In partnership with Guelph Neighbourhood Support Coalition and Realizations

The night began with some casual socializing and sharing. It was great to see the community out and have a chance to connect with each other organically. Joanna, our executive director, gave a great introduction to Facilitation Wellington Dufferin and what independent facilitation is. We affirmed the values for the night including: responsibility; compassion; balancing risk-taking and openness with keeping personal boundaries; privacy; and acknowledging that learning is a continual process. We invited everyone to check in with how they were feeling, and to answer the question “What do you need to navigate challenges related to COVID that you don’t already have or know about?”

Then, the larger group split off into breakout rooms. The first topic was to talk about activities and hobbies that we were able to maintain during COVID despite changes in the world around us. The mood in breakout rooms was one of discovery and making connections with and about others, as well as focusing on good things in our lives.

We then moved into discussing the more challenging impacts COVID has had on our lives as a larger group. We talked about the ways that our relationships and roles have shifted and continue to shift as we go through different phases of COVID and the circumstances of our own lives change. Many folks were positive and finding the benefits even in the challenges, and emphasized the complexity of the situation and how it was very different for everyone, and even different for the same person at different times.

We then moved into a discussion of self-care and how to ensure we are capable of caring for ourselves by finding the time and resources to do so. We unearthed challenges with balancing our care needs with the care needs of people in our community. Keeping in touch via dropped off gifts, shared but distanced activities, and communication was a big key strategy that was discussed as ways to manage our concern for others.

We talked about the simplicity of life under COVID and learning to appreciate the time we have, as well as how important it is to connect with loved ones. Some habits of our “old lives” we don’t miss at all! It’s okay that self-care and our hobbies have changed. Some folks mentioned they have been enjoying finding mindfulness in their lives through things like walking and meditation. We watched a video called “WTF is Mindfulness?” a very simple guided introduction to mindfulness.

Wondering what mindfulness is? Try this short meditation to find out. https://au.reachout.com/

We discussed ways to keep moving forward in COVID by learning new skills, especially skills that allow us to connect with each other, such as by becoming Zoom experts like facilitator Hailee! Some of us also found new appreciation for old skills. Sharing new hobbies or new expressions of hobbies with our families and communities either virtually or by activities like dropping off delicious baked goods we found was a great way to stay connected and express care.

Joanna shared a quote which invited us to think about how we can take COVID as an opportunity to mindfully move forward and “lock in a new normal” by deciding what habits and methods of living we have enjoyed learning during COVID that we would like to hold on to. We invited everyone to consider how they have stretched or grown during COVID 19.

Participants also received a list of resources including resources on mental health, relationships, finances, fun, and self-care. but we are also sharing them here with you below this post, and at this link!

If you’re interested in attending one of our other webinar events, the next event will be November 26th 2020 at 7pm, and will feature speaker Brendan Johnson from the Guelph Neighborhood Support coalition. To register for this FREE event, please head to Eventbrite by clicking here!

Resources to help through Covid

Mental Health

10 Things you can do right now to reduce anxiety, stress, worry related to COVID-19

https://bouncebackontario.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/BounceBack-Tip-Sheet-Covid19-EN.pdf

Canadian Mental Health Association

https://cmhaww.ca/

Covid 19 - Helping Ourselves. Helping Each Other

https://www.here4help.ca/

Course - Free 3 hour online course you can take at your own pace.

Mind Control - Managing your Mental Health During Covid https://www.coursera.org/learn/manage-health-covid-19

Living Life to the Full – Helping You to Help Yourself (January - March 2021)

12 HOURS THAT CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE Cost $50 total for the 12 weeks

https://cmhaww.ca/events/llttf-winter2020/

Webinar events hosted by CMHA

https://cmhaww.ca/events/

BounceBack BounceBack is a free, guided self-help program that’s effective in helping people aged 15 and up who are experiencing mild-to-moderate anxiety or depression, or may be feeling low, stressed, worried, irritable or angry. Participants receive telephone coaching, skill-building workbooks and online videos to help them overcome these symptoms and gain new skills to regain positive mental health. To receive telephone coaching support, clients must either be referred by their primary care provider (family doctor, nurse practitioner) or psychiatrist, or they may self-refer as long as they’re connected with a primary care provider. For those who are not quite ready for coaching, our online videos can provide helpful tips.

Youth 15-18 https://bouncebackontario.ca/what-is-bounceback-youth/

Adults 19 + https://bouncebackontario.ca/adults-19/

Impacts of Covid on Mental Health in our Community

https://www.guelphcf.ca/LinkClick.aspx?fileticket=-kDSQDcIjsA%3d&tabid=100