We had originally committed to weekly newsletters however we didn't want to be confused with junk mail and thus have decided on a monthly format. This will allow us time to provide a quality correspondence with our subscribers without inundating them with what looks like junk mail. I receive probably 10 such emails weekly in my inbox and rarely find the time to look at them never mind read and absorb. Our intent is to provide our subscribers with pertinent information about our programs but also to provide educative pieces that can enhance the delivery of Disability Management programs for your company. I trust you haven't missed us. In this installment we will provide you with more information related to our Vitality Initiative including our Head Start, Vital Connections and Living with Balance programs. I will also provide a synopsis of an article I've been trying to write for six months on Maintenance, as it relates to returning individuals to work with mental health disabilities. This is in response to a request for more information on this topic from someone who'd attended one of our workshops. None really existed as it was a concept relatively new to the return to work field but something we at ORGOC felt was imperative to ongoing success and prevention of relapse. So here you go Jerry, a brief overview of what I've yet to finish

HEAD START

Our Head Start program, you may recall from the previous newsletter, is a stage one addictions program being piloted in Winnipeg. We delayed the launch to ensure that we had all aspects of the program covered and that our customers and potential customers have all the pertinent information. The program will officially launch on Monday, February 9, 2009.

HEAD START will assess all referrals within 1 business day and should the individual be determined to meet the criteria for entrance into the program they will begin attending the 15 day cyclical program the following business day. This is not a residential program so we will be testing for compliance as abstinence is a condition of participation. ORGOC is a certified drug and alcohol testing site, both Point-of-Collection and Lab-Based. Testing will continue into the return to work component at the request of the employer and authorization of the employee.

Participants will recieve education on the stages of change, understanding addictions, the process of recovery, strategies and tools to maintain recovery, how to manage feelings and cravings, how to develop a healthy support system and how to cope with the negative feelings associated with an addiction. They will also be prepared for entrance into a Stage 2 treatment facility if that is what is required.

ORGOC will provide additional one-on-one counseling and a written individualized relapse plan as well as a discharge report. Further ORGOC, whose primary mandate is return to work, will facilitate the earliest and safest possible return to work. One of the goals of the program is to minimize the amount of time an individual is removed from the workplace due to addictions treatment.

There is a fee for service and we will be utilizing any extended health care benefits the individual may possess initially but additional costs may be borne by the participant, referral source or employer. For information on this program and the costs please contact our office at 779-1887. Referrals are now being taken and can be made by calling the same number.

Vital Connections

Our Vital Connections is running smoothly with a number of referrals. Vital Connections provides support and direction to individuals in remote and isolated areas who are dealing with mental health issues. The service is delivered telephonically and electronically, utilizing a Cognitive-Behavioral approach and workbook. The program is designed to build resiliency based skills for the individual to better cope with their situation. For more information or to make a referral please contact Lynn Hiscoe directly at lhiscoe@orgoc.ca. We will also have the information brochure in PDF format available on the website in the very near future.

Return to Work Maintenance Phase

We have taken a Relapse Prevention approach to psychological disabilities as statistics have shown that 60% of those suffering from a bout of depression will experience a relapse. Half of those will have a second relapse. A key component of the Relapse Prevention model is the provision of tools for maintenance.

In the recovery process and individual should be assisted with the development of 2 plans, a Wellness Plan, which would include activities, thoughts etc, for the ongoing management of a healthy lifestyle and a Relapse Prevention Plan, which addresses how to deal with triggers and the management of negative thoughts and behaviors which will return the individual to the state of Wellness.

Once an individual has returned to the workplace they may have the plans in place but no practical experience in the implementation of the plan. The Maintenance Phase specifically targets the individuals' ability to implement the plans. The workplace is an excellent training ground for practical experience in using the plans. The increased stress levels will ultimately trigger negative responses, cognitively and behaviorally. The return to work coordinator or rehab consultant working with such a person should provide for opportunities to debrief situations, monitor high risk situations and triggers. They will continue to exist, stressors are not eliminated, and people need to be trained to manage them in a healthy manner. The support person needs to work with the individual on identifying and encouraging appropriate implementation of coping strategies. This includes ongoing monitoring of mood and risk.

Depending on the severity of the illness and length of absence the Maintenance Phase should last at least 90 days or longer. During this period the support person should work towards transitioning the individual to community resources thus reducing their involvement over time. The transition should reduce dependency on the return to work coordinator and enhance the individual's self-confidence and self-reliance.

Generally speaking the option of future contact should always be offered post-maintenance. Having access to supports should be a part of any Relapse Prevention Plan. This would include, in times of crisis, the supports most knowledgeable and helpful in returning the person to a state of Wellness. This support may very well be you.

If you have any questions or require more information regarding the above, do not hesitate to contact me, Don Smith, at dsmith@orgoc.ca

Living with Balance

We are excited to announce that Living with Balance, a six session group program specifically designed for teachers is being launched this spring. Various communities in British Columbia have been selected for spring delivery of the program. Plans are currently being developed for the program to soon be available to all teachers in BC and eventually in other parts of the country.

This six week Group Program will provide opportunities for:

Improved vitality and wellness and what this means for you.
Learning practical skills and strategies to attain goals, both short-term and long-term toward work life balance.
Recognizing common barriers and learning new thinking styles.
Identifying tools and strategies (based on scientific research) that are effective in building long lasting resiliency.

For further information or please call Lynn Hiscoe at 1-604-734-4130 or 1-866-766-5911.

Registration forms are available on the main page of our website, www.orgoc.ca