every mind matters -...

Every MindMatters

Continuing our Vital Work

In This Issue _________________•PFCProgramNews•ComingsandGoings•ResearchNews:TheExercise-BrainConnec7on

•Hand-outforParents:TheMentalBenefitsofPhysicalAc7vity

Whereyoursupportgoes

Pleasehelpusdothisimportantwork!Goto

www.psychologyfounda7on.organdclickon“Donate.”

psychologyfoundation.org

ThePsychologyFounda1onofCanadaisana&onalregisteredcharitydedicatedtoapplyingthebestpsychologicalknowledgetocreateprac&calprogramshelpingchildrenbecomeconfidentandproduc&veadults.Ourini&a&vesincludecrea&ngeduca&onal

resources,developingtrainingprogramsforprofessionals,anddeliveringcommunity-basededuca&on.

2St.ClairAve.East,Suite800,Toronto,ONM4T2T5,www.psychologyfounda&on.org

WELCOMETOOURsummeredi7onofEveryMindMa:ers!ThismonthweintroduceyoutoAnneLovegrove,ournewDirectorofMarke7ngandDevelopment.WearedelightedtohaveAnneonourteamandIjustknowsheisgoingtoaccomplishgreatthingsforourFounda7on.

Meanwhile,ourvitalworkwithunderservedgroupscon7nues.Ourstaffhavebeenhardatworkdoingtrainingsfornewcomercommuni7esinPeelRegionandcon7nuingtosupportthe

mentorsinFortHopeandWeagamowinnorthernOntario.I’malsoproudtosaythatPFCTrusteeDr.DavidDantohasagreedtochairtheCanadianPsychologicalAssocia7on’sTaskForceforIndigenizingPsychology.Thistaskforcewillworktowardsbe:er,moreculturallysensi7vementalhealthtreatmentforIndigenouspeopleandenhancedtrainingforpsychologistswhoworkwithIndigenouspeople.

Lastly,althoughit’searlysummer,it’snottosoontolookaheadtoourBreakfastforChampionsonNovember29.Thisyearwearepar7cularlythrilledtohaveDr.JohnRatey,authorofthebestsellingbookSpark,asourguestspeaker.YoucanreadmoreaboutDr.RateyandourBreakfastonpage2.PleasesavethedateandconsiderbecomingasponsorforthiseventthatissoimportanttoourFounda7on’svitalwork.

Formoreinforma7onpleasecall(416)644-4944ore-mail:info@psychologyfounda7on.org.

SUMMER 2017

HarrietLewis,President

Workplace*Mental*Health*

Kids*Have*Stress*Too!**

Admin*

Paren;ng*for*Life*

Make*the*Connec;on**

“CONFIDENT KIDS, PRODUCTIVE ADULTS”

psychologyfounda7on.org

PFCPROGRAMNEWSSavetheDate:Wednesday,November29

BreakfastforChampions

WEARETHRILLEDtoannouncethattheguestspeakerforour13thannualBreakfastforChampions willbeDr.JohnRatey,AssociateClinicalProfessorofPsychiatryatHarvardMedicalSchoolandoneoftheworld’sleadingexpertsonneuropsychiatry.

Dr.Rateyhaspublishedover60peer-reviewedar7clesand11books,whichhavebeentranslatedinto11languages,includingthebestsellingDriventoDistrac&on,co-wri:enwithDr.NedHallowell.His2008book,Spark:Therevolu&onaryscienceofexerciseandthebrain,establishedDr.Rateyasoneoftheworld’sforemostauthori7esonthebrain-fitnessconnec7on.

TheBreakfastforChampions,ourbiggestfundraiseroftheyear,willtakeplaceonWednesday,November29,from7:00amto9:00a.m.,attheHiltonTorontoHotel,145RichmondSt.W.Theprogrambeginsat8:00.Forinforma7onaboutsponsorshipopportuni7esortopurchase7ckets,contactusat:info@psychologyfounda7on.orgorcall416-644-4944.

MeetAnneLovegrove:OurnewDirectorofMarke1ngandDevelopment

WEEXTENDawarmwelcometoAnneLovegroveasshejoinsthePsychologyFound-a7onofCanadateam.Anne,whohasover20yearsofexperienceinmarke7ngandcommunica7ons,rela7onshipbuildingandorganiza7onalmanagement,includingsixyearswithCompaniesCommi:edtoKids,willserveasourDirectorofMarke7ngandDevelopment.

