” Susan says. “The
most important thing she stressed was that I
had to remember to take time for myself and
make sure I was not getting too overwhelmed
with the situation.”
Susan and her husband have joined a support
group for families in their community and
continue to support her brother-in-law.
“Contacting Ask the Expert opened my eyes to
resources in my community that I didn’t know
were out there,” she says. “Now I have more
confidence dealing with my family situation. Ask
the Expert is the only place you can go to get all
the information you need – I don’t know what
I would have done if SSO wasn’t there.”
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2
Strengthening Families Together
Caring for Caregivers
The role of the caregiver in the lives of people living
with schizophrenia is invaluable. For many, family
members become their sole caregiver, advocate and
social support. This role, while crucial, can also take
a toll. When caregivers are in need of need support,
we are here to help. Our Strengthening Families
Together (SFT) program is a four-week education
group that teaches the skills caregivers need to
support their loved one while also taking care of
themselves.
SFT by the Numbers:
17
3 Chinese Speaking Groups
1 Cantonese, 2 Manadarin
Volunteers
facilitating group
programs
Speaking
1 Spanish
Group
200
Graduates
Cities:
25
Groups
5
Online groups
3
I
Toronto
Oakville
Brampton
Burlington
Peterborough
Cobourg
Smiths Falls
Lanark County
Ottawa
Schizophrenia Society of Ontario
Strengthening Families
Was An Awakening
PATRICIA’S
STORY
Patricia Vaughan was struggling. Her son was on
the street, she didn’t know where he was, and
had no way to get in touch with him. She had
to focus on being a student at the University
of Toronto, while taking care of her family and
herself. Like many family members of people
living with schizophrenia, she felt like she had
nowhere to turn.
Her son, Mike, was diagnosed with schizophrenia
in 2003. He was in and out of hospitals, had
interactions with police and was struggling with
medications. Friends would see him and let her
know that he wasn’t looking very well. If Patricia
or her children happened to see him, he’d run.
“I was worried about Mike,” Patricia says. “I was
starting to come to terms with the fact that I’d
never see him alive again.” This is when she
learned about SSO’s Strengthening Families
Together online program. She describes it as
an “awakening.”
“In the SFT webinars I learned how to be the
best mom I could be. I learned how to focus
and manage my life,” Patricia says. “I learned
about the different features and degrees of
schizophrenia, medications and how to interact
with my son in a healthy way. Most importantly
I learned that I wasn’t alone.”
Patricia credits Purple Weber, Family Worker at
SSO, for being down to earth, easy to talk to
and available even after the program ended.
“SFT changed my outlook and goals. It made
me hopeful that Mike would come home someday and prepared me for how to respond if he
did come home,” she says.
Mike had been picked up by the police, was
placed in mental health court and was assigned
a social worker. Today he is doing well.
Most importantly I learned
“that
I wasn’t alone.
”
“Mike comes home every Sunday for family
dinner. He lives in a shelter, is hoping to go back
to school and get his own apartment to be
closer to the family,” she says. “He is able to
accept support now.”
Before SFT, Patricia’s family felt hopeless. “There
are no supports out there for families. I wish I
had known about SFT sooner,” Patricia says.
“It was truly a gift.”
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Sound Off
Making the Voices of Youth Heard
Up to 70 per cent of mental health problems begin in
adolescence, yet young people continue to be left out
of the discussion about how the mental health system
addresses their needs. The voice of youth is crucial in
changing the way services are offered and accessed
by young people. This year our Sound Off program
took another step towards making this voice heard.
Sound Off’s Youth Advisory Council released a report
titled Youth Empowering Youth, examining how youth
mental health is addressed the media, their communities
and in schools. The report was released alongside
Advocacy 101, a toolkit designed to give young people
the tools and strategies to help them affect change
where they live.
Youth Empowering Youth at a Glance:
SCHOOLS
are working
to support youth
mental heatlh
28%
51%
21%
MEDIA
is working
to support youth
mental heatlh
46% 39%
15%
COMMUNITIES
are working
to support youth
mental heatlh
41% 39%
Disagree
5
I
Schizophrenia Society of Ontario
20%
Somewhat
Issue:
Teachers are unable to provide the
support required to help students.
Solution:
Increase mental health education for
teachers.
Issue:
The media is a huge profit giant that is
ignoring its social responsibility.
Solution:
Increase media responsibility for the
content that is being viewed.
