The charity has supported and franchised a number of run-therapy programs in Ontario for teens and youth adults. Its focus is on the science of physical activity and its healing efforts in helping youth who are suffering from mental illness and depression.

“I am excited to be part of this very worthwhile organization that is growing rapidly and is addressing a very critical need. Suicide is the second leading cause of death among teenagers and we need more programs like this to help our youth,” says the Honourable Dennis Timbrell.

“CameronHelps is extremely fortunate to have someone with the experience and credentials of Dennis Timbrell join us. His understanding of the health system and his leadership will be very valuable assets to our board as we move forward to expand our programs beyond Ontario,” says CEO and founder, David Harris.

Dennis Timbrell started his career as a teacher before moving to a political career which began as an Alderman for North York Council. He was elected as an MLA for Ontario and in 1974 was the youngest Member elected to a Cabinet post. While at Queen’s Park Dennis served as Minister of Youth, Energy, Health, Municipal Affairs and Housing, Agriculture and Women’s Issues.

His dedication to the health community is reflected in many of his past roles, including Ontario Hospital Association president, Board member of St. Joseph’s Health System and President of the Ontario Blue Cross. In 1987, he established an Ontario consultancy called Healthgroup Development Corporation where he remains active. He has received numerous service awards, most recently the Diamond Jubilee medal to commemorate Queen Elizabeth’s reign. Dennis has seven children and 14 grandchildren.

CameronHelps is one of the designated charities for the Mississauga Marathon. It also hosts an Unbreakable Father’s Day 5k run/walk in Port Credit and, new this year, an Unbreakable 5/10K run at Toronto’s Ribfest during the Canada Day weekend.

When CameronHelps’ founder David Harris was in his deepest  hour of despair, he knew he had to make a choice. Harris was speaking to parents April 30 at the invitation of the Peel District School Board. He delivered a powerful message about coming back from depression in a talk called Suicide: Start the Conversation.

He was joined by his good friend, social worker Dan McGann who started the award-winning youth run group therapy program at Credit Valley Hospital. After his son Cameron took his own life, Harris said he needed to get back to being emotionally grounded. “I realized that like a bamboo tree, one of the most resilient trees in the world. I had to bend back. It was about admitting that my life would never to the same again and to embrace that change,” he said.

Harris learned not to be afraid and to openly share his emotions and to be more trusting and patient. “Vulnerability is power. I had to put myself out there and talk about suicide. Talking about it gives you power. Mental illness has to be discussed. If not, suicide will continue to happen,” he said.

With people like his charity’s Board Director Randy Flewelling and Dan McGann, Harris found the support and mentors he needed. From a small group, he started CameronHelps which is dedicated to reducing teen suicide, with a special emphasis on running and exercise.

Harris himself learned from his running that it was helping him to cope with stress and depression, “I don’t think I could have gotten through this if I wasn’t physically fit,” he said. Now he is working as a running coach with Dan McGann’s run therapy group and giving back by helping teens. “My life changed when I started to help others,” he adds.

The Peel District School Board has a tremendous opportunity to make a significant impact, he said. People just have to believe in a goal and set it up and make it happen. Harris offered the assistance of his organization to help Peel with suicide prevention. One way for everyone to show support is to run or walk in Port Credit for the fourth annual Father’s Day event.

Dan McGann told the audience of his own personal story of a troubled childhood that led to addiction and depression issues later in life. “If it was hard for me (as a social worker) to seek help, how hard do you think it is for young people? We shouldn’t be embarrassed or ashamed – - it’s all about talking to people. As David Harris said, vulnerability is power.”

McGann said he started the running program at Credit Valley Hospital because running had transformed his own life. His clients who run are very committed to the program and feel their spirits lift after each session. “They’re more relaxed and confident; it gives them courage and power,” he says.

JACS, a community-based outreach agency supported by a Trillium Grant, has jumped into the Team Unbreakable group run therapy program. The Thornhill branch of JACS is launching its first run therapy program in March 2012, led by program director Jay Pasternack who has a background in addictions and mental health.

Addiction is often a symptom of mental illness including depression, says CameronHelps Board Chair Randy Flewelling. “We are very happy to be supporting JACS with its program and its focus on youth and young adults fits in extremely well with the overall intent and outcomes of Team Unbreakable.”

