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Local groups host barbecue to discuss mental health and homelessness

May 6, 2016 | 5:00 PM

Staff from a local shelter are partnering with an association in the city to work together and show how mental health and homelessness are related.

Lighthouse Assisted Living manager Caitlin Glencross said the two groups hosted a barbecue on Friday, May 6 with Treaty 6. She said a lot of people in the community who suffer from mental health issues use their facilities.

“There are a lot of people, when they do suffer from mental health, sometimes that’s a deterrence in them getting housed and that is sometimes a deterrence in them keeping stable housing,” she said.

The barbecue was part of mental health week, which is recognized across Canada each year during the first week of May to raise awareness about mental health. The community was invited to enjoy burgers and hotdogs in the sun outside the Lighthouse where they were also encouraged to donate to the organizations.

Glencross said there are lots of ways the community can help people dealing with mental health problems and homelessness.

“There are a lot of non-profit organizations here,” she said. “Volunteering and donating is always a good way to get involved.”

Donna Heselwood of the Canadian Mental Health Association was one of the many volunteers serving up burgers. She said she was happy all the organizations could come together to help each other out.

Heselwood said they need to work together because unfortunately mental health and homelessness often go hand-in-hand.

“A lot of our clients have had issues with homelessness in the past and of course we know homelessness can be a direct result of mental health issues,” she said.

The groups are trying to raise awareness about mental health in the community through public events like the barbecue and the walk for awareness yesterday.

“You know mental health has had a very bad reputation, a stigma attached to it for a very long time and that’s beginning to change and it needs to continue to change,” she said. “People need to understand mental health and physical health are very much the same. They’re both important and the more we can get people to be comfortable with what mental health issues are and what services are offered, the better, just the better for everybody.”

 

Sarah.rae@jpbg.ca

@sarahjeanrae