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By Chris Brown

Coffee sleeve messages

#SleeveTheStigma campaign for mental health expands in southeastern Alberta

Jan 28, 2021 | 1:43 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Your cup of joe today might have come not just with the usual caffeine boost but also an emotional and mental boost.

For Sleeve the Stigma, Grade 1 to 12 students in the region were given blank coffee sleeves to design with handmade, positive mental health messages.

More than 500 sleeves were distributed in coffee shops in Redcliff, Bow Island, Oyen, Brooks, Tilley, Rosemary, Duchess, Bassano and Taber for Bell Let’s Talk Day.

This is the first year Sleeve the Stigma included communities around southeastern Alberta.

The program was launched in Medicine Hat by Alberta Health Services two years ago to coincide with Bell Let’s Talk Day on Jan. 28.

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You can show your sleeve and post #SleeveTheStigma and #bellletstalk on your social media accounts and continue the conversation around mental health. With every use of the hashtag #bellletstalk, five cents will go towards mental health initiatives.

AHS says educating yourself and focusing on people, rather than labels, are keys for combating stigma.

A helpful way to recognize attitudes and actions that contribute to the stigma of mental health conditions is to use the STOP criteria, developed by the Canadian Mental Health Association:

• Stereotypes people with mental health conditions.
• Trivializes or belittles people with mental health conditions and/or the condition itself.
• Offends people with mental health conditions by insulting them.
• Patronizes people with mental health conditions by treating them as less than others.

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

In the case of an emergency dial 911.

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

Distress Centre has a 24-hour support phone line available by calling 403-266-HELP (4357)

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.