Province adding ‘recovery college’ to local mental health supports

By ANNA SMITH Local Journalism Initiative on February 22, 2025.

As a result of a partnership between Medicine Hat Family Service, and Canadian Mental Health Association Alberta and Centre for Suicide Prevention, a local recovery college will soon open to offer free mental health and recovery-focused courses.

The recovery college, which will officially open March 4, is the continuation of previously available online courses for the area. This partnership, says the province, will increase accessibility with both in-person and online options offered within the community, and is being funded by the province’s Ministry of Mental Health and Addiction.

“I’m so glad Medicine Hat will soon be home to its own fully operational recovery college. Recovery colleges are an excellent resource to support Albertans in their pursuit of recovery as they provide free, recovery-focused mental health services,” Premier Danielle Smith, MLA for Brooks-Medicine Hat, said in a release.

Over the past three years, the province says, Alberta recovery colleges have provided about 2,000 courses to approximately 10,000 participants in 40 communities. These colleges offer short-term courses and discussion groups on various mental health topics, with the aim of forming connections in which people in recovery help others build the skills needed to thrive.

“As a strong advocate for mental health, I am pleased to see expanded support in Medicine Hat for those seeking resources for recovery,” said Cypress-Medicine Hat MLA Justin Wright. “Nobody who is dealing with mental illness or addiction should be left wondering how to get help, and I am confident the recovery college will play an important role in many people’s lives.”

Those interested in what the recovery college will offer can visit recoverycollegemedicinehat.ca for more information.