What is recovery?
Recovery is the consistent pursuit of good mental health, regardless of any symptoms of mental illness one may or may not be experiencing. We all have mental health and we all need to learn how to take care of it. Recovery is the word we use to describe the learning that takes place over time, as we figure out how to be and stay mentally healthy.
What is a recovery education centre?
A recovery education centre, also known as a “recovery college”, provides an opportunity for anybody in the community to learn more about mental health, mental illness, and to learn new skills for living well. Considered emerging best-practice in the United Kingdom, a recovery education centre is modeled after a traditional college environment with a large set of courses for students to choose from in the areas of mental health literacy, illness self-management, health and wellbeing, and interpersonal skills among others. The goal of the centre is to assist students with identifying their own learning needs, develop individualized learning plans, and help students use new knowledge to take positive steps in their own recovery journey.
Do I have to be diagnosed with a mental illness to study at Thrive Learning Centre?
Absolutely not! The goal of Thrive is be open and accessible for anyone that wants to learn to take better care of their mental health. We have no specific enrollment criteria other than being someone interested and eager to learn.
Is Thrive Learning Centre the same as going for counselling or therapy?
No. The educational content offered at Thrive is meant as a useful tool to help you learn about and improve your own mental health in a self-directed way. Our staff will of course try to help you along the way, but our courses are not seen as a substitute for professional assistance when it is necessary.
Is this a substitute for professional medical care?
No. Although a number of our facilitators have lived experience with mental health concerns and addiction, we do not intend to replace the expertise of professionals. We recognize the need for professional medical care, especially during acute phases of mental illness. Thrive Learning Centre seeks to assist people on their journey towards recovery from mental illness, mental health concerns or addiction, not to take the place of any recommendations made by a doctor, psychiatrist, psychologist or other qualified mental health professional.
Where is Thrive Learning Centre?
The Thrive Learning Centre is located in Portage la Prairie at 102 1st St NW, at the Canadian Mental Health Association Central Region office location.
Do courses at Thrive Learning Centre cost anything?
No. Courses at Thrive will always be free for anybody who wants to learn.
How do I sign up for courses at Thrive Learning Centre?
The first step is to complete our enrollment form. You can do this online here. Once you’ve done that, one of our student advisors will contact you to walk you through the rest of the registration process.
Why do I have to meet with an advisor at Thrive Learning Centre before I register for courses?
Meeting with an advisor gives you the chance to explore your goals and plan how to use our courses to your advantage. We want to help you on your recovery journey, and meeting with an advisor previous to courses starting will give you the chance to discuss which topics are best for you.
Are the courses relevant for someone who wants to work in the mental health field?
Thrive Learning Centre is not an accredited college, so our courses are not intended to be applied towards college or university programs. Thrive aims to assist participants on their journey to recovery and is more in line with mental health psychoeducation than career preparation. We do provide certificate for course completion and certainly would not discourage anyone from applying the knowledge learned here towards the work they do.
When are the terms?
The 2017 fall term begins on Tuesday, October 3rdand ends on Thursday, December 21st. Another term will begin in late January or early February of 2018.
How Long are Courses?
Most courses run between one to eight sessions on different days throughout the work week. Most sessions are one hour or one and a half hours long. Our Peer Support Group is also one and a half hours long and will run on Fridays from the start of the term until the end.
How many courses can I register for?
There are just under 30 courses currently scheduled for the fall term at Thrive Learning Centre. We encourage students to apply for as many courses as suits their goals, but ask that they remain aware of their ability to attend all courses they sign up for.
What is the Graduate Program?
The ultimate goal of our program is to empower people. We recognize that contributing to a supportive community can be a very empowering experience for people on a recovery journey. After a student of Thrive completes a certain amount of courses and completes a course on how to be a facilitator, he or she may be selected to co-facilitate a course with another more experienced facilitator. Eventually he or she will move onto developing a course or courses based on their own knowledge and skills, within a group setting. Our hope is that eventually all courses at Thrive will be co-led by students who align with our vision and mission to serve the community and have transitioned into becoming co-facilitators. We recognize the value of lived experience and hope to work alongside our peers to create an inclusive environment for all people with an interest in mental health.