Issue:
41% of youth felt that the community was
not doing enough to respond to the issue
of youth in crisis.
Solution:
Create more community support groups.
Agree
Young People Inspiring
Change
MANISH’S
STORY
“I wanted to volunteer with SSO because I have
a relative living with schizophrenia and I think
that the work SSO does is very important,”
Manish Dama says about why he wanted to
volunteer at SSO. “Working with SSO’s Youth
Advisory Council has really opened my eyes to
the importance of youth mental health.”
The Sound Off initiative began in 2012 by engaging young people across Ontario to collect their
opinions and perspectives on mental health.
The findings were analysed and compiled in the
Youth Empowering Youth report, highlighting
the most urgent issues flagged by young people
along with recommendations and strategies
that could be used to solve these problems in
their communities.
It was a big task but Manish, a graduate student
who hopes to become a psychiatrist, was up for
the challenge. “It was really great to work closely
with other young people on such a meaningful
project,” he says. “We were a group of people
from diverse backgrounds and varied experiences
with mental illness, but collectively we understood
how important this work was. We knew that once
the report was released, the voices of young
people would be heard.”
Along with the report, Manish and SSO’s Youth
Advisory Council also created Advocacy 101, a
toolkit which acts as a guide for youth who want
to mobilize around mental illness. “This toolkit
can help youth bring the findings in the report
to life and advise them on how to start affecting
actual change,” he says.
I think people should treat
“mental
illness like any other
disease.
”
As a next step, Manish and the Sound Off team
are now working on another resource for school
administrators to help them improve the way
they support students with mental health issues.
“During the process I found that most youth are
uneducated about mental illness, they see it as
something scary and dangerous. I think people
should treat mental illness like any other disease,”
Manish says. “I’m proud of the work I have done
at SSO and hope that this report helps raise
awareness about youth mental health and allows
young people feel more empowered.”
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Policy
Advocating for Change
As approaches to the treatment of mental illness
develop and change, we know that legislation, policies
and practice must also change to improve access and
the system’s ability to address people’s needs in an
effective and timely manner. Integral to our work in
systems change is the ability to advocate. Advocate
for improvements to policy and practice and share the
voice of marginalized populations in Ontario.
This year we continued our work with the Toronto
Justice Service Collaborative, Toronto Police Services
Board Mental Health Sub-Committee, Ontario Caregiver
Coalition and ODSP Action Coalition and saw success
in our work with the Police Records Check Coalition.
Of particular note this year was our continued partnership
with the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada,
advocating for the rights of people with mental illness
undergoing immigration and refugee proceedings.
Participated in
7
policy
consultations:
Developed and
submitted
5
policy briefs:
11
Ongoing
policy
partners:
7
I
• Law Commission of Ontario Consultation Forum on Legal Capacity and
Decision-making
• Ministry of Children and Youth Services (MCYS) Child and Youth Mental
Health Directory Stakeholder Consultation
• Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services (MCSCS)
Mental Health Roundtable
• MCSCS Police Records Check Consultation
• MCSCS: Stakeholder Consultation - Women Inmates with Mental Illness
• Mental Health Commission of Canada Recovery Guidelines Consultation
• Best Medicines Coalition (BMC) Summit
• 2 Patient input submissions to Committee to Evaluate Drugs (CED) and
Common Drug Review (CDR)
• Submission to MCSCS re: Legislative Change for Police Records
• Health Innovation Submission to Advisory Panel on Healthcare Innovation
(Health Canada)
• Submission for the Disability Tax Credit Consultation
• ODSP Action Coalition
• Ontario Mental Health and Addictions Alliance
• Ontario Caregiver Coalition
• Toronto Police Services Board (TPSB) Mental Health Subcommittee
• Local Immigration Partnership
• Police Records Check Coalition
• Toronto Justice Service Collaborative and the Justice Implementation Team
• North York Service Collaborative
• Human Services and Justice Coordinating Committees
• Law Commission of Ontario RDSP Advisory Committee
• CAMH Caregiver Advisory Committee
Schizophrenia Society of Ontario
Helping People Find
Their Way
ANTONELLA’S
STORY
The process of immigrating to Canada can be
a challenging one, but for those immigrating to
Canada who also live with mental illness this
challenge is even greater. Antonella Scali, SSO’s
policy analyst, provides accommodation and
advocacy support as part of SSO’s Designated
Representative program. The program
works with clients who are going through
immigration/deportation proceedings before
the Immigration Review Board (IRB) and SSO is
the only agency in Ontario partnered with the
IRB to provide this service.
