Mental Health Camp Vancouver 2009

Comments 7 by Rebecca Bollwitt

After a Northern Voice session a few individuals decided to take one conversation to the next level and create Mental Health Camp.

The goal is to address and discuss such questions as:

  • How can blogging help decrease the stigma of mental health?
  • How does someone with a mental illness navigate the waters of anonymity in the transparent world of social media?
  • How is the journaling that happens in blogging similar to or different from journaling for healing?
  • How can social media participants with mental health issues help each other?
  • “We strongly hope that the Mental Health Camp model will be replicated in many cities in the world,” said organizer Raul Pacheco. “As one of our speakers said, we aim to squash stigma about mental health one blog and tweet at a time.”

    A “Camp” in the social media world is a basically a conference that has a loose schedule where attendees can have a say in which sessions they would like to see take place. Recently it’s also been the term used for a gathering or meeting, organized in the same online / social media sphere. Mental Health Camp was created by Raul Pacheco along with Isabella Mori of Change Therapy – both have also been organizers of the monthly Vancouver Blogger Meetup.

    Topics scheduled for discussion include, “Anonymity and pseudonymity: Freedoms, dangers and responsibilities”, “Social Networking, Visibility, and the Therapeutic Alliance”, and “ADHD – Busting the Myths, Breaking the Stigma, Showing Reality, One Post and Tweet at a Time”.

    Mental Health Camp will be at WorkSpace in Gastown this Saturday, April 25th, 2009 from 9:00am to 6:00pm. Registration is online.

    7 Comments  —  Comments Are Closed

    1. RaulThursday, April 23rd, 2009 — 1:45pm PDT

      Thank you so, very, very much for writing this post, Rebecca. It helps a lot when people realize how much support we can get from the social media community. You are a star in the social media world, and we thorougly appreciate your support of Mental Health Camp.

    2. VictorThursday, April 23rd, 2009 — 2:23pm PDT

      Definitely agree with Raul! Mental Health Camp looks like a good event for a great purpose.

    3. carolineThursday, April 23rd, 2009 — 2:25pm PDT

      Thank you for writing this post. Many people deal with mental ill health. Many of Beauty Night Society’s participants face many barriers because of mental ill health. I think blogging and journaling is a wonderful to share stories and break down the stigma that many people who deal with mental ill health battle with.

      Perhaps if we find a way to break down these barriers and provide tools for people to express themselves, we will all lead healthier lives.

      I think all communities including social media circles should support endeavours that encourage communication and breaking down the stigma so people do not feel afraid to ask for help when they need it.

    4. Mental Health Camp Vancouver 2009 » Vancouver Blog Miss 604 by …Thursday, April 23rd, 2009 — 6:19pm PDT

      […] Continued here:  Mental Health Camp Vancouver 2009 » Vancouver Blog Miss 604 by … […]

    5. carolineFriday, April 24th, 2009 — 1:43am PDT

      Thank you for writing this post. Many people deal with mental ill health. Many of Beauty Night Society’s participants face many barriers because of mental ill health. I think blogging and journaling is a wonderful to share stories and break down the stigma that many people who deal with mental ill health battle with.

      Perhaps if we find a way to break down these barriers and provide tools for people to express themselves, we will all lead healthier lives.

      I think all communities including social media circles should support endeavours that encourage communication and breaking down the stigma so people do not feel afraid to ask for help when they need it.
      P.S. – Sorry, forgot to tell you great post!

    6. Henry BarnesThursday, June 17th, 2010 — 7:40pm PDT

      in third world countries, mental health is never a priority.~*:

    7. Brian HughesMonday, July 26th, 2010 — 8:56am PDT

      mental health is more important than body health yet most people just ignores it.~’~

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