Open Minds Open Windows has created a number of different initiatives which are organized under the multi-component “Wellness Program”. Through the Wellness Program, OMOW seeks to enhance the overall health and wellbeing of people with mental health issues in our community.

Each component of the Wellness program is designed to address specific issues relevant for people with mental health issues. The Wellness Program currently includes four components (1) The Thursday Wellness Program (2) The Wednesday Horticultural program (3) The OMOW Dragon Boat Team and (4) The Beautiful Minds Choir.

The Thursday Wellness Program

This program offers various opportunities for participants to try a variety of stimulating and healthy activities in a safe and secure environment. It has been running since June, 2006 and is held every Thursday from 9:30 – 2:30 at the Beban Park Social Center. It is a drop-in program and is open to people with mental health issues in our community.

The program is staffed by both volunteers and professionals who facilitate specific activities and oversee the general running of the program. The program participants have recently begun to volunteer at the Thursday Day Program. These volunteers have formed several committees through which they oversee the general day-to-day operations of the program.

Thursday Wellness Program Schedule
The activities which are offered may change from week to week. However the general schedule for the Thursday Wellness Program is as follows:

9:30-10:00   Socialization
10:00-11:00 Physical Fitness Component (yoga and tai chi)
11:00-11:15 COFFEE BREAK
11:15-12:15 Healing Circle/Life Skills Component
12:15-1:00   LUNCH
1:00-2:30     Arts and Crafts/Writing Group

The three components of the Thursday Wellness program include:

1. The Physical Fitness Component
   This component includes activities which promote physical health and exercise. Activities include yoga, tai chi, baseball, basketball, and a walking group.
    
2. The Life skills Component
   This component serves to educate participants on a number of topics related to mental health and wellbeing. The life skills component is facilitated by guest speakers from our community. Some of the topics covered have been based on developing specific life skills, such as cooking skills and budgeting skills, while other topics have been more educational or of a self-help nature such as how to stop smoking, understanding sleep patterns and creating sleep routines, and caffeine and it’s interaction with medications. In addition, a healing circle often takes place. This healing circle offers opportunities for communication and positive emotional expression thereby fostering social skills and contributing to group cohesiveness and teamwork.
    
3. The Creative Arts Component
   This component offers opportunities to participate in a number of arts and crafts activities and projects such as painting, sketching, tile making, soap making, and card making. In addition, there is also a writing group which practices a variety of writing skills including poetry, descriptive writing, and short narratives. The Arts and Crafts sessions are facilitated by professional art therapist Carolyn Whitney, while Tim Merrill, a published poet, facilitates the writing group

The Wednesday Horticultural Program

This program takes place every Wednesday from 10:00-12:00 at the G.R. Paine Horticultural Centre operated by Malaspina University College. It is supervised by horticultural therapist Kelly Legeault and a number of coworkers. Participants take part in a variety of physically and emotionally beneficial horticultural activities such as creating a vegetable garden, transplanting, creating compost, making hanging baskets, picking and drying flowers as well as a variety of horticulture-based arts and crafts projects. There are a limited number of spaces available at this program and those interested in participating are asked to contact Ron Plecas at 754-6296 or click on the CONTACT US icon.

Dragon Boat Team

The OMOW Dragon Boat runs a team every year for 4 ½ months from early spring to late summer. The dragon boat is a large, stable craft which holds up to 22 people and the training sessions are managed by specially trained instructors. During the season, team members will develop technical paddling skills, enhance their physical fitness, and promote team work and cooperation through participation in two weekly training sessions of 1 ½ hours each. The season culminates in entering a number of dragon boat racing competitions on Vancouver Island, thereby providing an opportunity for team members to socialize and interact within the community. For further information, contact OMOW by clicking on the CONTACT US icon.

The Beautiful Minds Choir

The Beautiful Minds Choir has been practicing once a week every Thursday night from 5:00-6:00 pm since 2004 and is open to anyone interested in joining a choir. While the majority of people have a mental health issue, there are also a large number of participants with other health issues as well as other community members who find participation in the choir beneficial. The healthful joy of singing and socializing in a non-judgmental atmosphere and of performing in community events has made the choir tremendously popular. For further information, contact Ron Plecas at 754-6296 or click on the CONTACT US icon.