Jay Pasternack and some of the JACS’ running coaches were able to hear McMaster professors Dr. Sassi and Dr. McKinnon at the CameronHelps’ AGM March 1, 2012. The science of mood disorders shows that some areas of the brain are particularly vulnerable to patients with major depression disorders. JACS plan on participating with CameronHelps and McMaster in the future as part of McMaster’s research program into the links between exercise and mental health.

The JACS’ organizers believe that this program of running, motivational guest speakers and family support can help with the recovery from substance abuse,” says Flewelling. “They are gearing up for their 5K run in Thornhill as their culminating event.”

The JACS speakers will focus more on addiction issues, but also bring to light the importance of physical activity and its healing therapeutic benefits.

The professor was speaking at the CameronHelps annual general meeting March 1, 2012 in Mississauga. There is an opportunity to do more research about the impact of exercise therapy programs on youth because the need is definitely there to supplement traditional methods of treatment, he said.

As Dr. Sassi notes, there is a resistance among children and young adults to engage in therapy. As well, long-term participation rates among youth in using drug therapy isn’t very high, as up to 40 % of patients drop out of their programs within eight weeks, Dr. Sassi said. There is also the stigma young people feel about going to a hospital for treatment for depression and taking drugs, he adds.

Additionally, studies have shown that there is also a less than stellar response to drug treatment. Up to 50% of young patients have only partial positive effects from taking traditional medication, Dr. Sassi said.

On the other hand, exercise provides a host of benefits to youth, he said, such as: no side effects, higher self-esteem, a sense of accomplishment and a biological release of positive chemicals. Kids are more accepting of exercise programs, there are health side-benefits and it’s a diversion from their depression, he adds.

Since 2001 there have been about five reviews of exercise as therapy for depressed youth, but the parameters have not always focused just on teens and run therapy programs. However, there is good evidence that with better fitness, there is a reduction of depression among participants, Dr. Sassi notes. He also stated that in some cases, physical activity was shown to be just as effective as drug therapy in treating mental health issues.

Dr. Sassi said McMaster University is excited about partnering with CameronHelps to do further research to determine the influence of physical activity on depression and mental illness. They will be developing a questionnaire and database for participants of the CameronHelps-supported run therapy programs in Toronto, Waterloo and Mississauga which run for 13 weeks in the spring of 2012.

The research will help the University understand why some individuals improve through different means of treatment and why other’s don’t. The research may show that there are different pathways to treatment and help to understand mitigating factors, he said.

“I would like to personally thank you for helping move us a little closer to achieving our goals. Like any charity you need committed, passionate individuals especially this one because being involved in this type of work is not easy,” says Harris.

“The stigma around suicide and mental illness is still there, and we live in a society where our young people are dramatically overweight, not healthy and now constantly connected to their electronic devices. Unfortunately mental illness and suicide rates will not be decreasing anytime soon.”
Harris outlined some of the major accomplishments of CameronHelps over the past year:

(1) A 2011- five year strategic plan designed to guide the organization’s activities and goals
(2) Hiring of program manager John Knox to help move CameronHelps forward in 2012.
(3) New running programs starting or have started: Lutherwood Child & Family Services, Waterloo (February); JACS – Toronto & York Region, (March) and St. Joseph’s Health Centre with MacMaster University –Hamilton(April)

(4) A research partnership with McMaster University, Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine was established
(5) On April 30th Dan McGann from Credit Valley Hospital and David Harris will be speaking to 300-400 teachers, administrators and parents. The title of this event – Suicide: Start the Conversation.
(6) Mississauga Marathon – CameronHelps became an official charity partner in 2011 and are confirmed again for 2012
(7) Planning for fundraising/awareness teams for 2012 Mississauga Marathon race weekend.
(8) A renewed Father’s Day 5k run walk which will have a whole new look and name (Team Unbreakable) and energy thanks to new event directors Adding a 2nd run walk event on July 2nd at the Toronto RibFest.
(9) Partnership with Rotary Lakeshore – Mississauga for a wine tasting & silent auction fundraising evening
(10) Forging a strong relationship with the staff at McLaren McCann advertising and marketing, who helped with the rebranding of a new logo, a new website, and in developing the Team Unbreakable brand
(11) Launching a social media marketing strategy using Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Harris explained how Team Unbreakable was adopted by CameronHelps for running programs and events that are being rolled out this year. “This word Unbreakable to me now means so much. I was moved to tears as many of us were when we heard a young girl’s story of self-harm, suicidal thoughts and how one word, ‘unbreakable,’ helped to see her through.”

