Boost Your Mood: Eat, Move and Be Healthy

April 18, 2011

Our Vision

Individuals and families impacted by mood disorders recover and heal.

Our Mission

Informed by the lived experience, the Mood Disorders Association of Ontario serves communities through providing: • awareness, education and training; • family and youth clinical support; • recovery programs; and, • peer support.

Overview of Support  54 peer support groups, through 34 affiliate members across Ontario  10 recovery-based programs in Toronto  Clinical support for families and newly diagnosed young people  Web-based resources, including online peer support forum  Library of more than 450 relevant print publications  Toll-free telephone support  “Stop the Stigma” week in Toronto Catholic high schools  Workplace training – federal and provincial government

What is Boost Your Mood?

6 week healthy eating and physical activity program

Program Objectives Physical Health: • Improved cardiovascular function • Better sleep patterns • Improved muscle tone and flexibility • Increased awareness of community resources that are available for participants to increase their physical activity

Program Objectives Healthy Eating: • Increased confidence and skill related to food preparation • Increased knowledge of label reading and interpretation • Increased awareness of patterns as well as strategies related to individual relationship with food

Program Objectives Mental Health: • Increased social interaction and support • Improved mood

Facilitators Registered Dietitian Accredited Personal Trainer

People with lived experience of depression, anxiety or bipolar disorder

Program Overview • 6 week program, including introductory session and evaluation/participant focus group • 4 weeks of program content • Followed the 4 food groups and included interactive activities, recipes and snacks • Tools were repeated each week including food security, cooking for one, and cooking on a budget, as well as a physical activity component

Participant’s Perspective

What happened?

Participant’s Perspective

What went well?

Participant’s Perspective

What might make the program better?

Evaluation

Pre and post test with participants Staff focus group Participant focus group Outside evaluator

Evaluation

What did we learn?

Next Steps

Develop longer program Train the Trainer for peer supporters

Questions

www.mooddisorders.on.ca