By Angela Brown

Mental Health Week starts with awareness walk

Apr 30, 2017 | 4:00 PM

The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Battlefords branch will be helping launch Mental Health Week starting with a flag raising ceremony at City Hall Monday accompanied with a walk to raise awareness.

It’s all part of a series of events during the week that wraps up May 7.

Branch executive director Jane Zielke de Montbrun is looking forward to the event to increase awareness about mental health needs in the community.

The ongoing central theme for Mental Health Week is “Mental Health for All.” This year the theme for the actual week is “Sick of Waiting.”

“People wait so long for services when they have mental health problems it’s become staggering,” said Zielke de Montbrun on the issue.

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She said it takes more than five months to see a psychiatrist and up to eight weeks or longer to access counselling services in the Battlefords area.

“We need to pay more attention to providing better mental health services for everybody in our community,” she said.

Some of the activities during Mental Health Week include the flag raising event City Hall at 10:15 a.m., followed by a walk to raise awareness beginning at 10:45 a.m. People will walk from City Hall to The Lighthouse Serving the Battlefords location.

“It will bring some focus on the importance of mental health in the Battlefords,” Zielke de Montbrun said.

During the noon hour until about 1:15 p.m. there will be a hamburger barbeque lunch in The Lighthouse parking lot.   

Tuesday, starting at 9 a.m. at the CMHA new branch in North Battleford, visitors who make an appointment will be able to make a donation to the new building fund by purchasing a tattoo.

Each tattoo will incorporate the semicolon sign, which represents hope, support and courage for people dealing with mental health issues.

Also on Tuesday, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. the Edwards Society will have a basement sale at its location on Clarke Drive in North Battleford.

Wednesday there will be a talent show in the Saskatchewan Hospital cafeteria from 1:15 p.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m., a Mental Health Fair is planned for Territorial Mall.

Individuals visiting the fair will be able to access information about mental health issues, as well as speak to representatives from various organizations that provide services or offer support to individuals and their families.

“There will be professionals you can speak with to get some advice if you like,” Zielke de Montbrun explained.

Friday starting at 10:30 a.m., there will be an update on the new Saskatchewan Hospital North Battleford project, at the site of the new facility. Details are available at 306-446-6800.

Then, Saturday, there will be a Champions of Mental Health Gala at 5 p.m. at the Dekker Centre.

During Mental Health Week, people can also take part in the #GETLOUD campaign. The CMHA national headquarters is asking people to speak out and write to their MP’s about the issue of improving access to mental health services. People can also get involved on social media and donate their energy, or also make a monetary donation to help mental health efforts.

angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW