Hopewell

Join us for a cozy candle-making night at Les Moulins La Fayette on August 28th! 🕯️✨ Create your own essential-oil infused candle while enjoying baked goods, great company, and meaningful conversations.

Limited spots available, so grab yours now! $5 suggested donation, but don't hesitate to reach out if cost is a concern. Let's light up the path to recovery together. 💖

Link to register ⏩ https://hopewell.ca/social-nights/p/diy-candle-making

Today is your LAST DAY to secure an Early Bird Admission for our 2024 Breaking Bread, Breaking Stigma! Make sure you grab yours before midnight 🕛

Happy Friday!

With our next roll-out of support groups starting in a few weeks, we are looking for assistant facilitators to support our team. This is a perfect opportunity for university students looking to gain some real-world group facilitation experience!

If you are interested, please reach out to our Program Officer, Catherine, for more information and to schedule an interview, [email protected]

REGISTRATION OPEN NOW at < https://hopewell.ca/summer-programs > for our Summer support groups!

Returning for another season is our General Peer Support Group, along with our Trans, Non-binary, and Q***r Peer Support Group. New to Hopewell, is our Drop-in BIPOC Peer Support Group ❤️

If you or someone you know is struggling with disordered eating or an eating disorder, these support groups can be an awesome space to have open, safe, and meaningful discussions with others who may have some shared experiences. Led by our amazing facilitators (check out our facilitators about me page on our website!) who are experienced in ED recovery within group settings.

Although our groups do come with a cost, we actively work towards dismantling existing barriers to support. If cost may act as a barrier to you accessing our services, please reach out to our Program Officer, Catherine, at [email protected] for assistance in registering.

Happy Summer everyone! We hope the weather has been treating you well and you have had a chance to relax.

Hopewell specializes in offering several eating disorder peer support groups throughout the year, and we are now starting to plan for our next roll-out of groups! We are looking for individuals interested in facilitating a weekly group with some experience/education in mental health services, ideally in eating disorder care, who are passionate about supporting others through their recovery in a peer-based setting. Facilitators aid in providing safe topics of discussion relative to ED recovery, guide participants in supporting one another, and provide basic information related to ED recovery.

Support groups take place virtually over Zoom and occur once a week for 1-1.5 hours, for 8 weeks. They typically take place in the evening, from 6:00pm-8:00pm. While many personal benefits come with facilitating groups, we are also delighted to offer a financial honorarium to thank you for the time it takes to plan along with your weekly group sessions.

If this opportunity is something that is of interest to you, please reach out to our Program Officer at [email protected] for more information.

Last chance to register! We're really hoping to see lots of you (!) from our beautiful community come out for this event and take part in some really important conversations. Whether you come to sit, listen, learn, or share your stories - we want to see you 👯‍♂️🌈👯‍♀️

Who: Hopewell EDSC and .ca
When: Tuesday, June 25 from 6:30-8:30 (TOMORROW!)
Where: 35 Laurel Street ( - Laurel)

If you don't have a chance to register and find yourself in the area, feel free to come check us out! Doors will be closed from 6:30-7:30pm in order to maintain comfortability and respect for our panelists.

*No cost for First Nations, Metis, and Indigenous folks
*If registration fee acts as a barrier to you attending, reach out to us and we can waive the fee

🌈

Join us for a unique social event at TROtt Stables in Greely on Saturday, June 22nd, from 2:30-5:00 pm! We'll spend the afternoon with horses, experiencing the therapeutic benefits of equine-assisted learning, known to aid mental health and boost self-esteem. Afterward, we'll gather for reflection, activities, and snacks. The event fee is $5, but if cost or transportation is an issue, contact Catherine at [email protected] for assistance. 🐴✨

Happy Pride Month !!! 🏳️‍🌈

We hope everyone has been having a joyful, fun, & safe Pride Month so far, festivities are just around the corner! While it's important to have fun and celebrate during Pride, it's also important to remember its origins and the important meaning that is behind it.

In addition to this, there are many unique experiences and challenges that come with being a part of the 2S and LGBTQIA+ community. For one, eating disorders and disordered eating are extremely high in these populations due to increased stressors that folx in these communities often experience.

In celebration of Pride, Hopewell & .ca are collaborating to put on an event on June 25th! We will be holding a panel discussion on the intersection of being q***r and struggling with disordered eating and/or eating disorders. Join us for an evening of educated discussions, meeting new folx, and learning about Hopewell and MAX's services! Registration is $5 and is open now, there are limited spots so get yours before they fill up! Click the link in our bio to register ↪️

Recharge and radiate with our second round of GLOW Yoga ☮️☺️ Join us on June 12th (next Wednesday!) at 6:00pm for a session that's as recharging as it is relaxing. Breathe deeply, unwind mindfully, and let your inner light shine ✨ Stay afterwards for drinks, snacks, and friendly chats - a perfect mid-week pause! Don't miss out, registration is open now on our website (www.hopewell.ca)

Our next coffee house is just over a week away! ☕️🖼️🥐🎨Come on out for a very relaxing evening with some yummy food and drinks to create some lovely spring artwork. No worries about artistic experience - we're painting by numbers!!

Registration is now open on our website (www.hopewell.ca/social-nights/p/paint-by-numbers-night). We ask for $5 to help us keep these programs running, however, we want to emphasize the fact that money should NEVER be a barrier to accessing support. If this fee prevents you from attending, please reach out either by DMing us, or sending our Program Officer, Catherine, an email at [email protected]

Hope to see some of you there!

And... happy ‼️🍜🍔🥨🍓🍿🎂🌯‼️

NoDietDay is yet another reminder to shift our focus from changing our bodies ⏩️ loving our bodies and the food we use to fuel it. With that being said, food is more than fuel, it holds significant meaning in so many areas of life 💙

Happy Mental Health Week friends!

Starting in 1951 & founded by , Mental Health Week was created to raise awareness of mental illnesses and break down associated stigma - something that is just as important today as it was 73 years ago! This year's theme is COMPASSION - a very important factor in self-care and particularly in ED recovery.

At Hopewell, we are dedicated to providing support to individuals trying to navigate ED care in our healthcare system and in providing tangible support through our support groups and social events. We will be sharing resources all week in terms of how to support yourself and/or others who may be affected by an ED in a compassionate manner💙

‼️ Only a few days away from the start of our 2S & LGBTQIA+ Eating Disorder Support Group! 🏳️‍🌈⚧️

We're delighted to relaunch this group and continue filling in those gaps of care in our community, especially for our friends in the 2S & LGBTQIA+ community. Join us on Sundays from 6:30-8:00pm starting this weekend to chat alongside folks who may share some unique experiences in the context of eating, body, and our mental health. Led by our amazing Facilitator, Alex, who understands this relationship and will support you in talking through your journey of recovery.

As always, we offer a sliding scale payment option. Simply reach out to our Program Officer, Catherine ([email protected]), for more information and to register.

We hope to see you this Sunday!

(registration will remain open for the first 2 weeks of group)

***r

Happy hump day! 🐪 We wanted to jump on and remind everyone that our support groups start in 2 weeks ☺️ Registration can be found on our website (hopewell.ca/spring-programs), or email our Program Officer for more information 📄

IMPORTANT: While our groups are listed at $50, we always offer pay-what-you-can options for ALL of our groups (simply send an email to [email protected])

Cost should never be a barrier in accessing support, and we want to make that very clear within our organization. Also, all Indigenous persons are welcome to utilize our services with no charge, to continue our efforts towards reconciliation and making real change in our community.

Have a great rest of your week everyone!

To continue with Month, we want to extend some more opportunities to join our team!

We are looking for a few roles to fill for our upcoming Spring programs. These are a great way to give back to your community and develop some group facilitation skills alongside our Facilitators! Please reach out to [email protected] for more information and to apply.

