About RNL…

1. The Seniors’ Mental Health Policy Lensin Community RecreationRecreation Newfoundland & LabradorMarch 5, 2010

2. About RNL… • not for profit • community recreation volunteers / practitioners • promotes value and benefits of recreation • information, advocacy, and development of programs and services • community recreation covers broad range of activities and infrastructure for public good

3. Why SMHPL… • timely – new regional recreation program with rural focus • improve community policies and programs that will add quality of life for seniors - now and future • bring seniors’ perspective to community development • strengthen role of community recreation in building supportive social environments for seniors • enhance capacity to respond to seniors’ needs in rural communities

4. Challenges specific to rural life • loneliness - family • independence - transportation • economic - home repair, heat, etc • access to health care

5. Our province… • aging faster than any other province • median age 41.3 - highest in country • 13.9% of population over age 65 years • will increase to 20% in 10 years

6. Seniors as Percentage of the Total Population, Newfoundland and Labrador 1976-2026

7. Demographics – 65 years plus Eastport Peninsula • Eastport – 29% • Glovertown – 19% • Happy Adventure – 22% • Salvage – 20% • Sandringham – 15% • Sandy Cove – 32% • Provincial average – 13.9%

8. The fit with community recreation… • promoting positive mental health (mind, spirit, body) • identify needs and gaps in services • collaboration in community/region • create supportive social environments • community recreation is all about building community capacity

9. The project plan… • orientation and training for recreation directors • test SMHPL in rural area • interpret relevant Provincial strategies • community recreation guide for seniors’ mental health promotion • RNL provincial conference

10. The process of applying “the Lens”… • consulted related professionals – seniors groups, health promotion, mental health, etc • introduction with 4 regional committees • one regional workshop

11. Eastport Peninsula session… • preliminary planning time • a 3 hour session with four community organizations • overview, senior demographics, challenges, mental health promotion, role for community • test run - self assessment with “the Lens” • a good experience – possibly too ambitious??

12. What’s been the impact? • awareness and sensitivity • networking and partnerships • deliverables – pending • tremendous potential – lots of interest

13. Lessons learned… • don’t underestimate stigma associated with mental illness • make time to build relationships and trust • broad community participation is ambitious • at least full day training for community recreation • make better use of website • build in supports – terminology, perspective, format

14. Next steps… • complete community recreation guide • conduct additional regional sessions • RNL conference • build on network of related professionals • make case for Provincial resources

15. Value for community recreation… • responds to aging population • facilitates communications and collaboration • attention to factors that support positive mental health • seniors perspective • bring it all home at RNL Conference in June

16. Recreation Newfoundland & Labrador For more information: www.recreationnl.com info@recreationnl.com 709-729-3892 Gary Milley, Executive Director