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Did You Know?

It is estimated that 10-20% of Canadian youth are affected by a mental illness or disorder - the single most disabling group of disorders worldwide.

20% of Canadians will personally experience a mental illness in their lifetime.

1 to 3% of Canadians have a developmental disability.

Of 80,000 individuals with a developmental disability in Ontario, 24,000 have a dual diagnosis.

It is estimated that 77% of adults with a developmental disability also live in poverty.

Lesbian, gay and bisexual youth are 14 times more likely to attempt suicide than heterosexual youth.

Lesbian, gay and bisexual youth experience substance abuse problems 3 to 5 times higher than heterosexual youth.

Mental illness indirectly affects all Canadians at some time through a family member, friend or colleague.

Mental illness affects people of all ages, educational and income levels, and cultures.

It is estimated that 10-20% of Canadian youth are affected by a mental illness or disorder - the single most disabling group of disorders worldwide.

Approximately 8% of adults will experience major depression at some time in their lives.

Anxiety disorders affect 5% of the household population, causing mild to severe impairment.

Suicide accounts for 24% of all deaths among 15-24 year olds and 16% among 25-44 year olds.

Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in both men and women from adolescence to middle age.

The mortality rate due to suicide among men is four times the rate among women.

Almost one half (49%) of those who feel they have suffered from depression or anxiety have never gone to see a doctor about this problem.

Mental illnesses can be treated effectively.

Everybody Counts

REACH OUT

ReachOUT is a creative, inclusive & accessible program for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and queer (LGBTQ) youth and adults in the Greater Toronto Area. Activities include drop-in groups, community outreach, art & skills exchange, counselling, training and consultation. We offer safe spaces that reflect the diversity of our queer and trans communities.

Weekly groups

Tart!:
Weekly arts-based social drop-in for LGBTQ youth under 25. Projects include comic scripting, theatre, drag, and zine making.

Spektrum:
A popular social group for LGBTQ youth of colour under 30. Weekly activities include movies, sports, sharing stories and delicious food.

Compass:
A social group for LGBTQ youth under 25 labelled with intellectual disabilities. Exciting weekly activities include watching movies, workshops about sexual health & relationships, great food and fun!

 REACH OUT PROGRAM
 

Ongoing projects

ReachOUT Newcomer Network:
offers services for youth between the ages of 14-25 who are permanent residents of Canada and government assisted refugees.

We can help you:
     • Find a job
     • Put together a resume and gain interviewing skills
     • Find a place to live
     • Sponsor a partner or family member to immigrate to Canada
     • Access Government income assistance programs such as Ontario Works (OW) and Ontario
       Disability Support Program (ODSP)
     • Access Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) as well as find scholarships and bursaries
     • Enroll in college, university, or find job training
     • Find English classes such as enrolling in Language Instruction for Newcomers to Canada (LINC)
       Programs
     • Apply for your SIN card, health card from Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP), Permanent
       Resident Card and driver’s license
     • Find a family doctor
     • Interpretation and translation .

We also offer:
     • Weekly sports activities, including basketball, badminton and volleyball games
     • Weekly hip-hop dance classes and summer music camp
     • Weekly drop-ins where you can meet new friends, such as:
            - Support group for LGBTQ newcomer youth
            - Discussion group for newcomer youth where they can talk about adjusting to life in Toronto
              and practice English
     • Referral to community services
     • Support in filling out government forms (such as immigration, OSAP/ OW, university or college
       applications, etc.)
     • Counselling

We are here to listen to you and we’d be happy to talk with you about what is going on in your life! We offer services in English, Spanish, Tagalog, Vietnamese, Somali, Portuguese and Tamil. Interpreters can be provided for other languages- just ask! All of our services are lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and queer friendly and we always make your comfort and confidentiality a priority. All services are offered free of charge.


For more info, please contact:
Idil Hyder, Outreach and Settlement Worker
Phone: 416-222-1153 ext. 181
Email: newcomer@griffin-centre.org

ReachOUT Newcomer Network is generously funded by Citizenship and Immigration Canada




sprOUT:
sprOUT is all about connecting LGBTQ people labelled with intellectual disabilities across Ontario. We hold fun events such as dances, BBQs, movie nights and parties. Our workshops on sexual health, self advocacy, and how to create LGBTQ positive space are co-facilitated by LGBTQ people labelled with intellectual disabilities. We also offer consultation to individuals, their families and support workers.

Special thanks to all the funders/sponsor to their continue support to ReachOUT!

Funders:

Ontario Trillium Foundation
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
City of Toronto, Toronto Public Health
Ontario Arts Council
ArtReach
TO LIVE WITH CULTURE
Laidlaw Foundation
Community One Foundation


Media Sponsor: Xtra Magazine



© 2010 Griffin Centre.