WorkingcloselywithExecu7veDirectorJudyHillsandthePFCBoardandcommi:ees,Annewillcreateastrategicapproachtomarke7ngandfundraisingthathighlightstheworkofTheFounda7onandbuildsasolidfoo7ngforourfuture.Annebeganherposi7onwithusinJuneandwelookforwardtoworkingwithheronmanyproduc7veprojects.

Ourregionalrepresenta1vesForinforma1onaboutlocaltrainingevents,pleasecontact:Na1onalandCentralRegion(ON,MB):AnneMurray,KidsHaveStressToo!®LeadTrainerandProgramConsultant,416-930-2080annemurray@psychologyfounda7on.orgBarbaraMacKayWard,MaketheConnec7onandParen7ngforLifeProgramManager,416-644-4944,x2050barb@psychologyfounda7on.org

WesternRegion(BC,AB,SK,NWT):CindyAndrew,250-391-8452cindypandrew@psychologyfounda7on.orgQuébec(andFrenchservices):PauleGiguère,819-772-8376paulegiguere@psychologyfounda7on.orgAtlan1cRegion(NB,NS,PEI,NL):MargieFowler,902-440-3280margie.fowler@psychologyfounda7on.org

Howdoyoustaymentallyfit?#150mentalhealthstrategiescontest

THEPSYCHOLOGYFOUNDATIONofCanada(PFC)thankseveryonewhopar7cipatedinour#150mentalhealthstrategiescontest.HeldinsupportofCanada’s150th

birthday,weaskedfortweetsandpostssharingstrategiesforhelpingCanadiansstaymentallyfit,forachancetowin$150worthofparentalresourcesoraparentaltrainingsession.

psychologyfounda7on.org

COMINGSANDGOINGSWesayafondfarewelltothreere1ringboardmembers:

Dr.RobinAlterhasbeenaTrusteesince2007.AsamemberofourParen7ngforLifeCommi:ee,andco-chairofourKidsHaveStressToo!Commi:ee,Robinco-led(withClairMcDerment)thedevelopmentofourStressLessonsfamilyofprograms.Sheworkedcloselywithoursponsor,Pfizer,andpromotedStressLessonsacrossCanada.WearegratefulthatRobinwillstayontoco-chairKHST!

Dr.DanAndreae,anaward-winningacademic,isaFoundingTrusteeofThePsychologyFounda7onofCanada.Hehasservedinanumberofroles,mostrecentlyasVicePresident,andreceivedtheinaugural40thAnniversaryAwardforhisexemplaryleadershipandextraordinarysupport.WearegratefulthatDanwillcon7nuetobeanadvisorandadvocateformentalhealth.

AnneDupréisthisyear’srecipientofourOutstandingContribu7onsAward.ShehasservedthePFCsince2004invariouscapaci7es:asaboardmember,trustee,andchairofourGovernance,DiversityinAc7onand40thAnniversaryAwardsCommi:ees!Anne’sstrategicthinkinghashelpedustoexpandthereachofourKidsHaveStressToo!programsandstrengthenedourabilitytoprovideresourcesforteachersandsocialserviceagencies.

Wewelcomewarmlyournewboardmembers:

Dr.LianeDaveyisanorganiza7onalpsychologist,businessstrategistandauthor(LeadershipSolu&ons,2007;YouFirst,2013)whohasservedthePFCinvariouscapaci7es.Arer18yearsworkinginlargeconsul7ngfirms,Lianerecentlyco-founded3COzeInc.,afirmdedicatedtoincreasingthevalueorganiza7onsgetfrombe:ercommunica7on,strongerconnec7ons,andincreasedcontribu7on.

Dr.KellyMcShane,aclinicalpsychologistandAssociateProfessorofPsychologyatRyersonUniversity,ispassionateaboutinterdisciplinarycollabora7ons,community-engagedapproachestoresearch,andaddic7onsandcommunitypsychology.Dr.McShanehasundertakenanumberofpartnershipsandprojectsaimedatbe:erunderstandingrecoveryandwell-beingandiden7fyingwaystoenhanceaddic7onservices.

