Collaborative Learning College

What is the Collaborative Learning College?

The Collaborative Learning College is a recovery college that offers nonclinical-based education and training programs offered to people who have lived/living experience of mental health and/or substance use challenges, and who feel ready to set goals, gain skills and make social connections as part of their personal journey. In keeping with internationally adopted approach to recovery-oriented education, the courses offered at the Collaborative Learning College will be:

co-created and co-led by people with lived experience of mental health and/or addiction challenges and/or social services use
offered free of charge
adaptable to local needs and resources
open to people who have experienced mental health and/or addiction challenges and/or social services use, their family members, friends and health care providers, when appropriate.

Please note: All class are currently running virtually until further notice.

Available courses

× Please note you must create an account to view the content of the courses on this site. Create a new account

Monthly Calendars

Looking to download a copy of this month's calendar or want to see our past calendars? You can find all our current and past offerings here.

Updated monthly
View Calendars

May Town Hall

Have your voice heard and help guide the future of the Collaborative Learning College. Join us for our monthly town hall where we will share updates about what is happening with the college and hear from you about what you want to see in the future. Bring your thoughts, ideas and suggestions.

Date: Wednesday May 25th 2022
Time: 5:00pm-6:00pm
SIGN UP

June Town Hall

Date: Friday June 24th 2022
Time: 12:00pm-1:00pm
SIGN UP

Yale LET(s) Lead Information Session- May 27th

CAMH is partnering with Yale University to deliver LET(s)Lead—The Lived Experience Transformational Leadership Academy. The Lived Experience Transformational Leadership Academy (LET(s)Lead) was born out of the efforts of Yale staff, most of whom identify as leaders with lived experience. Yale created a course that provides emerging leaders with lived experience knowledge, opportunities for leadership skill development, including a mentorship with a current leader(s) in the field. We are seeking people with lived experience of mental health or addiction challenges who want to develop leadership skills for the 2022-2023 cohort. Join the information session to learn more about this program and the application process.

Date: Friday May 27th 2022
Time: 12:00pm-1:00pm
SIGN UP

Yale LET(s) Lead Information Session- June 2nd

Date: Thursday June 2nd 2022
Time: 6:00pm-7:00pm
SIGN UP

creative writing, recovery college, toronto, camh

Braving the Elements: Creative Writing Essentials

This course will invite participants to explore creative writing and storytelling techniques in a safe and supportive environment. Each week, we will look at one or more of the building blocks of storytelling (setting, character, plot, scene, point of view, the use of figurative language) and apply these elements to a variety of creative writing forms such as fiction, memoir, poetry, playwriting and screenwriting. Through a series of exercises and examples, participants will be encouraged to build a mindful writing practice, develop their own voice, and be an active part of a creative community. While you are welcome to focus on a particular form through the entire course, you will have an opportunity to explore all forms.

Dates: Thursdays June 23rd - July 28th
Time: 1:00pm-2:30pm
SIGN UP

Braving the Elements 2: Special Topics in Creative Writing

This course will invite participants to continue their creative writing journey and expand on concepts introduced in Braving the Elements: Creative Writing Essentials. In Braving the Elements 2, we will explore creative writing across various genres and forms, including poetry, fiction, stage plays, and screenwriting. Special topics will include creating figurative language, crafting poetic lines, writing memorable dialogue, writing comedically, and world-building through setting and character. Through exercises and examples, participants will be encouraged to deepen their writing practice, experiment with new forms, and be active participants in a creative community.

Dates: Tuesdays June 21st - July 26th
Time: 1:00pm-2:30pm
SIGN UP

publishing, recovery college, toronto, camh

Publishing 101

This course is for writers of all experience levels that would like to learn helpful strategies for getting their work published. Each week, we will discuss the different paths to publication for various forms of writing, including non-fiction essays, poems, short story collections and novels. Participants will learn best practices for preparing work for submission directly to literary magazines, journals, and independent publishers. Participants will also learn the step-by-step process of acquiring a literary agent and their role in submitting authors’ work to large publishers. Throughout the course, participants will build their publication research skills as well as developing their ability to create strong submission packages through in-class activities and detailed examples.

Dates: Wednesdays June 8th - June 29th
Time: 2:30pm-4:00pm
SIGN UP

recovery college, music note, CAMH, appreciation

Music and Film: Beginners Guide

Some film scores are almost as powerful as their films—just humming their melodies makes us remember how we felt while we were sitting, spellbound, in the theatre. Why is that? This course gives students of any musical background an insight into how film music is made and why it matters.

Dates: Wednesdays May 4th to 25th
Time: 12:00pm-1:00pm
SIGN UP

Unpacking Diet Myths and Our Relationship with Food

Debunking diet myths, challenging irrational thoughts around food, and exploring the food industry’s role in negatively affecting our relationship with nourishing, healthy foods. Join a like-minded group of friends for a 3-part food-focused series where we’ll discuss… (1) Common diet myths seen on social media and advertisements; (2) The food industry’s role in perpetuating diet myths and impacting our relationship with food; (3) Challenging internal irrational thoughts about food and developing a healthy relationship with food.

