Let’s Talk: Coping, Healing and Thriving for BIPOC Communities

For many Black, Indigenous, Person of Colour (BIPOC) Canadians, the struggle for mental health is often a silent one. Not only is mental health difficult to discuss, it’s often hidden within many BIPOC communities. With misunderstandings in some BIPOC communities around what mental illness means and the barriers that prevent individuals from accessing help or safe space, dealing with depression, anxiety and other disorders becomes challenging and complicated.

Join @blackottawaconnect & Women of Color Remake Wellness for an evening of discussion on mental wellness, coping, healing and thriving in BIPOC communities. The discussion will be led by different BIPOC women in the wellness field, each bringing a breadth of knowledge and experience to the table. Our theme is COPING, HEALING and THRIVING. The panellists will talk about strategies for mental wellness that are relevant in 2022. Why all three? Simply put, we’re all possibly at different stages.

Our panelists include Shanti Georgiou - Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying), MA, BA Natasha Reynolds - Registered Psychotherapist Jhanelle Peters - Registered Psychotherapist, MA, BSc

Sunday Wellness Discussion: Re-Indigenizing WellnessRe Indigenizing Wellness

A panel discussion on Re-Indigenizing wellness led by five powerful Indigenous women in the health and wellness space working to change and reclaim well-being as a birthright, while also bridging the gap of knowledge for all by educating, advocating and continuing ancestral traditions in today’s world.

Panelists includes:

* Nikki Fraser (@nikkifraser)

* Gabrielle Fayant (@gabriellevfayant )

* Celine Debassige (@celinedebassige )

Sunday Wellness Discussion: Diversity in the Outdoors

The Outdoors is for everyone, but if you look at most outdoor magazines, major brands websites and advertisements you might not think that. The story and narrative perpetuated by mainstream media is that the Outdoors is a predominantly white space, and that’s far from the truth. For Black, Indigenous and People of Colour (BIPOC) feeling welcome and safe in the Outdoors isn’t a given.

A panel discussion on Diversity in the Outdoors, moderated by Erika Henry (@erikahenry)

Panellists include:
AyeshaMcGowan - Pro Road Cyclist (@ayesuppose) Melissa Murdock - Founder of Brown Girls Hike (@browngrlshike) Debbie Njai - Founder of Black People Who Hike (@blackpeoplewhohike) Jessica Sepulveda - From All Colors in Nature (@allcolorsinnature) Erynne Gilpin founder of Indigenous Womxn Climb (@indigenouswomxnclimb) Erika Henry - Nature Lover (@erikahenry)

The Outdoors is for everyone, but if you look at most outdoor magazines, major brands websites and advertisements you might not think that. The story and narrative perpetuated by mainstream media is that the Outdoors is a predominantly white space, and that’s far from the truth. For Black, Indigenous and People of Colour (BIPOC) feeling welcome and safe in the Outdoors isn’t a given. A panel discussion on Diversity in the Outdoors, moderated by Erika Henry. Ayesha McGowan - Pro Road Cyclist (@ayesuppose) Melissa Murdock - Founder of Brown Girls Hike (@browngrlshike) Debbie Njai - Founder of Black People Who Hike (@blackpeoplewhohike) Jessica Sepulveda - Founder of All Colors in Nature (@allcolorsinnature) and Erynne Gilpin - Founder of Indigenous Womxn Climb (@indigenouswomxnclimb)

Sunday Wellness Discussion: Destigmatizing Mental Health in BIPOC Communities

Our third Sunday Wellness Discussion will be a collaboration with @the_lotus_movement. The Lotus Movement focuses on demystify the stigma on mental health within the Ottawa South Asian community.

For many Black, Indigenous, Person of Color (BIPOC) Canadians, the struggle for mental health is often a silent one. Not only is mental health difficult to discuss, it’s often hidden within many BIPOC communities.

With misunderstandings in some BIPOC communities around what mental illness means and the barriers that prevent individuals from accessing help or safe space, dealing with depression, anxiety and other disorders becomes challenging and complicated.

Evening of discussion on mental health in BIPOC communities. In collaboration with The Lotus Movement, we will be discussing mental health issues in BIPOC communities, barriers around accessing help or safe space, and how to de-stigmatize mental health conversations in these communities.

The discussion was led by different BIPOC women in the mental health field, each bringing a breadth of knowledge and experience to the table.

Our Panel Comprises:
Sana Chaudhry // MPE, MACP, RP (Qualifying)
Nereah Felix // Registered Psychotherapist (Qualifying) & Ph.D. Candidate in Clinical Psychology
Jaspreet Bal // Mental Health Advocate & Commercial Banker
Amarpreet Vaid // Certified Personal Trainer & Mental Health Advocate
Samiyah Zawawi // Registered Psychotherapist

Facilitated by: Meenakshi Sharma // Founder of the Lotus Movement

WoCRW Sunday Wellness Discussion: Decolonizing Wellness

An evening of discussion unpacking issue of racism in the health and wellness community, with a specific focus on the experience of BIPoC (Black, Indigenous, and people of colour) women. The discussion focused on the intersectionality of racism and one's ability to be well or enjoy the benefits offered by health and wellness.

Joined in the conversation by BIPoC women in different field in the health and wellness community (i.e., yoga, community health, wellness, mental health etc.).

A big THANK YOU to our panelists and facilitator

• Kethy S-Sk

• Sheena Dennise

• Alyse Bone

• Lashawna Philips

• Chongo Bwalya