Donate

Healthy Minds

Mental health and well-being is about enjoying life and being able to deal with its ups and downs. It is as important as your physical health. ConnectWell offers many group programs that can help you develop greater understanding and appreciation for your own mental health skills and challenges, share experiences with others and learn new skills to build your own resilience.

Did you know that your mental well-being can:

  • Change over time 
  • Be affected by life experiences such as starting a new job, moving or changes in our family make-up
  • Depend on the resources and supports available to you at any given time. 

There are a number of proven ways to boost ones mental health, well-being and resilience. Everyone can have positive mental health. You can have a mental illness and have positive mental health. Likewise, you can have poor mental health and not have a mental illness. 

Sometimes, we might need to try something different or learn some new skills to help us face life’s challenges with greater ease. Sometimes we need to be with others who face similar challenges.

ConnectWell’s group programs are lead by trained and skilled staff and volunteers. They ensure that the group environment is welcoming, safe and supportive for all. Check out the groups we have on offer.

Our Programs

This program is a social time for women who want to use artistic expression as a way to support their own mental wellness and to build healthy and supportive relationships with other women from the community. Each month a new art form is introduced by the facilitator, and participants are free to explore the art form being presented or to use the art supplies in the cupboard.

Previous art experience is not required – it’s art from the heart.

Some details to note

  • Free of charge
  • 3 hours per week from September to May – specific time/weekday is determined at the start of the program year in September.
  • 207 Robertson Drive Lanark
  • 12-14 participants can be accommodated
  • Registration is required. Participants can join throughout the year as long as space permits.
  • Drop-ins are welcome to come and check it out.

For more information or to sign up for this program

Call Kara at 613-259-2182 or email ksymbolic@connectwell.ca

Many of us lead busy and oftentimes stressful lives. When we are busy thinking about yesterday or planning for tomorrow, we aren’t paying a lot of attention to the present – where we are right now. Mindfulness is simply an invitation to step into the present moment with attention, curiosity and acceptance – paying kind attention to what we are doing, thinking and feeling in this moment.

Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction is a program that helps people manage the stress in their lives – whatever the source of that stress (ie illness, work, family, physical or emotional pain, anxiety, panic, depression or grief etc.). Using structured teachings and discussions, guided meditations, and gentle yoga, MBSR can help you learn how to change your reactions to stress and build habits that improve how you manage that stress.

With practice, mindfulness can lead to numerous benefits, including reduced stress, anxiety and depression, improved emotional regulation, enhanced focus and concentration, increased self-compassion, and greater overall well-being. As part of this program, participants will be encouraged to set aside 20-30 minutes every day to practice the techniques taught each week.

Some details to note

  • Free of charge
  • 8 weekly sessions with each session being 2 ½ hours long. A full day session is held on a weekend day towards the end of the program. Specific program dates and times change from year-to-year.
  • One program per year is held in Lanark Village. If interest and resources allow, a second program offering may take place at a different Lanark County location.
  • Open to all community members. You do not need to have a referral from a health care provider nor do you need to be a rostered client with ConnectWell in order to participate; however, all applicants must attend an information session and meet with program facilitators before the program starts to ensure the MBSR program is the right fit for you at this time in your life
  • A maximum of 15 people can be accommodated in each program.

For more information or to sign up for this program

Call Kara at 613-259-2182 or email ksymbolic@connectwell.ca

Helpful Resources

This small group program is for anyone living with a chronic health condition or their family members and caregivers. This includes conditions ie diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, lung disease, and other chronic health issues. Chronic conditions are often slow to develop, may have an uncertain cause, are sometimes difficult to diagnose, may not have a conclusive test to determine diagnosis with accuracy and usually last for life. Although the biological causes of chronic illnesses differ, the problems and challenges they pose for people can be remarkably similar.

During this program you will learn and practice a range of self-management skills such as:

  • Problem solving and responding as your disease gets better or worse
  • Maintaining a healthy lifestyle with regular exercise, healthy eating, sound sleep habits and stress management
  • Managing common symptoms
  • Making decisions about when to seek medical help and what treatments to try
  • Working effectively with your health care team
  • Using medications safely and effectively while minimizing side effects
  • Finding and using community resources
  • Talking about your condition with family and friends and adapting social activities

Some details to note

  • Free of charge
  • 2 ½ hours per week for 6 weeks
  • Offered in Beachburg, Cobden and Eganville
  • Open to all community members
  • 8 – 12 participants all with direct experience in living with one or more chronic conditions
  • Registration is required

For more information or to sign up for this program

Call Betty Bryanton or Julia Okum at 613-582-3685 and leave a message

Helpful Resources

This small group program is for anyone suffering from persistent pain, including but not limited to lower back pain, pain from motor vehicle accidents, arthritis, fibromyalgia and more. The program is interactive and includes a structured gentle movement component called “Moving Easy”. During the program you will learn and practice a range of self-management skills such as:

  • problem solving and responding to your chronic pain condition day to day
  • maintaining a healthy lifestyle that features stress management, regular exercise, healthy eating and sound sleep habits
  • managing common symptoms
  • making decisions about when to seek professional help and what treatments to try
  • working effectively with your health care team
  • using medications safely and effectively while minimizing side effects
  • finding and using community resources
  • talking about your condition with family and friends and
  • participating in work, volunteer and social activities.

Some details to note

  • Free of charge
  • 2 ½ hours per week for 6 weeks
  • Offered in Beachburg, Cobden and Eganville
  • Open to all community members
  • 8 – 12 participants all with direct experience in living with chronic pain
  • Registration is required

For more information or to sign up for this program

Call Betty Bryanton or Julia Okum at 613-582-3685 and leave a message

Helpful Resources

Progress over pain is a 6-week program that focuses on self-management for people living with chronic pain. Sessions are approached using principles of self-management, cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness. Participation is interactive during the session, and self-reflective activities will be provided to complete between sessions. The workshop covers the following topics:

Session 1. Introduction and science of pain

Session 2. Stress and our stress response

Session 3. Sleep and chronic pain

Session 4. Mindfulness and acceptance

Session 5. Meaningful Activity

Session 6. Putting everything together

Some details to note

  • Free of charge
  • 2 hours per week for 6 weeks
  • Offered in Beachburg, Cobden and Eganville
  • Open to all community members
  • 8 – 10 participants all with direct experience in living with chronic pain
  • Registration is required

For more information or to sign up for this program

Call Betty Bryanton or Julia Okum at 613-582-3685 and leave a message

Helpful Resources

Find Out What Services Are Available To You