OUR MANDATE IS SIMPLE...
promote the social inclusion of persons with mental health disabilities
MANDATE
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Reduce social barriers that perpetuate a limited and negative perspective of what it means to have a mental illness disability.
Employ innovative, low-cost, high-impact strategies that educate and effectively shift attitudes and behaviours in populations.
Create SMART and sustainable programs that reach target populations and create the conditions for social inclusion and support, leading to a better quality of life at school, at work, and within the community.
Connect and collaborate with organizations to increase the impact of advocacy and promotional efforts for social inclusion, diversity, and mental health wellness in Canada.
→ Read about our work and impact in Iris the Dragon's Annual Report 2020
ACTIVITIES
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Iris the Dragon is a solutions-oriented, social enterprise, employing proven and effective approaches and delivery formats to address the challenge of social inclusion of those with a mental illness in our society. Iris the Dragon achieves this, nationally in Canada and globally, by correcting misunderstandings and misinformation about mental illness through the vehicle of storytelling and using therapeutic approaches, such as Solution Focused Therapeutic strategies (i.e. Cognitive Behavior Therapy and Narrative Therapy), to disseminate this vital knowledge.
Our mental health education programs feature innovative delivery mechanisms focused on children, their caregivers and the gatekeepers to society. Our direction, historically, has been on "early age" education, detection and risk management of mental illness which can alleviate symptoms in addition to creating awareness around how to support individuals facing challenges. In 2017, Iris the Dragon progressed into workplace mental health education to advance its mandate to shape attitudes and behaviours with respect to social inclusion, diversity, and mental health wellness in Canada.
Our current educational programming includes:
Iris the Dragon Book Series
Our innovative storybook, featuring child-friendly characters, has evolved into a series of 6, medically vetted books that deliver educational and empowering messages about mental illness in a language and format that keeps readers engaged. The efficacy of Iris the Dragon's storybook formula was proven in a 2010 empirical study by Dr Heather Stuart, Bell Mental Health and Anti-Stigma Research Chair at Queen’s University, that demonstrated a 20% attitude change in reducing social distancing towards those with mental illness after exposure to the intervention – this level of change is regarded as outstanding. Organizations such as the Canadian Armed Forces Morale and Welfare Services division and the Martin-Bradley Foundation in Quebec have contracted Iris the Dragon for storybook development.
The print version of the books were digitized to capitalize on the increasing demand for digital content and instant accessibility. The bilingual eBook series is available in three digital formats and is distribution on major retail channels such as Amazon, Apple, Google, and World Reader (for those with legacy devices). The digital reach is exponential with well over four million readers from around the world learning about mental health through Iris the Dragon. Furthermore, the knowledge Iris the Dragon provides to readers is current, vetted and endorsed by top professionals in the mental health field such as Dr. Ian Manion, the director of Youth Mental Health Research at the Royal Ottawa Hospital Institute of Mental Health Research (IMHR). He was previously the Executive Director of the Provincial Centre of Excellence for Child and Youth Mental Health at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario.
Iris the Dragon Units of Study for Teachers
The Units of Study, for elementary grades 4 to 6, make up a unique and comprehensive program that promotes awareness and understanding of topics related to mental wellness through existing curricular expectations. The 250-page training resource reflects Canadian and American standards in education and uses evidence-based material (the Iris the Dragon book series) as the main classroom tool in the Units of Study.
The education program supports character education by building essential student assets, such as resiliency and a caring disposition, through a comprehensive literacy approach. It includes differentiated tasks across various subjects and ready-made SMART Board™ activities to motivate and engage students based on Bloom’s Taxonomy. It is also easy to implement within existing curriculum plans, with flexible program length. Furthermore, it provides learning opportunities about mental wellness in the classroom, for the school, and in the community at large. The Units of Study is employed by educators across Canada and the USA.
Workshop & Speaking Services
Iris the Dragon provides workshops on the topic of how to address mental illness with youth and how to use stories to convey important messages. Iris the Dragon has spoken at numerous, national level conferences, such as the MHCC’s Together Against Stigma and Canadian Educators Conference on Mental Health.
Workplace Mental Health solutions
Our objective in workplace mental health education and training is to break down barriers to social inclusion for people with mental health disabilities. Iris the Dragon is targeting small business owners and managers of community sports, recreational and social clubs — a population at the forefront of Canadian communities that provide a doorway to inclusion for those with disabilities. The IncludeMe app is an innovative approach to help business owners embrace psychological safety at work and is underway and set to be released in mid-2018.