🍃🌷🌺 Here we gooo 🌸🌿🌼-> Spring Support Group registration is now open for individuals 17+ seeking additional support in their eating disorder recovery journey! Thank you for your patience as we organized this season's groups ☀️

Returning Groups:
⏩General Peer Support Group
⏩ BED Support Group

NEW Groups!✨
⏩ BIPOC Eating Disorder Support Group
⏩ 2SLGBTQIA+ Eating Disorder Support Group

If you're subscribed to our email list, you should have received an email with links directly to register - if not, make sure you subscribe & check out our website for more details! 🌈

We hope you all are enjoying this beautiful spring weather 😁 Please reach out to our Program Officer for any questions or concerns, [email protected]

The start of our Spring Programming is rolling out! Today, registration opens for our Black, Indigenous, and People of Colour Eating Disorder Support Group, facilitated by Sophia! You can find her bio and a group description on our website -> https://hopewell.ca/

Come and join Lisa and Adrian for a unique yoga experience like never before! Hopewell and Carleton Athletics invites you to a glow-in-the-dark yoga night, where we'll focus on relieving pressure on our appearance and nurturing self-compassion towards our bodies. Join us on Thursday, April 4th, from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm for a serene hour with others from the Hopewell and Carleton community. Only 12 spots available so secure yours quick, specific details on location and parking information will be sent out upon registration!

Hopewell is so excited to kick off our spring social events! 🌱

Join us Tuesday, March 26th at the Mud Oven (1150 Bank Street) from 6-8pm for a night of fun and creativity! 🎨 Connect with others in the Hopewell community and take home a personalized ceramic item.

Sign up for $5 and Hopewell will cover an item of your choosing up to $30. Spaces are limited to sign up today at the link in our bio! 🔗

February is Black History Month. However, EDs are still underrecognized in BIPOC folks...

Eating disorders are often stereotyped as affecting only young White women. However, data shows that disordered eating behaviours are just as common in Black teen girls as their White peers. This same study also showed that while the prevalence of disordered eating decreased for White women into adulthood, it actually increased for Black women. 📈

Despite emerging research demonstrating similar rates of eating disorders, there is also research to suggest that clinicians are less likely to recognize ED symptoms in Black patients and less likely to diagnose these patients. This could, in part, be due to the subconscious bias instilled in the racial stereotypes about eating disorders.

It's also important to consider the role of minority stress and the impact of discrimination on mental health. Daily discrimination can increase levels of chronic stress, which can push folks to unhealthy coping strategies and increase the risk of mental illness. It's important to consider our actions and learn about microaggressions and how to avoid them. We also need to work together to dismantle larger systems of oppression.

Finally, it's important to create diverse teams where patients can see themselves represented to reduce barriers to treatment. Folks in positions of power need to consider their own privilege and create spaces for Black voices to be heard. 🗣

There are so many resources out there to learn more, including but not limited to:

• "3-Way Intersection: Race, Religion and Eating Disorders" course from ED for RDs

• "Introduction to Anti-Black Racism eLearning Module" from Toronto Academic Health Science Network

• "Let's Talk about Culturally-Sensitive Eating Disorder Care: Supporting the Healing of Black, Indigenous, and Racialized Clients" Guide for Healthcare Providers from NEDIC

• "Fearing the Black Body: The Racial Origins of Fat Phobia" book by Sabrina Strings

There are also many other great readings, courses, and podcasts out there. Let us know your recommendations in the comments below! ⤵️

Happy Valentine's Day! 💘

Don't forget to practice self-love and self-care this Valentine's Day. What are some ways to practice self-love?

• Take a break from social media 📵
• Watch a comfort show or movie 📺
• Revisit a favourite book 📚
• Clean your space 🧼
• Do a hobby you enjoy 🎨
• Spend time in nature 🌳
• Try a new activity or visit somewhere new 🚎
• Sing along to your favourite songs 🎤

How will you be practicing self-love this Valentine's Day? Let us know in the comments ⤵️

Calling anyone who is looking for a bit of extra support this winter! Spaces are still available in our peer support group! 📣

Our peer support group is open to anyone experiencing an eating disorder or disordered eating, regardless of diagnosis. This group is intended to be a safe space for folks to connect with others on the journey towards recovery. Conversations are guided by a Registered Social Worker, who can help you to navigate difficult feelings. 💬

There are still 4 weeks left in this session. Registration is normally $50, but we also provide a pay what you can option!

For more details and to register, visit the link in our bio 🔗

Disordered eating can show up in many different ways.

Note: It's important to note this can look different for different people, and the absence of certain signs is not an indication of the severity of an eating disorder❗️

That being said, disordered eating can affect people in terms of the emotional, social, physical, and behavioral areas of their health and wellbeing. If you notice changes in these areas, it could be signs of disordered eating. It's also important to note that these changes are not exclusive to disordered eating and could be due to other causes.