GeorgiaRennick,Director,HumanResourcesatAird&BerlisLLP,comestouswithawealthofexperienceinmanaging,developingandcoachingstaff,andinthecrea7onofhumanresourcetraininganddevelopmentprograms.Shehasimplementedonboardingandmentorshipprograms,aHealthandWellnessstrategyandvariousemployeeincen7veandrecogni7onprograms.

Dr.HarveySkinner,apsychologist,wastheinauguralDeanoftheFacultyofHealthatYorkUniversityandhasaspecialinterestinglobalhealthpromo7on.Theauthororco-authorofsevenbooks,over150ar7clesandchapters,andwidely-usedinstrumentsforassessingalcoholdependence,drugproblemsandfamilyfunc7oning,Dr.SkinnerwasinductedasaFellowoftheCanadianAcademyofHealthSciencesin2007.

DR.JOHNRATEY’Sbestsellingbook,Spark:Therevolu&onarynewscienceofexerciseandthebrain,generatedagroundswellofinterestintheconnec7onbetweenphysicalac7vityandmentalhealthandacademicperformance.Hereareajustafewofthescien7ficfindingsDr.Rateyhighlightedinhisbook:1

• Exerciseandphysicalac7vi7esareakindofposi7vestress,thekindofstressthatcausesmildshort-termdamage,butatthesame7mepromotescellrepairandgrowth.

• Thepurposeofthefight-or-flightresponseistomobilizeusforac7on.Therefore,physicalac7vityisanaturalwaytorespondtostressandtocounteractitsnega7veconsequences.

• Physicalac7vitycanactuallyalterourmentalstateinresponsetostress.

• Exercisenotonlyhelpsusmanagetheemo7onalandphysicalfeelingsgeneratedbystress,italsoworksatthecellularlevel.Specifically,thebrainac7vityofexercisecausesthereleaseofmolecularby-productsthatprotectcellsagainstdamageandmakeourneuronshardierandmoreresilient.

• Exerciseenhancestheworkofbrain-derivedneurotrophicfactor(BDNF),agrowthfactorthatincreasestheproduc7onofan7oxidantsands7mulatesthegrowthofnewbraincells.Thishelpstostrengthenthebrainagainststress.

• Exercisehelpsthebraintorelaxbyreducingtheres7ngtensionofmusclespindles,whicharesensoryreceptorswithinthebodyofamuscle.Thishelpstobreakthestress-feedbacklooptothebrain.Whenthebrainsensesthatmusclesarerelaxed,thebrainknowsthatitcanrelaxaswell.

• Atrialnatriure7cpep7de(ANP),ahormonesecretedbyheartmusclecells,increasesinconcertwithincreasesinheartrateduring

physicalac7vity.ANPalsohelpstocalmdowntheleveloftheHPA(hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal)axis,whichhelpstorelievethephysicalandemo7onalfeelingsgeneratedbystress.

• Physicalac7vitycanimprovethebrainfunc7oningandefficiencyofemployees.InalargestudyconductedattheUniversityofLeedsin2004,workerswhousedthecompany’sgymweremoreproduc7ve,lessstressedbyworkloadsandbe:eratmanagingdeadlines.

•Exercisecanenhancelearning.A2007Germanstudyfoundthatsubjectslearnedvocabularywords20percentfasterarerdoingphysicalac7vitycomparedtotheirperformancebeforephysicalac7vity.Moreover,therateoflearningcorrespondedwiththesubjects’levelsofBDNF.

Otherrecentresearchhasfurtherilluminatedthebeneficialimpactsofphysicalac7vityandfitnessonmentalfunc7oning.