Mental Health Leadership & Advocacy
The charity collaborates with leading Canadian organizations to advance the agenda for inclusion of persons with mental illness disabilities. Iris the Dragon's author, Gayle Grass, was the recipient of The Royal's Inspiration Award 2016, Leader for Mental Health — a testament to Gayle's pioneering work and the achievements of the organization.
Our mental health education programs feature innovative delivery mechanisms focused on children, their caregivers and the gatekeepers to society. Our direction, historically, has been on "early age" education, detection and risk management of mental illness which can alleviate symptoms in addition to creating awareness around how to support individuals facing challenges. In 2017, Iris the Dragon progressed into workplace mental health education to advance its mandate to shape attitudes and behaviours with respect to social inclusion, diversity, and mental health wellness in Canada.
Our current educational programming includes:
Iris the Dragon Book Series
Our innovative storybook, featuring child-friendly characters, has evolved into a series of 6, medically vetted books that deliver educational and empowering messages about mental illness in a language and format that keeps readers engaged. The efficacy of Iris the Dragon's storybook formula was proven in a 2010 empirical study by Dr Heather Stuart, Bell Mental Health and Anti-Stigma Research Chair at Queen’s University, that demonstrated a 20% attitude change in reducing social distancing towards those with mental illness after exposure to the intervention – this level of change is regarded as outstanding. Organizations such as the Canadian Armed Forces Morale and Welfare Services division and the Martin-Bradley Foundation in Quebec have contracted Iris the Dragon for storybook development.
The print version of the books were digitized to capitalize on the increasing demand for digital content and instant accessibility. The bilingual eBook series is available in three digital formats and is distribution on major retail channels such as Amazon, Apple, Google, and World Reader (for those with legacy devices). The digital reach is exponential with well over four million readers from around the world learning about mental health through Iris the Dragon. Furthermore, the knowledge Iris the Dragon provides to readers is current, vetted and endorsed by top professionals in the mental health field such as Dr. Ian Manion, the director of Youth Mental Health Research at the Royal Ottawa Hospital Institute of Mental Health Research (IMHR). He was previously the Executive Director of the Provincial Centre of Excellence for Child and Youth Mental Health at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario.
Iris the Dragon Units of Study for Teachers
The Units of Study, for elementary grades 4 to 6, make up a unique and comprehensive program that promotes awareness and understanding of topics related to mental wellness through existing curricular expectations. The 250-page training resource reflects Canadian and American standards in education and uses evidence-based material (the Iris the Dragon book series) as the main classroom tool in the Units of Study.
The education program supports character education by building essential student assets, such as resiliency and a caring disposition, through a comprehensive literacy approach. It includes differentiated tasks across various subjects and ready-made SMART Board™ activities to motivate and engage students based on Bloom’s Taxonomy. It is also easy to implement within existing curriculum plans, with flexible program length. Furthermore, it provides learning opportunities about mental wellness in the classroom, for the school, and in the community at large. The Units of Study is employed by educators across Canada and the USA.
Workshop & Speaking Services
Iris the Dragon provides workshops on the topic of how to address mental illness with youth and how to use stories to convey important messages. Iris the Dragon has spoken at numerous, national level conferences, such as the MHCC’s Together Against Stigma and Canadian Educators Conference on Mental Health.
Workplace Mental Health solutions
Our objective in workplace mental health education and training is to break down barriers to social inclusion for people with mental health disabilities. Iris the Dragon is targeting small business owners and managers of community sports, recreational and social clubs — a population at the forefront of Canadian communities that provide a doorway to inclusion for those with disabilities. The IncludeMe app is an innovative approach to help business owners embrace psychological safety at work and is underway and set to be released in mid-2018.
Mental Health Leadership & Advocacy
The charity collaborates with leading Canadian organizations to advance the agenda for inclusion of persons with mental illness disabilities. Iris the Dragon's author, Gayle Grass, was the recipient of The Royal's Inspiration Award 2016, Leader for Mental Health — a testament to Gayle's pioneering work and the achievements of the organization.
THE TEAM
Deep experience across a broad set of financial, project management, marketing, technological, and charitable practices
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MICHAEL GRASS
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GAYLE GRASS
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JESSICA GRASS
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HEATHER STUART
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CRAIG HALPENNY
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GRAHAM ROSS
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THOMAS TUSZYNSKI
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