CMHA gearing up for Mental Health Week in southeast Alberta

By KENDALL KING on April 29, 2023.

The Canadian Mental Health Association Alberta Southeast Region helps support community wellbeing during Mental Health Week and throughout the year, says executive director Lyndon Grunewald.

As the nation’s largest unified mental health organization, CMHA is heavily involved in Mental Health Week, held annually the first week of May.

Often for Mental Health Week, CMHA, through its regional branches, partners with organizations and institutions across the country work to recognize challenges affecting the mental health of Canadians, as well as highlight practices that promote good mental health.

This year, the southeast Alberta branch is partnering in several local Mental Health Week events including Medicine Hat’s 10th annual Move for Mental Health Fun Run/Walk, taking place from 1-4 p.m. Sunday at Kin Coulee Park; and a free Workplace Mental Health Training workshop, 10 a.m. on May 16 at the Medicine Hat Public Library.

At both events, CMHA ASER will be sharing information about mental health with community members and informing them of the different support services available locally, many offered through CMHA year-round.

“A lot of people have heard about CMHA, but are unaware of what type of things we offer,” Grunewald told the News. “So, we want to move in educating the public (who) may not know that CMHA is offering (support) for free to the community.”

Grunewald explained the local branch offers a variety of no-charge programs and services designed to support the mental wellbeing of individuals, as well as groups, based in Medicine Hat, Redcliff, Brooks, Bow Island, Bassano, Foremost and surrounding rural areas.

Grunewald explained the local CMHA branch has several priority focuses, which include community support, education and advocacy.

In terms of support, CMHA has several programs to facilitate connection with community members and mental health professionals, including the Community Assisted Response Program, operated in partnership with Medicine Hat Police Service, in which volunteers respond to non-criminal mental health-related emergency calls. There’s also the Keep In Touch program, where volunteers conduct weekly check-ins with individuals experiencing mental health issues but with limited social supports. The Recovery College offers virtual and in-person support groups focused on healing. The Regional Suicide Prevention Program works to develop and implement regional suicide prevention services.

Grunewald says CMHA is also dedicated to educating the public about mental health through free online and in-person courses and training programs, open to individuals experiencing mental health challenges, as well as those wishing to provide support.

Grunewald says youth/classroom education is particularly important to CMHA, as the organization wants to ensure young Albertans are informed on how to promote positive mental health, but aware of local resources available if they need help.

Lastly, Grunewald says the organization advocates for investment in mental health services and works to keep the topic of discussion in the region and across the nation, with hopes that such discussions will reduce stigma and assist those who are struggling.

For more information about CMHA ASER, visit mentalwellnessmatters.ca or call 403-504-1811.