• Alargecross-sec7onalstudyinvolvingover10,000Europeanchildrenandyouthfoundthatfrequentphysicalac7vitywasposi7velycorrelatedwithwell-beingandnega7velycorrelatedwithanxietyanddepression.2

• Asystema7creviewofstudiesfoundthatphysicalac7vityis“afeasibleacceptableadjuncttousualcareforavarietyofmentaldisorders.”3

Sources1Ratey,J.J.,&Hagerman,E.(2008).Spark:Therevolu&onarynewscienceofexerciseandthebrain.Li:leBrown&Company.2.McMahon,E.M.,Corcoran,P.,O’Regan,G.,etal.(2017).Physicalac7vityinEuropeanadolescentsandassocia7onswithanxiety,depressionandwell-being.Europeanchild&adolescentpsychiatry,26(1),111-122.3Levin,G.T.,Greenwood,K.M.,Singh,F.,etal.(2016).Exerciseimprovesphysicalfunc7onandmentalhealthofbraincancersurvivors:twoexploratorycasestudies.Integra&vecancertherapies,15(2),190-196.

psychologyfounda7on.org

Research News

THEEXERCISE-BRAINCONNECTION

Frequentphysical

activitywaspositively

correlatedwithwell-

beingandnegatively

correlatedwith

anxietyand

depression.

“C’MON,HONEY,justfivemoremathproblems,”Razan’smomurges.Theseven-year-oldcan’tseemtofocus.Shethrowsherpencilinfrustra7on.“No!Ican’t!”

Danhasbeenhavingtroublegexngtosleepatnight.Thepreteenis7red,buthefeelstenseandanxiousinbed.“Ican’tstopthinkingaboutthings,”hecomplains.

Laura’snotsick,butshe’sboredandunmo7vated.She’sspenthalfthearernoonwhiningabouthavingnothingtodo,askingfortreats,orfloppedonthecouch.

Theproblemsaredifferent,butthereisonethingthatislikelytohelpallthesekids,andthat’sphysicalac7vity.

Physicalac1vityandmentalhealth

Weallknowthatregularphysicalac7vityisgreatforourphysicalhealth.Butdidyouknowitisalsoagoodstressbusterandhelpswithself-regula7on?

• Physicalac7vitycanchangeyourmoodandenergylevel.Ifyouarefeelingsluggish,exercisemakesyoufeelmoreenergizedandalert.Ifyouareupsetoragitated,itcanhelpyoufeelmorecalmandse:led.

• Its7mulatesthereleaseoffeel-goodbrainchemicals,reducesthelevelofstresshormones,andhelpsrelieveanxiety.

• Focus,learningandrecallareallimprovedarerexercise.Teachershaveobservedthatarerphysical

ac7vity,theirstudentsarebe:erabletostayontask.

•Peoplesleepbe:erwhentheyhaveexercisedduringtheday.

Ge^ngthingsmoving

Howcanweusethisinforma7ontohelpourkids?Weshouldallbetryingtobuildregular,enjoyablephysicalac7vityintoourfamilies’livesanyway.Butyoucanalsouseitstrategically:

Toimprovefocus:WhenRazanwasstrugglingto

completeherhomework,hermomwastemptedtotrytopushherthroughit.Butinsteadshesaid,“Let’stakeabreak.HowaboutIturntheropeforyouandyoushowmehowmanyskipsyoucandoinarow?”Shewascarefultosuggestanac7vityRazanlikes.Arertenminutesjumpingrope,Razanwasabletofinishhermathquitequickly.

Toraiseenergylevels:MopeyLaurawasstar7ngtodriveherdadcrazy.Hedecideditwas7metotakethedogtothepark.Lauraresistedatfirst,butonceshewasoutinthefreshsnowthedog’sexcitedan7csdrewherinandhermoodimproved.Soonshewasplayingchasewiththedog,makingsnowangels,andplanningthefortshewouldbuildwhentheygothome.

Toimproverelaxa1on:Danlovesbasketball,sowhenhisparentssuggestedthatexercisearerdinnermighthelphimrelaxatbed7me,hetriedshoo7ngbasketsinthedrivewayforahalf-hour.That,plusturningoffallhisscreensanhourbeforelightsout,helpedhimfallasleepmoreeasilymostnights.

Hand-outforParents

THEMENTALBENEFITSOFPHYSICALACTIVITY

psychologyfounda7on.org

Tolearnmoreabouttheconnec7onsbetweenphysicalac7vity,learning,mentalhealthandstressmanagement,readSpark:Therevolu&onaryscienceofexerciseandthebrain,

byDr.JohnRatey(Li:leBrown,2008).Visitpsychologyfounda7on.orgformoreresourcestohelpyousupportyourchildren’smentalhealth.