To know if a loved one is being affected by an eating disorder and how to find help, see our third slide for resources to go to learn more. 🧠

Continuing with , it's important that we discuss food insecurity and its impact on eating disorders.

Food insecurity, or the inability to acquire adequate nutritious foods, has been linked to eating disorders. To fully address the root causes of eating disorders and disordered eating, food insecurity must be addressed. Food insecurity is due to a variety of systemic causes, including but not limited to increasing grocery prices and cost of living and inadequate income. To fully address food insecurity, policy level action needs to happen.

Although there are steps that individuals facing food insecurity can take (see 4th slide), these are bandaid solutions that do not target the root cause of food insecurity. Hopewell acknowledges the complex nature of food insecurity and intends to take measures to assist folks experiencing food insecurity in future programs and to advocate for policy level change.

Let's kick off by busting some myths!

There are many stereotypes that exist around eating disorders, namely that they primarily affect young, white, affluent women. However, the reality is that this stereotyping creates stigma that makes it feel hard for folks who don't fit into this group to speak up about their experiences. These stereotypes are also entrenched in our health care systems, making it hard for these folks to receive treatment.

This is why this EDAW we want to start the conversation about how eating disorders and disordered eating can affect anybody, regardless of gender identity, race or ethnicity, socioeconomic status, age, or body size.

To learn more, sign up for our webinar by visiting the link in our bio to hear our panel of experts discuss the underrecognized barriers to treatment. 💬

Calling all health care providers and students! 📣

Do you ever feel uncertain about how to navigate conversations around disordered eating or what resources to refer your patients to? It's really common for health care providers to feel uncertain in this complex area of care. However, Hopewell is here to help.

Our upcoming webinar will discuss this year's theme of Breaking Barriers, Facilitating Care. Join us with moderator and expert panelists as we discuss the underrecognized barriers to eating disorder treatment and how health care providers can improve their practice and reduce barriers faced by patients.

This webinar is free to attend 💲 Visit the link in our bio and sign up today to secure your spot! 🔗

Calling all health care providers and students! 📣

Do you ever feel uncertain about how to navigate conversations around disordered eating or what resources to refer your patients to? It's really common for health care providers to feel uncertain in this complex area of care. However, Hopewell is here to help.

Our upcoming webinar will discuss this year's theme of Breaking Barriers, Facilitating Care. Join us with moderator and expert panelists as we discuss the underrecognized barriers to eating disorder treatment and how health care providers can improve their practice and reduce barriers faced by patients.

This webinar is free to attend 💲 Visit the link in our bio and sign up today to secure your spot! 🔗

Our meal support group starts this Wednesday! 🗓

Thanks to funding from the Red Cross, we are currently offering this virtual program free of charge. However, spaces are limited!

This group is ideal for folks in recovery looking for extra support at meals. Each week, join us for lunch while the facilitators lead safe discussions and provide emotional support. Throughout the sessions, participants can find a sense of camaraderie sharing a meal with others going through recovery. 🤝

Visit the link in our bio to find out more and register today to save your spot! 🔗

The wait is over! Registration for our meal support group is open now. ⏰

This 8-week open-style meal support group provides a safe space to share meals in a supportive and non-judgmental setting. This group is ideal for folks in recovery who would like additional support at meal times as is intended to be used supplementary to treatment.

Each week, participants will gather virtually for a shared meal with our facilitators. Throughout the group, facilitators will provide distractions to participants and foster a relaxed, positive environment to alleviate the isolation often felt during meal times and to encourage a positive relationship with food. Through the shared act of eating together, participants build connections and find strength in the company of peers who are navigating the same path toward recovery. 🦋

Spaces are limited. Sign up today by visiting the link in our bio to secure your spot! 🔗

It can be hard finding resources and support when you or a loved one is going through an eating disorder. Hopewell helps to connect folks to resources and provides support for folks going through eating disorder recovery.

To learn more about how Hopewell can help visit our website at hopewell.ca

For urgent help please phone Ontario's Mental Health Crisis Line at 1-866-531-2600