Free resource to combat mild to moderate anxiety, depression

(Peterborough, March 13, 2019) – Residents of Peterborough, Lindsay, Port Hope, and Cobourg should check their mailboxes this week for information about a free Canadian Mental Health Association resource that can help people fight back against mild to moderate anxiety or depression.

In partnership with CMHA Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge, CMHA Ontario Division will be reaching nearly every household in Peterborough, Lindsay, Port Hope, and Cobourg by distributing through the mail more than 51,000 brochures about BounceBack.

BounceBack is a free self-help program grounded in cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) that uses telephone coaching, skill-building workbooks and online videos to help Ontarians aged 15 and up battling mild to moderate anxiety or depression gain new skills to manage their symptoms and regain positive mental health.

To receive telephone coaching, clients must be referred, either by a health care practitioner (family doctor, nurse practitioner) or self referral, so long as they’re connected with a primary care provider.

BounceBack coaches are extensively trained in the delivery of the program and are overseen by clinical psychologists. It’s important that primary care providers maintain responsibility for their clients’ overall well-being during their time in the program as BounceBack coaches are not counsellors or therapists.

The main responsibilities of BounceBack coaches are to foster skill development, provide motivation and monitor progress. BounceBack telephone coaching is available in more than 15 languages.

“It’s common to go through bouts of low mood or mild to moderate depression or anxiety from time to time, which is why BounceBack is so important,” said Mark Graham, CEO of CMHA Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge, whose catchment area includes Peterborough, Lindsay, Port Hope, and Cobourg. “This program has proven to be effective for many of our clients experiencing symptoms of a mental health concern by teaching new skills like being assertive, changing unhelpful thinking and overcoming sleep problems.”

The BounceBack Today online videos are free, open to anyone and don’t require a referral. The videos offer practical tips on managing mood, sleeping better, building confidence, increasing activity, problem solving and healthy living. They’re available in multiple languages, including English, French, Mandarin, Cantonese, Punjabi, Arabic and Farsi, and can be viewed any time at bouncebackvideo.ca using access code “bbtodayon”.

To learn more about BounceBack, visit bouncebackontario.ca.

Fast facts:
• More than 40,000 clients have been referred to BounceBack since it was first adopted by CMHA British Columbia in 2008.
• In a survey conducted by CMHA York and South Simcoe, 92 per cent of participants said they’d recommend BounceBack to a friend or family member.
• On average, a participant spends four months in the program and works through four to seven workbooks.

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For more information, contact:
Caitlin McIntosh
Communications Officer
Canadian Mental Health Association, Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge
T: 705-748-6687 ext. 1037
E: cmcintosh@cmhahkpr.ca