Mental health help available and more supports coming for Medicine Hat

“There is a group that has formed to talk about the issues currently happening within Medicine Hat and how we can support our community better. And so there’s a variety of people at that table including police, education, Alberta Health Services. So we’ve all come together to figure out what can we do to deal with some of the issues,” Reeder said.

There have been several comments and messages to Chat News from residents saying it’s been a struggle when reaching out to the mental health system for help.

However, Reeder says there are many in the mental health field here and willing to help if someone is struggling right now.

She says one of the best places to go is your family doctor and they can make referrals for counselling or other psychological services.

The other option is to call “211” and they can help you navigate the services within our community and find the supports that you need.

Reeder says the mental health system can be challenging sometimes, and the CMHA can help navigate where to start as well.

“We do support groups. So we have a support group that’s starting up right away. It’s the hope & healing support group focusing on suicide loss. And we also have a caregiver connections group – for family members or friends supporting someone with mental illness or addiction. So those are just two of our groups and I encourage people to check out our Facebook site we post our groups as they come up.”

The workshops will be in-person with physical distancing measures in place.

The CMHA provides support and education, not counselling services. But they can point you in that direction.

For counselling she says to connect with Alberta Health Services – Mental Health & Addictions at the provincial building.

Reeder adds there has been an increase in people struggling with their mental health right now which is understandable.

“There defiantly is a lack of connection that people have had over a number of months, so we just need to really stay hopeful and reach out for help, connect with others, and get the support that you’re needing.”

The CMHA Alberta Southeast Region is also opening up a recovery college that was started in Calgary.

A recovery college is education-based to help people develop skills to support themselves on a recovery journey. Whether it’s a mental illness, mental health, or addictions.

“So we partnered with Calgary CMHA to do that. And it’s having people that have experienced mental illness or addiction themselves support in co-facilitating courses around resiliency and how to improve your own resourcefulness.”

Reeder adds they are in the course of hiring people for the recovery college and it will be up and going pretty soon. It will be in-person with options to be online as well.

If you or someone you know is in crisis resources are available. In the case of an emergency dial 9-1-1. The Alberta Mental Health Help Line can be reached at 1-877-303-2642. The Kids Help Phone can be reached at 1-800-668-6868.

by Chantal Wagner

Mental health help available and more supports coming for Medicine Hat

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