SSO’s Designated Representative program began
in 2012, serving non-Canadian citizens whose
immigration status is uncertain or whose actions
may have compromised their stay in Canada,
including refugee claims, or violations of the
Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
“As a designated representative, I ensure that
our clients have all the necessary resources for
a fair hearing,” Antonella says. “This includes
helping them retain legal counsel, making sure
they understand the immigration and deportation process, and finding them mental health
supports. I also educate the IRB on mental
illness and the role it may have played in the
actions of the client while in Canada, as well as
the implications deportation may have on their
mental health.”
The success of the Designated Representative
program is built with strong partnerships.
“Working with community partners is vital to
the success of our work,” Antonella says. “We
rely on our partners help to provide everything
from pro bono legal services to mental health
programming that fits our clients’ needs. We
share information and work together to support
our clients in the best way we can.”
“
Working with community
partners is vital to the success
of our work.
”
For Antonella, it is challenging but rewarding
work. “Our clients appreciate the emotional and
practical support to help them get through this
stressful process,” she says. “Working at SSO,
has furthered my experience within the mental
health system – this combined with knowledge
of the immigration system allows me to provide
help that wouldn’t be available otherwise.”
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Education
A Step Towards Change
From allied health professionals and law enforcement,
to universities and community organizations, education
about schizophrenia continues to be a niche area for
SSO. Increased knowledge about schizophrenia will
improve the public’s ability to understand the illness
while simultaneously decreasing the stigma and
discrimination that people face. This year we held
professional trainings, workshops, consultations and
community forums to further this goal.
Education by the Numbers:
Delivered
Reached
30 training workshops for professionals
10 public education presentations
44 youth presentations
4 Mental Health First Aid workshops
1032 professionals through trainings
402 people through public education presentations
1711 youth through presentations
through community events
4458 people
and displays
through online outreach and consultations,
1138 people
including surveys and e-alerts
Developed
Hosted
9
I
and Mental Health (JAMH) resources in
8 Justice
English and French
1 Youth advocacy toolkit
forums:
2 community
• Living Healthy, Living Well in Thunder Bay
• Meeting of the Minds in Toronto
Schizophrenia Society of Ontario
Educating Hamilton’s
Police Service
SARAH’S
STORY
For many people with schizophrenia, interactions with the police are all too common. It
is estimated that one in every five interactions
the police have with the public are with someone with a mental illness or substance use
problem. SSO along with other partners including
Sarah Burtenshaw, a mental health worker,
started the Crisis Outreach and Support Team
(COAST) program, supported by St. Joseph’s
Healthcare Hamilton, to provide mental health
training to members of the police service.
“We created COAST to improve the way police
interact with people living with mental illness.
Too many situations were ending in hospital
visits or deaths because officers did not know
how to respond,” says Sarah. “We developed a
comprehensive program that members at all
levels of the police service take to give them
the skills to improve outcomes when interacting
with someone with mental illness.”
SSO plays a vital role in the
“training
courses.
”
The program aims to train officers to become
part of a Crisis Intervention Team specialized to
respond to community members living with
mental illness.
“SSO plays a vital role in the training courses,”
Sarah says. “An SSO representative educates
attendees about programs and services and
gives information on mental illness. A family
member also comes in to share their experience,
putting a face to mental illness, giving the
officers a different perspective.”
During the training, members of the police
service learn de-escalation techniques, crisis
intervention and take part simulation scenarios
allowing them to experience what it could be
like to live with psychosis.
“I could not do this training without SSO’s
support,” Sarah says. “They integrate the reallife experiences of families and individuals and
by adding that personal element, officers begin
to understand that there can be positive outcomes in situations that at first glance may
seem dire.”
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Speaker’s Bureau
Educating Through Experience
Crucial to the understanding of schizophrenia are the
real stories of individuals and families who confront the
illness every day. Engaging the public though people’s
experiences not only serves to educate and raise
awareness, but can also have powerful effects on the
way mental illness is viewed and treated by society.
Our Speaker’s Bureau program enables our speakers
to teach others by sharing their struggles and achievements while also building their confidence in knowing
that their experiences can make a difference.
Speaker’s Bureau Members:
11
I
Bianca
Lesley
Kirk
Jesse
Christine
Marie
Tami
Michael
Chris
Schizophrenia Society of Ontario
Sharing Strength
CHELSEA’S
STORY
“It wasn’t easy getting up in front of a crowd to
talk about my life but now I feel more confident.”
