Applications for the Counselling Support Pilot open Friday, December 13, 2024.

About the Community Healing Project

The Community Healing Project (CHP) supports youth aged 12-29 who have been exposed to community violence through mental health literacy and peer support. Youth participants are trained through trauma-informed community workshops, certified in peer support and share what they learn with other youth in their communities.

The Community Healing Project Counselling Support Pilot Project provides:

  • Counselling supports to young people (12-29) affected by community violence and their immediate families.
  • Counselling supports to frontline workers affected by community violence in their work.

Participants can receive up to six counselling (group or individual) sessions at no cost. Youth and family participants must live in Toronto and frontline workers must live or work in Toronto.  

Applications open Friday, December 13, 2024.

 

How to Connect with Program

 

If you live east of Yonge Street, please contact:

Scarborough Centre for Healthy Communities (SCHC)

Community Violence Well-Being and Recovery Case Worker

cvwrp@schcontario.ca

If you live West of Yonge Street, please contact:

Unison Health and Community Services

Nurta.Mahdi@unisonhcs.org

Community Healing Project (CHP) Virtual Mental Health Online Workshop Series for Frontline Workers and Young People

In the City of Toronto, we are in an era marked by increasing mental health challenges, especially exacerbated by global crises, and local community-based violence, frontline workers and young people face unique pressures that require targeted support. This workshop series aims to address these needs through a series of engaging virtual sessions designed to foster resilience, provide practical coping strategies, and promote mental well-being.

Target Audience: Frontline workers—including parks and recreation staff, non-profit staff, social workers, educators, etc. —often experience high levels of stress and burnout. Young people, navigating the complexities of adolescence and early adulthood amidst societal changes, also face significant mental health challenges. This series seeks to create a safe, inclusive space for both groups to share experiences and learn from one another.

Objectives:

  1. Enhance Mental Health Literacy: Provide participants with essential knowledge about mental health, including common issues, warning signs, and available resources.
  2. Build Coping Skills: Equip attendees with practical tools and techniques to manage stress, anxiety, and emotional exhaustion.
  3. Foster Community and Connection: Create a supportive online environment that encourages open dialogue and peer support among participants.
  4. Promote Self-Care Practices: Emphasize the importance of self-care and resilience-building strategies that are particularly relevant to both frontline workers and young people.

Format: Each workshop will include expert-led discussions, interactive activities, and breakout sessions that encourage collaboration and sharing. The online format allows for flexibility and accessibility, ensuring that participants can engage from anywhere.

By prioritizing mental health education and support, this workshop series not only aims to improve individual well-being but also fosters a culture of care within communities, ultimately leading to more resilient frontline workers and empowered young people.

 

Working on Healthy Relationships

Sankofa Therapy

Tuesday, December 10, 2024

6 to 7 p.m.

Register on Eventbrite

Are you looking to enhance your relationships and build stronger, more fulfilling connections with others? This comprehensive workshop on Healthy Relationships is designed to provide participants with the tools and insights  needed to cultivate positive and meaningful relationships in every aspect of life.

 

Scroll Smart: Mastering Social Media and Mental Health

Jhanelle Peters

Tuesday, January 28, 2025

6 to 7 p.m.

Register on Eventbrite

This interactive workshop explores the impact of social media on mental health, focusing on the time it consumes, the psychological effects, and the content we absorb. The workshop will provide insights and practical strategies for parents to help manage their children’s social media use and for youth to navigate the digital world mindfully. Participants will learn how to leverage social media positively while protecting their mental well-being and supporting others in their online journeys.

 

Healing from Trauma

Sankofa Therapy

Tuesday, February 22, 2025

6 to 7 p.m.

Register on Eventbrite

This specialized workshop is designed to provide participants with the support, tools, and techniques needed to embark on their journey toward emotional and psychological well-being using an Afro-centered approach using the value of Sankofa.

 

What is this Thing Called Grief?

Chris Leonard

Tuesday, March 25, 2025

6 to 7 p.m.

Register on Eventbrite

Grief and loss are a natural human experience that many of us struggle to process when it shows up in our lives. In this interactive session, participants will increase basic understanding of grief and acquire language to name and make meaning of their loss experience. The session will also provide an opportunity to reflect on the impact of community loss on individual and collective wellbeing,  and explore tools for coping and supporting ourselves and each other.