May newsletter from FAMI-Alberta

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Dear Friend: Here's the latest from FAMI-Alberta

Online FAMI meeting schedule

The online FAMI meetings have proven to be a great way to connect in the age of COVID-19, and will continue weekly according to the following schedule:

Tuesday afternoon May 12, 1:00 – 2:30 pm
Monday evening May 18, 6:00 – 7:30 pm
Tuesday afternoon May 26, 1 – 2:30
Monday evening June 1, 6:00 – 7:30

The May 12 meeting will have a light, social theme. Prepare yourself a treat - milk and cookies, a lovely late lunch, or other special treat and join for 1 and half hours of sharing anecdotes, exchanging ideas and information about our loved ones or ourselves. Future meeting topics will be announced on our Facebook group.

If you want to attend a meeting, email famialberta@gmail.com to get the meeting ID number and password.

Support groups going online

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, most in-person programs are now online. Here's the latest information we've received:

Connecting by Choice (Access Open Minds)
Education support group for parents, family members and friends who are supporting a loved one with mental health and/or addiction concerns. This group is currently being offered through Zoom through Zoom every Wednesday, 6:30-8:00 pm. Please email Kathy for an invitation to join the Zoom group.

Caregiver Connections (Canadian Mental Health Association - Edmonton Region)
A peer support group to help parents, partners, and caregivers of those with a mental health concern and/or addiction support one another on Thursday evenings from 6:30 – 8:00pm. Participants need to register for each session by Wednesday at 4pm for the following day’s group meeting. If you are a new member, email Elyse who will set up an intake phone call to walk you through the process, introduce you to the group format, ensure you are set up with the appropriate technology to support the online platform, and to reserve your spot.

CMHA-ER is also offering Suicide Bereavement Support Groups (for those who have lost someone to suicide) and Suicide Caregiver Support (for those providing care for someone who has attempted or is at risk of attempting suicide) via video/teleconferencing.

Family & Caregiver Support Group (Schizophrenia Society of Alberta - Edmonton branch)

Generally held the first Thursday of the month at 7 pm and third Thursday at 1 pm. These are now being held by conference call. Call 780-452-4661 to confirm or get more information.

Online Family Support Group (Schizophrenia Society of Alberta)
Wednesday, May 13^th 6:00-7:00pm Dealing with isolation & depression
Wednesday, May 27^th 6:00-7:00pm Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs
Wednesday, June 10^th 6:00-7:00pm Ways to engage your loved one (during & after COVID-19)
Wednesday, June 24^th 6:00-7:00pm Understanding the diagnoses (Schizophrenia, Schizoaffective, Psychosis)

The Support Group page of our website has been updated to reflect these changes.

Guardianship & Trusteeship assistance

Following government cutbacks earlier this year, SAGE (Seniors Association of Greater Edmonton) had to stop providing assistance to those seeking to apply for guardianship and trusteeship for loved ones. Many FAMI members had used this service to navigate the application process, and were disappointed when it was cancelled.

Since then, one of the former staff members has opened a business to provide similar services. Shelley McGowan worked at Sage for seven years in the Guardianship and Trusteeship department, dealing mainly with Guardianship, Trusteeship and Co-decision making Orders. Shelley had also worked at Edmonton Community Legal Centre, a not-for-profit law firm, as a Community Legal Worker. Though the service is no longer free-of-charge, if you need assistance you can contact Shelley through her website, shelleymcgowan.ca.

Another program helping parents of disabled children is Disability Advocates, operated in Calgary by Annie and Gordon VanderLeek of Vanderleek Law who have given online educational presentations for the Schizophrenia Society.

Housing discussion group

One of our members is interested in starting a conversation with other families who may be thinking of housing possibilities for their adult child - specifically discussing a cooperative model (2 or 3 living together with shared support from families, and looking into what other community supports may be accessed). If you're interested, contact Cheryl.

CMHA Alberta survey on COVID-19

Canadian Mental Health Association, Alberta Division (CMHA AB) would like to better understand the impact of the pandemic on the lives and mental health of Albertans. They have a very short survey about your experience. This would be a good time to note how the closures and changes brought about by COVID-19 have affected access to services and ability to care for your loved one living with the effects of a mental illness. The survey is open until May 20

FAMI's social media

Our website famialberta.ca has information and resources, and new sections are always being added.

Our Facebook group continues to be a space for sharing articles, concerns and support.

Our Twitter account regularly posts articles of interest.

And, this newsletter reaches a growing audience every month. If you know someone who wants to subscribe, or if you've had this forwarded to you and want to receive it directly, sign up here.

If you have anything you'd like to share with us, please let us know.

Copyright © 2017-2020 Families supporting Adults with Mental Illness - Alberta, All rights reserved.
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Our mailing address is: FAMIAlberta@gmail.com

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Families supporting Adults with Mental Illness - Alberta · c/o CMHA-ER · 300 – 10010 105 Street NW · Edmonton, AB T5J 1C4 · Canada