This is what Chelsea Meldrum says about her
experience with SSO’s Speaker’s Bureau.
Diagnosed with anxiety and depression at age
14, and later with schizophrenia, Chelsea has
always found it difficult to be open about her
experiences.
Chelsea got involved with SSO’s Speaker’s
Bureau to share her story so she could push
herself. “I used to be really shy. Working with
the speaker’s bureau has helped me open up
to people,” she says.
It makes me proud to know
“that
my sharing story gives
other people strength.
”
Our Speaker’s Bureau program features speakers
who visit schools and various community
organizations to share their personal experiences
living with mental illness. Educating the public
and raising awareness about mental illness is
one of the ways we fight against the stigma
and discrimination that people with schizophrenia face.
“At one speaking engagement a father
approached me and said that his daughter has
a mental illness and after listening to me he felt
like he understood her better and could talk
to her about it now, “ Chelsea says. “It makes
me proud to know that my sharing story gives
other people strength.”
Chelsea’s main goal is to end the negative
stereotypes and stigma that surround schizophrenia. “When you hear about schizophrenia
in the media it is always connected to violence.
I want people to know that we are people too.
Schizophrenia is an illness like any other and is
not something to be afraid of,” she says. “Through
my work with SSO I feel like I have grown a lot
and now I am able to share my voice.”
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Volunteers
A Way to Give Back
As a non-profit organization, we depend on our
generous volunteers who spend their time to help
us in achieving our mission. We are there for students
who are looking to complete their volunteer hours, get
work experience or give back to the community. We
are there for individuals living with mental illness who
gain valuable experience working in an office setting
and we are there for family members who have benefited from SSO’s programs and would like to educate
others. Volunteers are the backbone of the work we
do every day.
Volunteers by the Numbers:
225 volunteers in
14
communities
across Ontario
13
I
Schizophrenia Society of Ontario
Giving Back and
Building Skills
FLORENCE’S
STORY
SSO has many volunteer opportunities for
people who are looking to give back while
learning more about schizophrenia and mental
illness. From helping with administration and
reception to facilitating group programming
and helping organize events, there are many
ways to engage with us. One of the most
vital volunteer roles is working with our intake
staff. Intake staff are the first point of contact
for individuals living with mental illness, family
members or healthcare professionals looking
for support, resources or system navigation.
“I decided to volunteer with SSO because of
what a great organization they are and how
much they have contributed to the community,”
says Florence, who volunteers doing intake
once a week at SSO’s Toronto office. “At first the
role can seem a bit daunting, working directly
with people coming to us for help, but the staff
at SSO are open, supportive and always willing
to help me if I have any questions.”
Florence is a crucial part of the client experience.
She speaks with callers about what challenges
they face and what sorts of support they are
seeking. This information is shared with SSO
counsellors who then work with the client to
decide how to best meet their needs. It is a
challenging role, with people often sharing very
personal aspects of their lives and who are
sometimes in crisis – a role that Florence does
not take lightly.
…staff at SSO are
“
open, supportive and always
willing to help me if I have any
questions.
”
As an individual living with mental illness herself,
Florence relates to their challenges and is
sympathetic to their needs – she also sees her
work at SSO as a valuable stepping stone for
the future. “Volunteering at SSO I’ve learned to
perfect my communication and listening skills,”
she says. “Not only do I get to help people
when they really need it, but I am also acquiring
life-long skills that are transferrable to other
volunteer positions, or jobs I will do in the future.”
For anyone thinking of volunteering their time
with SSO, Florence has great advice. “Don’t
hesitate – just do it!”
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Research
Looking Towards the Future
We have played a vital role in schizophrenia research, first by funding research, then by
leading our own projects and creating a niche for ourselves in social research. Innovation
through social research can mean creating more effective treatment models, improving
how services are delivered or finding solutions to everyday problems. While biological
discoveries can be slow to make their way to people living with mental illness, social
research can be applied quickly and make immediate, effective change.
This year we completed two projects and are currently sharing results with communities
we researched so that they may use the information to improve mental health services.
These projects focused on marginalized groups who are often overlooked in conversations
about mental illness – ethnoracial youth and family members (South Asian, Latino-Hispanic,
Black/Afro-Caribbean and White European) and the LGBTQ community. Dr. Taryn Tang
and her team conducted in-depth interviews and focus groups to learn more about their
treatment experiences and their difficulties navigating the mental health system.
