Casey House Mental Health

HIV/AIDS Mental Health Series

2007 - 2008 click here for archived video presentations

HIV/AIDS and Mental Health: The Series at Casey House.
An educational series designed for health care professionals and service providers.
PROGRAM DIRECTOR: Dr. Mark Halman, Director HIV Psychiatry Program, St. Michael’s Hospital
PROGRAM LEAD: Maureen Mahan, RN, M.ED – Casey House Hospice

2007 – 2008

Thursday, October 25th from 12:00 – 1:30

HIV/AIDS Mental Health and Homelessness: Barriers and Opportunities.
Dr. Vicky Stergiopoulos, Medical Director of Inner City Health Associates.
Learn about the barriers and opportunities that are part of working with individuals with concerns of homelessness and the role of collaborative mental health care, and health systems research.

Dr. Stergiopoulos - Staff Psychiatrist, St. Michael's Hospital; Mental Health Lead, Seaton House; Asst. Professor, U of T


Thursday, November 29th from 11:30 – 1:00

Assertive Community Treatment: What is it?
A Review and an opportunity to consider its suitability for HIV/AIDS Care.

Dr. Samuel F. Law, Staff Psychiatrist, St. Michael’s Hospital.

Assertive community treatment provides a format for clinicians to work as teams to serve challenging patients who are persistent and chronically mentally ill. Some adaptations of the model include ethnic minority specific teams, and eating disorder teams. We hope to generate a discussion to explore the possibilities for clinicians providing care for those living with HIV/AIDS.

Dr. Law - Assoc. Staff Psychiatrist,Mount Sinai Hospital; Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, U of T.


Thursday, January 31st from 12:00 – 1:30

HIV/AIDS - Working with the Suicidal Client
Yvonne Bergmans, BEd, MSW, RSW
This seminar will focus on the concerns that arise when working with a suicidal client and the possibility of intervention. Implications of emotional regulation models will be considered.

Yvonne Bergmans - Suicide Intervention Consultant, Arthur Rotenburg Sommer Chair In Suicide Studies.


Thursday, February 28th from 12:00 – 1:30

HIV/AIDS and Therapeutic Alliance: Forming, Maintaining and Learning to Let Go

Dr. Mara Goldstein, Psychiatric Emergency Services, St. Michael's Hospital; Lecturer, U of T.
In any therapeutic relationship an alliance between client and health care provider contributes to a positive experience. In this seminar we will explore the elements of therapeutic alliance.


Thursday, March 27th from 12:00 – 1:30

HIV/AIDS and the Benefits of Mindfulness Meditation Practice

Bill Gayner, BSW, MSW, RSW –Psychotherapist, Clinic for HIV-Related Concerns - Mount Sinai Hospital.
An overview of the benefits, philosophy and practice of mindfulness based meditation in the context of supportive treatment for those living with HIV/AIDS.


Thursday, April 24th from 12:00 – 1:30

Overview: North York General Hospital ’s - Day Program for Mental Health
Mary Inkley, RN, BHlthSc(Nurs)– Case Manager, North York General Hospital

We will review the basics of a day program that provides support and treatment for those living with chronic depressive symptoms and consider the implications for clients with HIV/AIDS.

2008 - 2009 click here for archived video presentations

HIV/AIDS and Mental Health: The Series at Casey House.
An educational series designed for health care professionals and service providers.
PROGRAM DIRECTOR: Dr. Mark Halman, Director HIV Psychiatry Program, St. Michael’s Hospital
PROGRAM LEAD: Maureen Mahan, RN, M.ED – Casey House Hospice

Thursday, October 30th from 12:00 – 1:30

HIV/AIDS and Depression
Dr. Mark Halman, Psychiatric Consultant, Casey House, Director HIV Psychiatry, St. Michael’s Hospital, Centre for Research in Inner City Health, St. Michael’s Hospital, Assistant Professor, Psychiatry, University of Toronto.

We will provide an opportunity to discuss concerns, ask questions, exchange information, and build knowledge about depression and the implications of depression for those living with HIV/AIDS. The interactive discussion will be followed by a talk about depression and antidepressant medication.


Thursday, November 27th from 12:00 – 1:30

Working with the Suicidal Client
Yvonne Bergmans, BSW, MSW, RSW, Suicide Intervention Consultant, Suicide Studies Unit, Arthur Sommer Rotenburg Chair in Suicide Studies.

This seminar will focus on the concerns that arise when working with a suicidal client and the possibilities for intervention. We will provide an opportunity to discuss concerns, ask questions, exchange information, and build knowledge about suicide and the emotional literacy model.


Thursday, December 11th 12:00 – 1:00

Drawing from Life - A Film Screening
Yvonne Bergmans, BSW, MSW, RSW, Suicide Intervention Consultant, Suicide Studies Unit, Arthur Sommer Rotenburg Chair in Suicide Studies.

This documentary filmed a 20 week intervention "A Psychosocial/ Psycoeducational Intervention for people with Recurrent Suicide Attempts (PISA). It was created for the purpose of educating clients who are coming into intervention about what they can expect while in the group. Yvonne Bergmans will return to speak about this documentary and discuss elements of the documentary regarding working with people with recurrent suicide attempts that participants wish to explore further.


Thursday, January 29th from 12:00 – 1:30

Therapeutic Communication and Boundaries –
Dr. Mara Goldstein, Psychiatric Emergency Services, St. Michael's Hospital, Lecturer, University of Toronto.

This interactive discussion will provide an opportunity to consider the implications of therapeutic communication and boundaries when working with clients living with HIV/AIDS. We will provide an opportunity to discuss concerns, ask questions, exchange information, and build knowledge about the limits and possibilities of therapeutic communication.


In 2010-2011, $2,250,000 in grant funding was awarded by the CIHR to community-academic-policy teams who were assisted by the OTHN with grant writing.