Reports - Regional: Kindersley

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2006/07 Submitted by Pam Welter, Branch Coordinator

Kindersley Branch has been working in the Kindersley area for thirty-five years to provide people with the information they need to better understand their own mental health and that of others.

Kindersley Branch takes part in a variety of fundraising initiatives including Cash Calendars and bake sales as well as sending out letters requesting donations.

One of the special initiatives at CMHA Kindersley Branch is the Christmas Hamper. Under this program, low income families can apply to receive a hamper for Christmas. Each family receives groceries for about a month, a Christmas turkey, and gifts from Santa for the kids. This is a huge population health promotions program, which is done in collaboration with numerous community groups. This year 130 hampers were supplied to residents throughout the Heartland Health Region and other communities.

The Kindersley Branch has done numerous presentations to schools and groups in several communities throughout the Heartland Health Region. Some of the topics covered are:

  • ASIST Training — Friends for Life
  • CMHA Roles and Responsibilities
  • Population Health Promotion from a Mental Health Point of View
  • Determinants of Health Affecting Mental Well Being
  • Depression
  • Youth Suicide Prevention
  • Schizophrenia (partnership program with the Schizophrenia Society)
  • Suicide Prevention Guide for Schools
  • “whoIam”” — Case study profiles of mental health services in our rural communities
  • CHEERS — Understanding the Relationship between Alcohol and Mental Health
  • moke Free Schools — Community Development and Communications Strategy

The Branch also offers the following programs:

  • Let’s Get Together
  • How to Drug Proof Your Kids
  • Safe Communities (farm safety, car seat safety, bike safety, smoke free
    communities)
  • In Motion Initiatives
  • Schizophrenia Partnerships Awareness Presentations
  • ASIST — Suicide Intervention Training
  • Talk Suicide Program for Schools.

The CMHA Kindersley Branch receives numerous invitations throughout the Heartland Health Region to attend various events with our information and pamphlet display. Through this service, CMHA Kindersley Branch is linked into the communities within the Health Region to do population health promotion, education, referrals and advocacy. CMHA Kindersley Branch provides referrals to appropriate agencies, community development, partnerships, schizophrenia support and crisis intervention (103 events in 2006/2007).

The case study profiles presentation (whoIam) addresses the following concerns and conditions of communities and mental health services in our rural communities in the Health Region:

  • Increase of substance abuse/use and violence
  • Isolation — a huge social issue in rural communities
  • Lack of emergency/mental health services
  • Long waiting lists for mental health services
  • Timely access to psychotherapy and treatment

The Kindersley Branch Board has several new volunteers (including youth volunteers) and Board Members as a result of the effective population health promotion through our community programs. The Kindersley Branch Board, volunteers and residents provide links between health care professionals, communities, individuals and resources. Our programs keep the branch liked to the communities in the Health Region and with community partners. Our programs are delivered within the Population Health Promotions model where key members in the communities are trained and provided with the resources to deliver and educate on mental health topics.

The need for mental health to be demystified is urgent. For too long mental health has been mysterious and, in comparison to many areas of physical health, is seldom talked about. The fact still remains that one in four of us will experience a mental health problem at some time in our lives.

The message is clear — mental health is everyone’s business, just like physical health. As a society we must get better at understanding mental health if we are to tackle some of the major health, economic and social burdens that face current and future generations.

Reach us at:

Kindersley Branch
Pam Welter, Branch Coordinator
Box 244
113 - 2nd Avenue East
Kindersley, SK S0L 1S0
Phone 306 463-8052, Fax 306 463-5506 or 834-2980
e-mail kincmha@sasktel.net