CMHA Kelowna

Supporting a Mentally Healthy Kelowna

Youth Housing Program Gets National Nod

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The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Kelowna is being recognized for their unique housing program for youth.

The program, called Bright Mindz, has received an honorary mention from the Making the Shift Youth Homelessness Prevention Awards, which are handed out to organizations that have ‘created an innovative initiative that have truly accelerated approaches to youth homelessness prevention in Canada’.

Bright Mindz is a youth housing initiative comprised of 18 micro suites for youth between the ages of 17-24 who are on the path towards adulthood. Focusing on advancing a young person’s education or career, the program provides homes to young people to experience independence while still having access to support.

CMHA Kelowna CEO, Mike Gawliuk says it is an honour to be recognized along with other programs from across the country that are taking a different approach to preventing youth homelessness.

“CMHA Kelowna is proud to operate the Bright Mindz program. We are providing youth with a home, and the supports and connections they need to prevent them from becoming the next generation of unhoused adults.”

The program launched in 2019 in an apartment building constructed by Worman Homes. The local builder worked closely with CMHA Kelowna to be able to provide an entire floor of suites for the program. Bright Mindz is further supported through partnerships with other youth service organizations in the community, BC Housing, and the Ministry of Child and Development. Local donors like the KGH Foundation Kiwanis Legacy Foundation played a significant role in supporting the program during its first few years of operation.

The Making the Shift Youth Homelessness Prevention Awards ceremony will take place in Halifax in November. Gawliuk says he hopes this recognition will help programs like this gain more support and funding. “At a time when so many communities are urgently focused on addressing the needs of unhoused individuals, it is essential to also consider the necessity and impact of prevention and early intervention initiatives, in particular those focused on youth and young adults.”

Find out more information about CMHA Kelowna’s Bright Mindz program

 

The Canadian Mental Health Association marks National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

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“We all have a role to play in remedying the effects that decades of systemic racism and colonialism have caused. It is important to acknowledge the realities of this and commit to making change and taking definitive action.”

Mike Gawliuk, CEO – CMHA Kelowna

 

September 30, 2023 marks the 3rd National Day for Truth and Reconciliation and the 10th anniversary of Orange Shirt Day. Orange Shirt Day began as a day of remembrance and action to promote awareness about the impact of the residential “school” system on Indigenous Peoples in Canada. Residential “schools” were part of the wider system of colonial and genocidal government policies. These are not merely historical. Their legacy lives on and continues to impact the mental health and well-being of Indigenous Peoples.

We acknowledge that, as the largest and one of the oldest providers of community mental health services in Canada, the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) has a responsibility to recognize and address the harmful ways the mental health system has upheld and perpetuated colonial practices and failed to respect the human rights of Indigenous Peoples.

We also call on those who deliver health, education, and social services, and decision-makers at all levels to implement the Calls to Action of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) in support of Indigenous mental health, healing, and well-being.

Reconciliation will require us to think deeply, to acknowledge past and present harms and to take responsibility. It will require transformation. While some of this work is well underway in parts of our federation, as an organization we are just at the beginning. The Canadian Mental Health Association has created a working group dedicated to laying the groundwork for decolonizing our programs, policies and practices. On this National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, we commit to doing this work with respect, honesty, humility and truth.

To learn more about reconciliation, visit the National Centre for Truth and Reconciliation website here.

*This article originally appeared on the CMHA National website.

Mental Health for All: No Space for Hate

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A message of support and inclusion from CMHA Kelowna’s CEO and CMHA BC Division

 

“CMHA Kelowna and Foundry Kelowna are committed to providing safe spaces for any person seeking help.
We are proud to partner with Central Okanagan Public Schools to assist students in accessing compassionate care and support.
Providing safe and inclusive spaces and supports is essential in promoting positive mental health and wellness.”

Mike Gawliuk, CEO, CMHA Kelowna

As an organization committed to mental health as a human right, we believe it is imperative to address an issue that continues to impact the lives of countless people in BC – the mental health of Two Spirit, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer, Asexual, Intersex and additional gender- and sexually-diverse (2SLGBTQAI+) individuals.

The transphobic, anti-gender diversity rhetoric occurring in British Columbia has adverse and harmful effects on the mental health of our communities. As a mental health organization, CMHA BC has seen firsthand that gender-affirming practices, education, and the fostering of a safe and protective environment not only promotes mental wellness, but directly saves lives.

Studies and individual experiences consistently reveal that 2SLGBTQAI+ individuals face higher rates of anxiety, depression, substance use, and suicidal ideation compared to their cisgender, heterosexual counterparts. The discrimination, societal pressures, and lack of acceptance encountered by the 2SLGBTQAI+ community can create an environment where mental health struggles are prevalent and often exacerbated.

Considering the above, we would like to emphasize the following:

We can all play a part in promoting a kind, compassionate, and inclusive community. Words matter.
Mental health organizations must play a part in recognizing and addressing harmful and stigmatizing rhetoric and must promote awareness of 2SLGBTQAI+ mental health challenges and services.
Public service organizations should maintain supportive environments where 2SLGBTQAI+ individuals can feel safe, valued, and accepted, thereby reducing the stigma surrounding their identities.
We stand in solidarity with the 2SLGBTQAI+ community and strive for a world where every individual can enjoy the same rights and opportunities to experience mental well-being, regardless of who they are.

Resources

We care about you. If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, call 1-800-784-2433 (1-800-SUICIDE), any time of day or night.
MindMapBC is a custom-made database of outpatient mental health services including professional counselling, peer counselling, support groups, and others, which is focused on services that are affirming of 2SLGBTQAI+ people. Where possible, MindMapBC has also selected services that are free, low-cost, or sliding scale, and self-referral services—meaning you do not need to see a doctor before accessing the service. https://www.mindmapbc.ca/about-us

*This article originally appeared on the CMHA BC Division website

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CMHA Kelowna
504 Sutherland Avenue, Kelowna, BC. V1Y 5X1
Phone: 250-861-3644
Fax: 250-763-4827

CMHA Kelowna Charitable #: 10686 3392 RR0001

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