Mental illness takes many forms, and across the Lakeland, there are supports for those who need them most.
Whether it’s anxiety, depression, ADHD, an unhealthy relationship, or overcoming sexual assault, there are services right in your own backyard that can offer the help you need, when you need it.
“When people are ready to come forward and seek help, they’re ready at that moment and they’re ready in their healing process. It’s so important that we hear what they’re saying and that we have services in their home communities in order to support them,” said Cheryl Bujold, executive director for the Dragonfly Counselling and Support Centre.
She said, when it comes to sexual violence, getting the help they need when they’re ready can be extremely important in the healing process for victims.
“When we’re talking about sexual violence, it’s such a prevalent issue in our community. In the past, there has been so much stigma towards the issue. Our outreach program allows us to go out to people in their home communities and provide our services right there on the spot,” Bujold continued. “Many of our clients experience barriers to accessing services. Services are disruptive, that’s why one of the things that we offer are sessions in schools. School divisions have allowed us space inside of schools so not only is the information and counseling session confidential, but it also decreases time away from their routine. They can experience services right there, in a safe place.”
The Dragonfly Centre isn’t the only program to work with local school divisions.
The Bonnyville Child and Adolescent Mental Health Clinic, which works with youth from ages six to 17 with ADHD, depression, and anxiety, also works with teachers, school counselors, and parents in order to connect a child with the services he or she may need.
Much like the Dragonfly Centre, being able to provide these supports locally is vital to the organization.
“Any specialized services are hours away, so we want to be able to offer something to keep travel down and to address it right here in Bonnyville,” expressed Alena Thompson, mental health navigator with the Bonnyville Child and Adolescent Mental Health Clinic. “We’re a very unique clinic. There’s nothing like this in Alberta. It’s allowing us an opportunity to keep services local, to address our community members locally, and make better use of the services that we have by ensuring parents and families are aware of what we do have here, without them feeling like there is nothing and that they’re alone and isolated.”
Their programming has been available as a two-year pilot project. Recently, they received word they would be signing on for a three-year contract with Alberta Health Services (AHS), with help from the Town and MD of Bonnyville.
“We can take referrals from local children and families. They can call the clinic directly, go through their school, teachers, school counsellors, their family doctor. If there is a child they’re concerned with whether it’s anxiety, ADHD, or depression, we can help them through that and get them heading in the right direction,” said Thompson.
Reggie Jackson, manager with Addiction and Mental Health Services, believes transportation issues can be a major factor in rural Alberta.
By having their clinics in Bonnyville, Cold Lake, and St. Paul, they’re able to help those suffering from mental illness or addictions throughout the Lakeland.
“We’ve really been working on our services to design them in a particular way to promote its accessibility and that it provides services that meet their needs given time,” he said.
Research has shown that sexual violence has been linked to addiction and mental health issues.
According to Bujold, “child sexual abuse is a powerful indicator of health problems in adulthood as it disrupts the child’s sense of self, leading to difficulty relating to others, and inability to regulate their reactions to stressful events, and other interpersonal and emotional challenges.”
It can cause similar symptoms in adults impacted by sexual violence. In some cases, they can suffer from low self-esteem, anxiety, depression, anger, post-traumatic stress disorder, disassociation, sexual difficulties, and addictions issues.
“If the problem is left untreated, it can cause a lifetime of long-term impacts,” she expressed.
Jackson sees the connection between mental illness and addictions every day.
“Often the two are closely related, and sometimes we have both of those components going,” said Jackson.
But when it comes down to it, understanding the difference between mental health and mental illness is important.
“Mental health is a good thing. Sometimes we have a negative perception as to what mental health is,” Jackson explained. “On the other end of that spectrum is mental illness, that’s when circumstances and a lot of those challenges become insurmountable. They impact your life, they impact it in various ways, your work, education, sleep, relationships, it can impact all of those aspects. Those things are really important.”
According to Jackson, there’s a spectrum between mental health and mental illness, and where someone falls on that spectrum will determine their needs on the path to healing.
“Sometimes you’re just mentally unwell. That could be struggling with grief, or you’re struggling with a relationship break up or life transition that’s difficult to cope with,” noted Jackson. “Understanding that spectrum can really help people see where they’re at and how they can overcome some of those challenges.”
