More than 2,000 coffee sleeves with positive messages drawn on them were delivered to coffee shops and the Medicine Hat Public Library on Wednesday - Photo by Ross Lavigne

By Charles Lefebvre

#sleevethestigma

Students decorate coffee sleeves to promote mental health

Jan 29, 2020 | 4:56 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB — A local organization which helps promote positive mental wellness among youth were hoping to start the conversation over a cup of coffee Wednesday morning.

The Mental Health Capacity Building Program (also known as My Place/HUG), ran its Sleeve the Stigma campaign for the second year in a row on Wednesday, coinciding with Bell Let’s Talk Day.

The campaign sees 2,000 coffee sleeves decorated by students in the Public School Division with positive messages, along with information about starting a conversation about mental health. Sleeves were delivered to multiple local coffee shops, as well as the Medicine Hat Public Library.

“We thought it would be a great awareness event to keep the conversation going around mental health,” said April Welshman, program manager for the Mental Health Capacity Building Program.

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Welshman, who works with students in the school division, says she’s proud to see the student’s work in the community.

“It’s just brightened up their day completely, it gives them a chance to talk about mental health in an open way,” she said. “Our kids put a lot of love into the sleeves. A lot of love has gone into it, and a lot of love has gone out of it.

She adds open dialogue on mental health is important every day of the year.

“People often say that they don’t ask for help because of the stigma around mental health,” Welshman says. “So, our program is all about creating less stigma, and talking about mental health, and making it more comfortable for people to talk about it.”

In addition to the library, the sleeves were available at Cafe Verve, Redcliff Bakery, Mad Hatter Roastery, Station Coffee Company, Heartwood Cafe and Zucchini Blossom.

If you are struggling or in crisis, there are several support lines you can turn to.

The Distress Centre is a 24-hour support phone line that can be reached by calling 1-800-784-2433 (for people living in the 403 area code).

The AHS Mental Health Line also offers intervention and crisis support. It can be reached 24 hours a day at 1-877-303-2642.

Kids Help Phone is also available 24/7 for youth who need help. They can be reached by phone at 1-800-668-6868, or by text by texting 686868.