Research by the Numbers:
225
10
Researchers
Research participants
7
Research
partnerships
5
15
I
Schizophrenia Society of Ontario
Communities
researched
Culture and Race in Mental Health
Eliminating Stigma Among Racialized Youth
Problems
Racialized Communities and Mental Illness:
• Poor mental health outcomes
• Delayed help-seeking
• Lower rates of follow-through on treatment plans
WHY?
There is a deep and pervasive silence and stigma that surrounds
mental illness. Racialized communities are not aware of mental health
issues; they neither talk about nor acknowledge its presence.
?
Why is there Silence and Stigma?
• Lack of accurate information about mental illness and little
visible representation from racialized communities
• Living with a mental illness derails your ability to fulfill normative
roles and expectations, which is disgraceful for individuals and families
• Admitting to a mental illness inflicts blame on the individual and the family
• Racialized communities face multiple and intersecting social determinants
(e.g., race and culture, gender and sexual identity, downward social mobility)
that compound and, at times, overshadow the mental illness label
• Mistrust of the Western medical model of mental illness
Solutions
• Mental health education must:
> Highlight success stories of people in recovery
> Engage communities locally through multiple channels
> Impart accurate information simply
> Mind the generation gap
• Services must be culturally competent
• Support holistic approaches to recovery:
> Spirituality and religious practices and institutions are partners in care
> Alternative medicine as complementary to Western medicine
> Compassionate treatment must be the norm rather than the exception
> Meaningful activity (e.g., work and education) is therapeutic
> Support the whole person (e.g., psychotherapy, meditation, exercise,
healthy eating, support groups)
> Foster positive social relationships with family and friends
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Creating Supportive Communities
Acceptance and Belonging among LGBTQ People Living
with Schizophrenia or Psychosis
From clinical settings, workplaces and schools to social circles and online interactions,
the goal of this study was to examine the characteristics of supportive and unsupportive
spaces though the experiences of LGBTQ-identified individuals who live with schizophrenia
or psychosis.
What we found:
Barriers to Accessing Supportive Spaces:
• Limited Knowledge and Availability (people have not been given
a lot of information about mental health and gender/sexual identity
issues nor services/resources, in part because there are so few
resources available)
• Systemic Issues (e.g., bureaucratic red tape, rigid programming structures, lack of
programs in rural/non-urban communities, prohibitive cost, poor overall access)
Unsupportive Spaces:
• Stigma and the medical model (adhering to a strictly medical model
of understanding mental illness)
• Homophobia and heterosexism (intolerance and hate; pressure to
conform to heterosexual norms)
• Lack of Privacy (concerns about privacy/confidentiality within programs/services)
• Lack of Empathy and Connection (poor understanding of gender/sexual identities
and mental health experiences and little attempt to learn/understand)
• Silencing Spaces (reluctance to reveal all parts of themselves in certain settings)
Solutions:
• Accepting and Non-judgemental (recognize and affirm all
aspects of one’s self)
• Safer Than (trustworthy and little/no risk for potential harm.
These spaces are “safer than” what is readily available but not
necessarily perfect)
• Relevant Resources (provide material resources and diverse/holistic resources)
17
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Schizophrenia Society of Ontario
Fundraising
Rallying Around a Cause
Our fundraising events held throughout the year help us to continue to provide support
for families and individuals living with schizophrenia and also bring the community
together. People gather for a day of yoga at the annual Peace of Minds Yogathon, or walk
in support of a loved one or to raise awareness at the Peace of Minds Walk, or take part
in a fun filled day of golf at the Hole Out for Hope Golf Tournament. With the help of
community members, volunteers and generous donors, we are able to offer fun, exciting
events while raising much needed funds.
Bedazzled Bash
On March 4, 2015 SSO hosted the Bedazzled
Bash at the Riviera Parque Convention Centre
& Banquet Hall in Woodbridge, ON. Hosted by
Melissa DiMarco, and with an inspirational
performance by Liberty Silver, the event raised
$10,000.
