Mental health program for parents honours young woman lost to suicide

A Toronto husbandand wife who lost their daughter to suicide have founded an organization aimed at helping families cope with mental illness a group that'sso successful thatinstitutions likethe Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) arereferring clients to it.

The Sashbear Foundation was created by Lynn Courey and Mike Menuin honour of Sasha Menu Courey, whodiedin 2011 at the age of20. Courey says the program focuses on helping families and parents, not just the individual living with the mental health issue.

Menu Courey's death made headlines when it came to light that she had been sexually assaulted oncampus at the University of Missouri where she was attending school.

• Sasha Menu Courey's death casts light on U.S. campus sex assaults

"One of the missions of the Sashbear foundation is to disseminate skills for family members in need of skills and hope, to help them navigate the system, to help them have skills to become more effective for themselves and their loved ones."

In 2012 they discovered aprogram in the U.S., called Family Connections, which is a 12-week skills course for parents, taught by parents who've lived with children struggling with mental health issues. Courey and Menu brought the program to Toronto in 2014 and began offering the course to families for free.

The power of family

Karen Black, director of The Sashbear Foundation, says this program is filling a big gap as conventional treatments don't typicallyinclude the family.

"The family can play a powerful role in prevention, treatment and recovery," Black said.."The Family Connections programprovides life saving skills to the families."

The only criterionto participate, she says, is to have a loved one who is struggling witha mental health issue no specific diagnosis is required.

• 'They just leave you in crisis': A mother struggles to find mental health treatment for her daughter

Black says The Sashbear Foundation is now beingsought after for presentationson the importance of including families.

Agencies such as CAMH, Sunnybrook Family Navigation Program, Hincks Dellcrest, MountSinai, SickKids, University Health Network, the Canadian Mental Health Association, and private clinicians are referring families to Sashbear.

The organization just completed a Family Connections program in Vancouver for the Fraser Health Authority and will be offering the first French language program this year in Quebec.

Courey says 2016 was a big year for them, but in 2017 they plan to make even bigger strides.

"In 2016, we were so excited to see that Sashbear delivered over 30 groups and helped over 500 families. And this year we're going even further.Now we're bringing Family Connections across Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, and in Quebec,"Courey said.

"Our goal really is in 2022, we would like Family Connections to be in all provinces and territories."

Mental health issues can affect anyone

Christina Verducihas been living with Borderline Personality Disorder for years.

"From a young age I was dealing with a lot of trauma in my life and not knowing why I was acting out the way I was at the age of 18. Then figuring that all out, and then Ilashed out again and went through my own issues in my twenties, so it's been a challenge."

Verduci says joining The Sashbear Foundation's Family Connections program was a major turning point in her life. She says ithelped her to understand herself and her partner.

"It's helped a lot within our relationship. Right now he has a better understanding of the kind of things that I'm going through, which helps him to be supportive. Just talking or trying to have that better understanding sometimes when I have moments, so it's been good."

Making strides and 'Making Waves'

TheSashbearFoundation's slogan is "Making waves on BPD and suicide prevention."

One third of youth who die by suicide have traits of Emotion Dysregulation.People who suffer from it have difficulty managing their emotions and impulses, which canlead to depression, anxiety, harmful behaviours and suicide.

On Sunday, May 28, at 10 a.m. family, friends, and leading mental health practitioners from Canada and the United States will gather to support the work of The Sashbear Foundation at The 5th Annual Borderline 5-KilometreWalk for Emotion Dysregulation.

The theme of this year's walk is "Families for Youth," highlighting the powerful role the family plays in helping to prevent and obtain treatment for Emotion Dysregulation.

Courey says she's made it her mission to help others avoid going through the devastation that her family had to go through.

"If we think it's hard to livewith someone struggling with mental health issues, it's even harder to live without them. This is why I really dedicate my life to help other families to prevent them from going through a similar tragic story."