The early success of the Medicine Hat and District Health Foundation’s Giving Hope for Mental Health campaign is a testament to a community ready and eager to embrace a long under-attended issue.
With more than $130,000 raised since launching in June, the foundation has already been able to knock a few items off a lengthy wish list that seeks to enhance local health care through the eyes of mental health.
“There are a number of reasons why we wanted to focus on mental health,” Executive Director Heather Bach says. “The pandemic, obviously, is No.1. But, No. 2 is to start the conversation in the community and normalize it.
“You hear the word ‘stigma’ so often, and that is definitely there, but over the last few months we have really seen people excited to get behind this initiative, to talk about mental health and to share their stories.”
The initiative aims to raise $500,000 to support mental health services in Medicine Hat, including updates to the Medicine Hat Recovery Centre and Medicine Hat Regional Hospital’s pediatric and psychiatry inpatient units, as well as assistance for outpatient services.
New mattresses and a walking path for the recovery centre, a washing machine for MHRH’s psychiatric ward, and special beds for both children and adults facing mental health crises are all on the list, with the idea of creating a safe place for patients to land.
Bach says the community response has been tremendous so far.
“We are really excited to see our corporate community stepping up to show the rest of the community how important mental health is to them, and to engage the community in more conversations about mental health,” she says. “There are so many people interested in supporting mental health. In the past people have maybe been afraid to associate with it but now they’re proud to associate with mental health, and that number continues to rise.”
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.
Promotional coffee sleeves are available at local coffee shops, while popular restaurants around the city are featuring information on the initiative as well. And thanks to a donation from the folks at Source for Sports, a package of Yeti products is going to be raffled off, with tickets going on sale in August.
You can also visit the foundation’s website to donate at ourhealthfoundation.ca.
Public dollars spent on health care go a long way to ensuring Albertans receive among the best services in the world, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t aspects that can be made better. The Medicine Hat and District Health Foundation has existed for 25 years to ensure those little things are taken care of, investing more than $17 million into local health care.
Bach says the concept of the health foundation was built on the people it provides for.
“Health care began in Medicine Hat with volunteers and donations,” she says. “So, charity has been part of health care in our community since the very beginning, and we’re basically here to fill in any gaps that health care (dollars) can’t.
“We’re here to make enhancements.”
It’s only natural that the foundation would look to make that same impact in the world of mental health — a world people are finally ready to explore.
“For us, it’s not just about raising money,” Bach says. “It’s about raising awareness and making people more comfortable talking about this.”