Canadian Singer Liberty Silver (left) and
SSO CEO Mary Alberti at the Bedazzled Bash
Committee Members:
Frank DeLuca
Tina Consales
Victor Pasquali
Volunteers:
William Murray
Alexander Murray
Marielisa Colicchio
Ivan Viviani
Sponsors:
Pfizer
In-Kind Sponsors
Maple Leafs Sports & Entertainment Foundation
Pizzaville
Damiani Jewellers
OLVI
Black Tie
Thoughtful Gifts & Flowers
Finch Centre Jewellers
Vicentina
D’Angelo Brands
Royal Bridal Boutique
Desiree China & Gifts
Cucina Magic Spiedini
Harry & Shirley Young
John & Mary-Lou Roder
Prince Bomboniere Gifts Inc.
Melissa DiMarco
Longo’s
Halton Quilter’s Guild
2014/2015 Annual Report
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10th Annual Peace of Minds
Yogathon
On February 28, 2015 SSO hosted the 10th
Annual Peace of Minds Yogathon for Schizophrenia in Toronto, Oakville and Whitby. With
146 participants in attendance, we raised
over $25,000. This year also marked the first
partnership with Ontario Shores Centre for
Mental Health Sciences hosting the Whitby
location.
Peace of Minds Yogathon in Oakville in Feb 2015
Sponsors:
ASCA Office Solutions
Partners:
Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences
Volunteers:
Tami Afriat
Chris Whittaker
James Weber
Aminta Vidi
Melissa Crnic
Keenan Grassby
Matthew Morrissey
Kat Biondi
Albert Santoni
Heather Vandenham
In-Kind Sponsors:
LOLE
KIND Snacks
Kiehl’s
David’s Tea
Lululemon
Yoga Conference & Show Toronto
Sweat Equity
Whole Foods Market
Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences
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Schizophrenia Society of Ontario
Instructor Studios:
Jessica Darzinskas, I Am Yoga
Jennifer Bernardo, Bendy Body Fitness
Joanne Lowe, Big Stretch Yoga Centre
Anne Theriault, Roots Yoga Studio
David Gellineau, Beach Yoga Studio
Drew Hume, Navina
Shari Stein
Iris Kolenski
Sharma Kassam, Power Yoga Canada
Tina Baker, Ontario Racquet Club
Annette Garcea, Free-Spirit Yoga
Brian Lang, Shunyata Yoga
Colin Matthews, Kula Yoga
Michelle Pitman, Define Me
Lauren Dickenson, Power Yoga Canada
Karma Studio Partners:
Elevate Yoga
Yorkville Club
Living Yoga & Health
Sol Salutation
Roots Yoga Studio
Moksha Yoga Guelph
Moksha Yoga Brampton
Moksha Yoga Downtown
Moksha Yoga Burlington
2nd Annual Hole Out For
Hope Golf Tournament
On June 26, 2014, SSO hosted the 2nd Annual
Hole Out For Hope golf tournament in
memory of Kit Skelly. The event took place
at the beautiful Emerald Hills Golf Club in
Stouffville, Ontario. The event raised over
$70,000 with 156 golfers enjoying a day of
golf, a delicious meal, and silent and live
auctions.
Hole out for Hope organizers Craig
Sindrey (left), and Fred Howe (right)
Committee Members:
Fred Howe
Craig Sindrey
Mat Israelson
David Skelly
Lesley Skelly
Volunteers:
Linda Manser
Kat Bulat
Craig Keys
Sandra Sindrey
Becky Sindrey
Sponsors:
Ernst & Young LLP
WillowWood School
A Right to Learn Inc.
Bin Xpress Waste Management Inc.
Top Press Co. Ltd.
Holmes, The Finishing House
Shendy’s Swim School
WillowWood Athletics
YES Homestay
York Curling Club
Xerox Canada Ltd.
Vaughan Paving Ltd.
Covington Capital
Sansar Contracting
Direct Underground Ltd.
Hollis Wealth
Leaside Winers
Kit’s Krew
ASL Print FX Ltd.
AIIM
In-Kind Donors:
Scotiabank
County Cider
Wellington Brewery
Lindt Chocolate (Jack Browlee)
Profile Wines
Lifford Wines
Amsterdam Brewery
Kensington Brewery
Shikatani Creative
Chicago Blackhawks Inc.
Rick & Dymon
Keith Lawton
Jason Crowder
Henry Byres
Dave Hibbard
Caulfield
Ian MacLellan
Tom Morgan
TaylorMade
Norm Kafka
Tara Vandeweghe
Don Shimizu
Heidi Fielding
Don Dawson
Mat Israelson
Mary Arcand
Justin Tomasula
Sheraton Toronto Airport
Hudson Technology
Clublink Corporation
State Farm
All Square Golf
Thorncrest Ford
Bant Printocut Ltd.
