Mental health support group shares their lived experiences to help others

Oscar is an addictions counselor and works with the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) as well as with the police and crisis team.

Damyan Davis, Rick Armstrong, and Ryan Oscar are the three founding members of Our Collective Journey.

The three have all recovered from addiction.

They found that through their recovery, their lived experience is what allows them to relate and help other people who may be suffering.

Davis says they share their experiences as recovered alcoholics and drug addicts.

And their focus is to help people who are in need in our community 24/7.

The group has since collaborated with the Medicine Hat & District Food Bank, CMHA, Medicine Hat Police Service, and Community Foundation.

As well as the Alberta Ministry of Addictions and Mental Health.

“And so just in the three of us sharing our stories, we realized the bigger goal was to have other people who have had the resilience and overcome crisis or struggle to utilize that experience to help other people. So it’s kind of like paying it forward, reaching down to help somebody else up. And in turn when they begin to thrive again, have them be able to reach out and help the next person who might be in the same position,” Davis told Chat News.

Our Collective Journey will be running addiction and mental health outreach programs out of the Medicine Hat Food Bank’s Wellness Centre once their renovations at the old fire hall location on Maple Ave are complete.

That will be with the support of CMHA and the province.

Davis says they’re trying to change the face of addiction and alcoholism to a face of recovery.

“I think that the vast majority of people, in my experience, think that if you’re an addict or an alcoholic that you’re destitute and somebody who might be living under a bridge. But in fact, people like myself who have also suffered and recovered from alcoholism and addiction, are highly successful people. They could be your neighbour, the person you buy groceries from, or the person giving you coffee.”

Our Collective Journey also received grant funding from the province and community foundation to develop and run addiction and mental health outreach.

Their social media platforms and “From Darkness To Life” podcast can be seen by visiting their website and Facebook page.

Davis says over 30,000 people have engaged on their social media platforms. They have also personally connected about 50 people with the agencies to support their needs. Whether a recovery facility, 12-step meeting, public housing, or food from the food bank.

The group has also partnered with an app company in Montreal to connect people on their phone who might be suffering.

“This app, for lack of better terms, is similar to what a dating app looks like but it’s for people who are struggling to anonymously reach out to vetted support people who are in our community or other communities,” Davis said.

He says the app starts a conversation in the comfort of your home if you’re struggling with addiction, an abusive relationship, mental health, or postpartum depression.

“It takes a lot of courage for someone to go to Alberta Health Services addictions or a police station. We’re not here as an ultimate solution, we’re here to support people in getting them to the places that they need to be.”

Our Collective Journey invites community and professionals to a community round table hopefully in March (pending COVID restrictions) to identify gaps in community programming and discuss community needs. The first of such was held on October 17 last year.

“We’ll walk with you on whatever that journey is, just know that you’re not alone. If you’re suffering, struggling, we’re here for you and we have a team of people who are ready to help, and it’s growing,” Davis added.

by Chantal Wagner

Mental health support group shares their lived experiences to help others

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