“It represented who she was deep down inside. Simply the word means something that will not break. I think many of us now connect to this word and feel what the word really means ….courage, determination, never giving up, making a difference….to believe and love yourself unconditionally. We have the opportunity to share that message. What a gift that is.”

Teaming up with CameronHelps, a youth suicide prevention charity, Lutherwood is introducing a run-group therapy program for teens who are battling with depression and mental illness.

The 12-week Team Unbreakable program is modelled after a similar program developed by social worker Dan McGann at Credit Valley Hospital and supported by CameronHelps. About a dozen young adults will participate in twice-weekly runs, hear from motivating guest speakers and benefit from a group of dedicated coaches.

The science behind physical activity and how it can reduce depression and improve mental health is gaining new recognition, says CameronHelps founder David Harris. “The Credit Valley program is unique and we wanted to share the findings with other organizations. As a run-therapy coach myself, I can see the improvement in their attitude and outlook—it’s making a lasting impact.”

Lutherwood provides a wide range of mental health, employment development, housing and family support services in Waterloo Region and Wellington County. Mel Rose of Lutherwood heard through the media about the run-therapy program in Mississauga last year and reached out to a running friend at Lutherwood to head up the program.

The Team Unbreakable runs will be held out of the Benjamin Road facility in north Waterloo. Based on four years of experience, CameronHelps provided Lutherwood with a program outline with information on  structure, format and  safety. Program Manager John Knox of CameronHelps will act as a running and program consultant.

“We’re very excited about the program,” says Rose. “We’ve lined up a great lineup of guest speakers and the staff is very excited about starting the program. The orientation and kickoff is February 7.  Participant feedback from the program will be used by a McMaster University research team who are determining the impacts of physical activity on mood disorders.

Team Unbreakable is the name given to the run-therapy program, says Harris. It originated from a young lady who described how she felt when she was running. In her battle against depression and mental illness, she said the energy and the empowerment she received made her feel “unbreakable,” he says.

CameronHelps helps to raise awareness of teen suicide through programs, activities and information. It focuses on how physical activity, such as running, can often reduce depression and improve mental health.

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For more information contact John Knox, jknox@cameronhelps.ca or 416 937 5890

January marked the beginning of a new year for suicide awareness when Facebook agreed to battle the cause by launching a suicide prevention tool.

Now the Facebook community of 800 million users will have one click access to a number of suicide prevention tools, including how to help someone who has just posted suicidal content and a list of suicide hotlines segmented by geography.  These tools are available for the members themselves, or for members to forward to others who they feel may be contemplating suicide.

Facebook urges its members to pay close attention to their Facebook friends and the content they are posting. If a member reads a post that has a suicidal tone, Facebook urges people to report this to its suicide help services department .

Facebook can then directly provide their Facebook member the support they need. If you or a friend is contemplating suicide, or you would like to check out the resources available simply type in ‘suicide’ in the Facebook search engine and you will be provided with a series of FAQs and support resources.

Agenda:

Part A.

6:30pm to 7:00pm:

1. Election of Officers (Randy Flewelling)

2. Presentation of the Annual Financial Statement (Keith Madley)

—10 Minute BREAK—

Part B.

7:10pm to 8:30pm:

3. CameronHelps and “Team Unbreakable” Update (David Harris)

4. Preventing and Treating Depression through Running and Exercise (Dr. Roberto Sassi and Dr. Margaret McKinnon, McMaster University)

5. Questions and Answers

6. Thank You (Randy Flewelling)

Dr. Sassi and Dr. McKinnon are among the leading researchers into the link between mental health and physical activity, and will be able to share some exciting advancements in their field – information that CameronHelps is directly applying in our programming and activities.

You are invited to attend both parts, or just come for the more riveting portion at 7:00. Either way, you are welcome! To ensure we plan for enough chairs and refreshments, RSVP johnk@cameronhelps.ca or visit our Facebook events page.

 http://www.facebook.com/events/289437514452670/

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