John Baird
Carson Arthur Design
Ian Gough
KIND Snacks
Vertical Restaurant
Taste of Nature Snacks
Mondelez International
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21st Annual Peace of Minds
Walk
In May 2014 SSO hosted the 21st Annual
Peace of Minds Walk for Schizophrenia. 415
participants gathered across Ontario in 9
different locations; Toronto, Oakville, Hamilton,
Ottawa, Thunder Bay, Peterborough, Guelph,
St. Catharine’s and Renfrew County. Through
peer fundraising participants raised over
$97,000.
The Peace of Minds Walk in Toronto on
May 25, 2014
Committee Members:
Sue Konsztowicz
Alison Lynch
CMHA Hamilton
Carol Timusk
Ellen Pronovost
Cheryl McLean
Helen Tucker
George Tucker
Andreas Buchholz
Jackie Najvar
Anne Tremain
Barbara Jefferson
Joyce Stevens
Betty Rafferty
Shirley & Anson Long
Glen Storey
Jody Brown
Stan Pearce
Jan Pearce
Raymond Levert
Bill Ferguson
Carla DiDomenicantonio
Sponsors:
DCAM Homes
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Schizophrenia Society of Ontario
Volunteers:
Jesse McClintock
Bonnie Esson
Marielisa Colicchio
James Weber
James Organ
Stephanie Gellman
Gail Douglas
Laura Rauthmell
Stephen Miles
Kathy Rauthmell
Glenn Rauthmell
Karen Rauthmell
Erik Miller
Chris Whittaker
Dione Mason
Dione’s Fitness Group
Troy Sexton
Diane Lau
Anthony Prussky
Lily Prussky
Jonah Prussky
Lisa Marinis
Pranavan Paranthaman
Kendra Chan
In-Kind Sponsors
KIND
Cripple Creek
Etobicoke Lions Club
Tim Hortons
Voortman Cookies
Mindful Art (Susan Brown)
Oakville Quilters Guild
Loblaws
Metro
No Frills
Longos
Kevin and Debbie Glenn
Marina Sue-Ping
House By the Side of the Road
(Chris McAlpine)
Ruth Miller
Julie’s Spa
Elizabeth Grant
Triple Flip
Third Party Events
Beat the Winter Blues
In March 2015, long time SSO supporters,
Marilyn and Mike Sarin hosted their annual
Beat the Winter Blues dinner and concert.
Held at the Banbury Community Centre in
Toronto, ON, the evening was complete
with live bands, a delicious Indian dinner,
and silent and live auctions. The event raised
$5,000 with 100 people in attendance.
Coordinators:
Marilyn Sarin
Mike Sarin
Jammin’ for Jesse and the
Cause
In May 2014, the Owens family hosted the
first annual Jammin’ for Jesse and the Cause,
in memory of their beloved son, brother,
uncle and cousin, Jesse Owens. The event
took place at the Sheffield Community
Centre in Sheffield, ON, and was attended
by over 200 participants who raised $11,332.
Sponsors:
Doctor’s Lion’s Club
Netrayla Lion’s Club
Special Thanks to:
Kanta Arora
America Hellenic Educational
Progressive Association –
AHEPA Golf Classic
On August 18, 2014, AHEPA hosted their annual
Golf Classic in support of Schizophrenia
Society of Ontario at the Meadowbrook Golf
& Country Club in Gormley, ON. Supporting
SSO for the second year in a row, the event
brought in $3,000.
Coordinators:
AHEPA
Andy Constand
Jim Fabrikis
Fred Fotopoulos
Owens’ family hosts Jammin’ for Jesse event
Coordinators:
Barbara & Garth Owens
Jaime & Nick Badham
Rose & Ted Hancocks
Bethany & Greg Pryde
Christopher Lamprecht
Special Thanks to:
Harry Young
Shirley Young
Volunteers:
M. Roth Family
C. Owens Family
B. Maclean Family
K. Lamprecht Family
Edge of Town
Destructo!
Allen & Norris
Plead the 5th
Mike Foster
Sherri Miller
Sudbury Research Dinner
Scotiabank Marathon 2014
On April 11, 2014 the Sudbury Local Volunteer
Committee hosted a dinner in support
of SSO’s research department, with 32
attendees raising $1,784.