Dates: Thursdays June 9th - 23rd
Time: 5:00pm-6:15pm
SIGN UP

employment, peer support, recovery college, toronto, camh

The Art of Getting Hired

In collaboration with CMHAWW, this 4 week drop in course will cover the basics of employment readiness from guest speakers in the field of HR. We will touch on the importance of writing a standout resume while also learning the many key important things to look out for when applying for positions. We will use mind map techniques to help you discover your ‘why’ when starting the journey of job finding. We will also discuss the importance of self-care when on the job search because looking for a job is a full-time job and understanding when it is time to rest and re-set is just as important. We will discuss navigating current trending platforms for job finding such as LinkedIn.

Date: Fridays May 13th to June 3rd
Time: 3pm-5pm
SIGN UP

lunch, peer support, recovery college, toronto, camh

Entrepreneur Support Group for May

If you're an entrepreneur who's looking for support from a community of fellow entrepreneurs, this is the group for you. Together, we can bounce ideas off of one another and have some fun while talking about business.

Date: Thursdays starting May 13th
Time: Noon to 1pm
SIGN UP

Lunch Time Peer Support for May

Health Out Loud and the CAMH Collaborative Learning College are excited to bring you another lunch time peer support group for May. Join like minded people for a one-hour, interactive, peer support group. This is an informal group for those looking to connect with others in a supportive space. Bring your lunch, your worries, your support, and your experience.

Date: Every Tuesday
Time: Noon to 1pm
SIGN UP

Lunch Time Peer Support for June

Health Out Loud and the CAMH Collaborative Learning College are excited to bring you another lunch time peer support group for June. Join like minded people for a one-hour, interactive, peer support group. This is an informal group for those looking to connect with others in a supportive space. Bring your lunch, your worries, your support, and your experience.

Date: Every Tuesday
Time: Noon to 1pm
SIGN UP

mindfulness, peer support, recovery college, toronto, camh

Introduction to Mindfulness

This course will introduce the practice of mindfulness and meditation. We will focus on incorporating a mindful approach to everyday life and discuss the importance of compassion. This course will be led with the understanding that it is critical to nurture and cultivate compassion and loving-kindness alongside mindfulness practice. Participants will be guided through a variety of meditations including following the breath while sitting, walking, lying down, and mantra work. We will also discuss techniques for coping with difficult emotions, cravings and urges, and pain as well as engage in mindfulness practices like the body scan and Tonglen meditation (a meditation practice found in Tibetan Buddhism).

Date: Every Monday from May 9th to June 13th (except for May 23rd)
Time: 1pm to 2:30pm
SIGN UP

recovery college, balance, CAMH, mindfulness

Mindfulness Matters Drop-in for May

A Weekly Drop-In Group For Mindfulness Practice and Discussion. Join us on Thursdays for 20 minutes of mindfulness practice followed by discussion. We meet each week for an hour and practice and discuss mindfulness. Participants are invited to share wisdom from their own practice, and each week we'll examine a topic in the study of mindfulness to explore in more depth. This is a drop in session and no prior experience is required.

Date: Every Thursday
Time: 1:30pm-2:30pm
SIGN UP

Peer Support Core Competencies Training- Waitlist

This course consists of 15 interactive training modules that will support your understanding of peer support core competencies and best practices. Topics include, peer support foundations, ethics and boundaries, as well as, trauma informed care practices. This training was developed by the Centre for Innovation in Peer Support.

**This is the waitlist to be notified of the next time we offer this course**
JOIN THE WAITLIST

ExperieNCe: Working in Groups - Self-directed

In collaboration with CAMH and Niagara college, this course will discuss topics related to working with others and aims to build personal and professional skills through shared experiences and reflection. Concepts such as group dynamics, conflict management, decision making and building successful working relationships with others is at the center of discussion.
Through this partnership, you will be eligible for a credit at Niagara College in the Child and Youth Care or Educational Assistant Special Needs Support Program by completing this course, free of charge
If you are interested in attending college, this pathway has many advantages. You will not only receive a credit, we will also support you along the way to assist you in getting to Niagara College and supporting you while you are there

This course is self-directed. You can take it at your own pace. Click "VIEW COURSE" for more details
VIEW COURSE

CAMH recovery college, events, community, toronto, depression, anxiety, social connection

Community Partners and Events

Looking for community events? Want to see other special opportunities going on in your community? Visit this section for a listing of different announcements our partners have to share with you.

Want to view these without registering? You can use the password 'guest'

VIEW PARTNER EVENTS AND OPPORTUNITIES

COLLABORATIVE LEARNING COLLEGE