Winkler, January 23, 2019– After running a well-received, 3-course pilot in collaboration with Central Station Community Centre in early 2018, CMHA Central rejoins the Winkler-based centre and receives staffing support from Eden Health Care Services to operate a recovery college satellite campus in Winkler, known as Thrive Learning Centre.
An event to announce funding Central Station received from the Bell Let’s Talk Community Fund for the project will take place January 23rdat Central Station Community Centre, 545 Industrial Dr. in Winkler at 10:30 AM.
CMHA Central Region Executive Director, Sean Miller, comments on the importance of providing recovery-oriented programs and services in rural communities, “According to the Mental Health Commission of Canada, 1 in 5 Canadians will experience a mental health challenge in any given year. In rural communities that number increases to roughly 1 in 3. These regions typically lack the breadth of services available in larger city centres. There’s a growing body of evidence showing improved health outcomes for recovery college participants. Thrive Learning Centre represents an opportunity for anyone to come in, free of charge, and join with others on a similar path to improved mental health.”
In response to the need in Portage la Prairie, CMHA Central partnered with CMHA Manitoba and Winnipeg and the Manitoba Schizophrenia Society to open its main campus in fall of 2017, a first in Western Canada.
Miller has this to say about the upcoming partnership with Central Station and Eden Health Care Services, “CMHA is extremely grateful for the opportunity to open a satellite campus with two well-established and respected organizations in the community. Central Station Community Centre and Eden Health Care Services have come to the table with ideas, expertise, and a willingness to invest the time and effort necessary to make this project a success.”
Initially, the Winkler site will offer 10 of the more than 30 courses developed with the help of MSS, CMHA Manitoba and Winnipeg, U of M Occupational Therapy program fieldwork students, a Brandon University Psychiatric Nursing program student, and various members of the community. CMHA Central remains open to partnering with other organizations, professionals, and people with lived experience to either develop or deliver courses for the centre.
For more information on Thrive Learning Centre and to register visit: central.cmha.ca/thrive.
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CMHA Central was established in 1993 to serve the mental health needs of the south-central region of Manitoba. From our branch office situated in Portage la Prairie, we take an innovative and multi-faceted approach to supporting the resilience and recovery of people living with mental illness. Services offered include 3 different types of housing supports, a drop-in centre, peer support, and a learning centre focused on delivering a wide variety of courses free to the public. By creating an environment that is encouraging, compassionate, and non-judgmental, we assist individuals who wish to take positive steps toward improving their mental health and well-being. Equally as important, we seek to enhance the mental health of the community at large by advocating for improved access to and coordination of services, educating policy makers and community members, championing efforts to eliminate stigma, and working collaboratively with partners who share our cause.
For more information or to schedule an interview please contact:
Sean Miller
Executive Director, CMHA Central Region
sean@cmhacentral.ca
www.central.cmha.ca/thrive
204-240-8509
Bev Wiebe
Executive Director, Central Station Community Centre
www.winklercentralstation.ca
info@winklercentralstation.ca
204-325-0257
Kym Kaufman
CEO, Eden Health Care Services
https://edenhealthcare.ca/
ehcs@edenhealthcare.ca
1-866-895-2919