In August 2014 SSO entered the Scotiabank
Waterfront Marathon as a registered charity,
giving SSO supporters the opportunity to
run on behalf of the organization and raise
funds for vital programs and services. Four
SSO supporters ran in this year’s event and
raised $2,910.
Coordinators:
Evelyn Fillier
Brenda Pajunen
Olive Girard
Guest Speaker:
Maureen McLelland
Runners:
Samantha Mercanti
Anthony M. Prussky
Elise McKay
Marisa Mercanti
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Thank you to our Donors, Funders
and Sponsors
Over $200,000
$2,500 - $5,000
• Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care
• Toronto Central Local Health
Integration Network
• A.W.B. Charitable Foundation
• The McLean Foundation
• Perth and Smiths Falls District Hospital
• Shoppers Drug Mart Life foundation
• Mental Health Commission of Canada
• United Way/Centraide Ottawa
• Oakville Community Foundation
• DCAM Homes
• American Hellenic Educational Progressive
Association
• Pfizer Canada Inc.
• City of Hamilton
Over $100,000
• Federated Health Charities Corporation
Over $50,000
• Halton Healthcare Services
• Hamilton Niagara Haldimand Brant LHIN
• Echo Foundation
• Anonymous
• Canadian Mental Health Association
Peterborough
$20,000 – $30,000
• United Way of Peterborough & District
• Otsuka Canada Pharmaceutical, Inc
$10,000 - $20,000
• The Tom and Ruth Kritsch Family
Foundation
• Mary Ann Boyle Estate
• Liquor Control Board of Ontario Provincial
Donation Box Program
• Frances Eastman Estate
• The Graham Boeckh Foundation
• Canadian Mental Health Association Ontario Division
• Novartis Pharmaceuticals Canada Inc.
• Jammin’ for Jesse and the Cause
$5,000 - $10,000
• United Way of Greater Toronto
• Ministry of the Attorney General - OVSS
• 136 Cross Ave Holdings Ltd.
• Janssen Inc.
• Lanark County Mental Health
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Schizophrenia Society of Ontario
$1,000 - 2,500
• Columbia International College
• Covington Capital
• Xerox Canada Ltd.
• Berg, David Barristers & Solicitor
• Trios College
• Aecon Group Inc.
• Anonymous [2]
• Community Head Injury Resource
Services - Toronto
• United Way of Peel Region
• OPG Employees & Pensioners' Charity Trust
• Spire Philanthropy
• Community Foundation of Ottawa
• The Boiler Inspection and Insurance Company
of Canada
• CIBC Children's Foundation
• Ernst & Young LLP
• OTIP/RAEO Social Fund OTIP/REAO
Benefits Inc
• RBC Foundation
• Sunrise Contracting Inc.
• Teachers Life Insurance Society (Fraternal)
• York Curling Club
More on next page...
$1,000 - 2,500 ...continued
• Oksana Maksymiw
• George and Helen Tucker
• Ronald Bordesssa
• Vittorio Pasquali
• Matthew Israelson
• Gary Remington
• Lorna M.Aziz
• Christopher Damaren
• James Weber and Purple Yip
• David and Janet Cunningham
• Jo-Anne Cote
• Donald D. Banks
• Don and Katherine Rousell
• David and Lesley Skelly
• Madhuri and Kris Ramakrishnan
• Jane Hunter
• Richard Boadway
• Debra L. Cole
• Jean S. Comfort
• David W. Drinkwater
• Harry Goulet
• Ernest and Margo Howard
• John J. Kollar
• Mark Mikhail
• Deborah L. Vesely
• Lakshmi N. Voruganti
• Graham and Helen Weber
Where our money comes from:
Donations
Events and Gaming
Investment Income
Government Grants
Corporate Foundations and
Other Agencies
Fee for Service
Sundry
$386,516
$495,404
$18,145
$557,659
$328,222
21%
27%
1%
30%
18%
$44,071
$16,460
2%
1%
TOTAL
$1,846,477 100%
Where our money goes:
Programs
Research
Fundraising
Administration
$1,038,357
$254,369
$647,757
$496,475
43%
10%
27%
20%
TOTAL
$2,436,958 100%
Full financial statements are available on our website or by request
2014/2015 Annual Report
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24
130 Spadina Avenue, Suite 302
Toronto, Ontario
M5V 2L4 Canada
Tel. 1-800-449-6367
Fax. 416-449-8434
www.schizophrenia.on.ca
info@schizophrenia.on.ca
/SchizophreniaSocietyON
@peace_of_minds