Give Hope for Mental Health

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This June, the Medicine Hat and District Health Foundation is asking the community to Give Hope for Mental Health.
The monthlong initiative aims to raise $500,000 to support mental health services in Medicine Hat, including updates to the Medicine Hat Recovery Center and Medicine Hat Regional Hospital’s pediatric and psychiatry inpatient units, as well as assistance for outpatient services.

“We’ve actually already purchased new mattresses for the recovery centre, and there are a couple other things at the recovery centre we’d like to try to do,” said Medicine Hat and District Health Foundation executive director Heather Bach. “As an example, besides the mattresses, they have a huge back grass space, but it’s all wild grass. It’s a beautiful area, but it’s just not usable. So, we want to create a walking path so those patients who are looking to create some healthier lifestyles and healthier habits have an opportunity to go for a walk and get some fresh air, and still feel in a safe and secure environment.”

Bach added it’s a similar situation with the hospital’s psychiatry inpatient unit.

“They’re currently sleeping on very old beds. I’m going to venture a guess that their beds are from probably the 90s, they’re that old. Yes, the mattresses have been refreshed, but the beds are not. We really want to upgrade them,” said Bach. “We want to be able to give them the same comforts of everyone else. We’re really hoping to liven up the space in the psychiatric unit, give them some comfortable beds and give them a safe environment to spend time in, because they’re all there for different and various reasons.”

The pediatric unit was built in the 1980s. Bach says it was “not made with mental health patients in mind,” and is in need of an update.

“At the time, (mental health) wasn’t a concern,” she said. “Of course, things have changed. Now, what we’d like to do is be able to make sure we have a space that’s safe and secure for those who find themselves in a mental health crisis.”
Money raised will also go toward acquiring exercise equipment and assisting with program support costs for outpatient services, such as Palliser Adolescent Services, which provides a six-week in-school program for students struggling in regular classroom settings.

“It’s to give them the tools and the comforts of similar like-minded people, and help integrate them back into the school system successfully,” she said. “They need exercise equipment and they need some of the tools to make sure the kids are creating healthy lifestyles and get them learning how to exercise early on. Same with adults, the outpatients services are very similar.”

Promotional coffee sleeves will be available at local coffee shops, while popular restaurants around the city will feature information on the initiative as well. Bach says a Yeti package raffle is slated for later in the month, as well as a virtual run and walk with the Mental Health Foundation scheduled for July.

Give Hope for Mental Health had already raised $80,200 as of Tuesday morning. For more information on the campaign, including how to donate, visit ourhealthfoundation.ca/givehope4mh

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