Lunch and Learn: Family and Caregiver Experience within the Mental Health System

Tuesday, October 1, 2019
12:00-1:15 pm
Room 720

This lunch time discussion will include mental health system attitude and rules, its impact on families, and history; family lived experiences, negative and positive; perspective on vital role of the social worker in helping families navigate the system and promote communication; and Family Guidelines of the Mental Health Commission.

Home on the Hill is a family driven organization committed to developing supportive housing for those with serious mental illness and family support and respite services. This organization runs a successful lecture series where well regarded psychiatrists, GP psychotherapists, psychologists and other professionals give educational lectures about serious mental illness. Home on the Hill is located in Richmond Hill, Ontario.

Please bring your own lunch. Registration not necessary.

Maria Lorenzoni is a retired Adult ESL instructor with 25 years experience with the Toronto District School Board Continuing Education Department. She is also a caregiver to a son with mental illness. She was born in Italy, grew up in New York City and has lived in Toronto for 40 years with her husband and two children, currently in Vaughan. Maria has worked as a volunteer in the past with a mental health group serving the Italian community. This experience, as well as her own lived experience as a caregiver, has motivated her to be involved to find strategies to improve the lives of mental health individuals, especially in terms of housing and public awareness. She has been participating in the initiatives of Home on the Hill for a few years.

Maggie Veltheer a former psychiatrist nurse at St. Thomas Psychiatric Hospital is Program Director of Home on the Hill Supportive Housing. Maggie runs a family support group and coordinates an art therapy group, life skills cooking group and a music group.