Part 1, Featuring:

Dr. David Conn, M.B., B.Ch., B.A.O., FRCPC

Supported by: Bette Watson-Borg & John Saunders, from the Social Isolation & Loneliness project

THE CANADIAN COALITION FOR SENIORS MENTAL HEALTH (CCSMH): THE FIRST 20 YEARS, REFLECTIONS AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS

Dr. David Conn is the Executive Vice-President of Education and Chief Academic Officer at the Baycrest Academy for Research & Education. He is a Professor in the Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto and is a Geriatric Psychiatrist at Baycrest. David is founding Co-Chair of the Canadian Coalition for Seniors' Mental Health and Past President of the Canadian Academy of Geriatric Psychiatry.  His academic interests include nursing home psychiatry, telepsychiatry, guideline development and knowledge translation.  He is the author or co-author of more than 100 publications and is the co-editor of three textbooks including "Practical Psychiatry in the Long-Term Care Home: A Handbook for Staff”.  He has received numerous awards including the Canadian Academy of Geriatric Psychiatry Award for Outstanding Contributions to Geriatric Psychiatry in Canada and a Distinguished Service Award from the International Psychogeriatric Association.  Dr. Conn was the principal investigator for a recent project funded by Health Canada to develop Canadian Guidelines for 4 Substance Use Disorders among older adults (alcohol, benzodiazepines, cannabis and opioids) and led the 2021 Guideline Update of the Canadian Guidelines on Prevention, Assessment and Treatment of Depression Among Older Adults.

Learning Objectives
1. Describe the origins of the CCSMH and be aware of current projects.

2. Consider the ingredients for developing and sustaining a successful national coalition.

3. Discuss and contribute ideas regarding future directions and priorities for CCSMH.

4. A special focus on one of CCSMH’s new project, is to develop Clinical Guidelines on Social

Isolation and Loneliness among older adults

Spotlight Presenter: 

Lisa Joworski, TRS, R/TRO Behavioural Response Team, Geriatric Mental health Program, London Health Sciences Centre’

CAPTURING ESSENCE THROUGH DIGITAL STORYTELLING:
LEARNING FROM LIVED EXPERIENCE

Lisa is a Therapeutic Recreation Specialist, Digital Storytelling Facilitator and registered member of Therapeutic Recreation Ontario. She has almost 25 years of experience working people 65 years of age and over, primarily with persons living with dementia. She has worked in a variety of long term care homes as well as McCormick Dementia Services day program and, just recently celebrated 10 years with the Behavioural Response Team, Geriatric Mental Health Program, London Health Sciences Centre. Her vision is to live in a world where each person feels safe, assured and comforted knowing that they will be truly seen as a person first before seen as a patient, resident or client. Lisa strives to develop a cost effective, sustainable way to create mini and meaningful life story videos that can then be used as best practice, person-centred care tools, especially as individuals age and experience health changes whether cognitive, physical and/or emotional in nature.

 Special Guest: Helen