Participant Information

Need to Know

This mini-course will provide a forum for you to learn and ask questions about the practical realities of standard treatments for mental illness. You'll learn practical tools to help make the most of your treatment and navigate your own care in conjunction with various healthcare providers.

Schedule: There are four sessions to the course. All are delivered online via Zoom. Each session is 120min; there will be a 5–10min break halfway through each session.

Remember: In 8 hours, this course can only provide a brief overview of various issues. You'll want to do additional reading (information provided) on your own to learn more about particular topics. Applying what you learn will take more time.

Disclaimer: This course covers general mental health information, and will not necessarily apply to your unique circumstances. No individual medical advice can be provided. Any possible changes to your treatment should be made together with your physician or other members of your care team.

Privacy and Confidentiality

You are not required to share any private information. The identity of participants, as well as any information voluntarily disclosed, is confidential. Recording sessions is prohibited.

As a participant in the group, respectful and strict confidentiality is expected of you and all group members. All observed or communicated information, whether obtained formally or informally, is to be considered completely confidential—even if it seems public or unrelated to the group. Names of group members are also confidential. Recording of sessions and taking screen shots during sessions are strictly prohibited.

You understand that Dr. Lysak or Mark may send me information pertaining to this group via email.

By participating in this group, you affirm that you have read and understand these guidelines and agree to abide by them.

Course Materials

Handouts. You'll find handouts in PDF format for each session. These are available for download on the web page for each individual session. These handouts includes copies of the slides used during the course and some lessons have additional handouts. It is strongly recommended you have these printed (or viewable on a larger screen) during each session. While you can share small pieces (a slide or two) with other people, please do not share or distribute the handouts without permission.

Handouts are usually made available two weeks prior to the first session (you'll be emailed.)

Book. The course provides a short introduction to a large number of topics but cannot cover them in any detail in the limited time available. The slides include pointers to additional information allowing you to go deeper into each topic. Most are covered in our book, Your Mental Health Repair Manual (YMHRM).

The book chapters can be read for free online at https://book.mhnav.com. Paperback and ebook (Kindle, Kobo, PDF, etc.) formats can be purchased for a small fee.

Essentials

Install, Update and Test. Make sure Zoom is installed on the device you'll be using and updated to the latest version. If you haven't used it for a while, it will force you to do so, so do it ahead of time! Check that everything is working (microphone, camera, headphones). If you need help or want to test it ahead of time, let us know.

Connecting. You'll find a button to connect to the course's Zoom meeting room on the page for each session. Or connect via https://lysak.org/zoom. We use the same link every time.

Camera On! You can turn your camera off for brief periods, but need to leave it on most of the time. The course works well because the small-group format allows for more feedback and interaction than a boring lecture, and that can't happen if everyone is hiding. This also helps us watch for anyone who may be in distress from some of the material.

Questions

Because we keep the number of participants in these groups small, questions and discussion are strongly encouraged. If you're wondering about something, the odds are other people are too.

Feel free to raise your hand (real or virtual) or even just jump in if it seems appropriate and won't be too disruptive.

If you wish to do so, you can also submit questions and comments using Zoom's chat window. We keep an eye on this and it's a good way to ask questions that we'll try to answer at a convenient time. We'll also often use the chat to provide links to other resources that come up in conversation. 

Not all questions may be answered due to time constraints. There's a lot of material packed into each session, so if you find your questions being cut off, it's not personal! And if a question is too specific to your own situation and unlikely to be of interest to others, we may address it outside the group.

Etiquette & Tips

Keep privacy in mind! Find a place where you can speak freely and where others in group won't be seen or overheard by someone near you. And please wear appropriate attire.

Learn to use Zoom's "mute" button, particularly if there is any background noise (music, TV, pets, …) that may disturb others. We may mute you if this becomes an issue. Remember to unmute yourself before speaking.

Sessions are two hours, so try to get comfortable. Headphones are great, as are stands for phones and tablets.

Zoom has different viewing options. With “Gallery View” you can see everyone (this is best for group). With “Speaker View” you only see the person that is speaking at that time. Change between these with the “View” button in the top right corner or swiping left or right on your phone or tablet.

About the Instructors

Dr. Pauline Lysak (BMed, MD, FRCPC) is an accomplished general psychiatrist, with a particular interest in treating complex patients having both physical and mental illnesses. Dr. Lysak obtained her medical degree with honors in research at the University of Alberta. She completed her psychiatry residency at McMaster University. She subsequently completed the prestigious Advanced Health Leadership Executive Program at the Rotman School of Management. She has practiced and held leadership positions in a cancer centre's psycho-oncology service, a program for complex psychiatric patients at a nationally renowned mental health and addiction facility, and in several hospital-based and private outpatient practices.

Mark Roseman (BSc, MSc) is a software developer, entrepreneur, writer, and healthcare advocate. He previously worked and published extensively on topics related to user experience and technology to support collaboration between groups of people. He also founded two software startup companies. More recently, he has supported Pauline with her psychiatry practice and been an outspoken and  influential critic of BC's health system.