By Greg Higgins

Larger space opens to help those with mental illness

Sep 27, 2016 | 3:12 PM

A program for people with severe mental illnesses has almost tripled its members over the last five years.

The Canadian Mental Health Association in the Battlefords provides lunch, takes members on field trips and vacations they otherwise could not afford.

Jane Zielke de Montbrun, the executive director of the Canadian Mental Health Association’s Battleford branch said when she joined in 2011 there were 65 members using the facility, a number which grew to 150 this year.

“These are people with severe schizophrenia among other illnesses. They can’t find jobs and are frequently treated differently because of their illness,” Zielke de Montbrun said.

Zielke de Montbrun said referrals to the program were being rejected because there was no space. As a way to curb the issue, Zielke de Montbrun said the association began accepting people outside of the designated 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. shifts, making it a drop-in centre.

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“I believe the reason we’ve had more referrals is because of that,” Zielke de Montbrun said. “Maybe those people were always in the community but didn’t access any services. There are a lot of people who get memberships and don’t participate in the programs here but they get the membership to stay active.”

Zielke de Montbrun believes physical activity promotes mental health. She buys punch passes for the Field House and Aquatic Centre which allows members to use the facilities for free. Zielke de Montbrun added members wouldn’t be able to afford passes on their own. 

Zielke de Montbrun wants to show the community what mental illness is and break down barriers. The association will begin its Make Room for Mental Health fundraising campaign on Wednesday, Sept. 28. It will begin at 5 p.m. in the lower level of the North Battleford Lions’ Den.

The Canadian Mental Health Association purchased the new two-storey building and Zielke de Montbrun said renovations and furnishing will cost upwards of $615,000. According to the executive director a new garage is needed as well as chairlifts for those with physical disabilities.

The association is currently located across from the SGI claims centre in North Battleford. Zielke de Montbrun said the 1,500 square foot building can no longer accommodate the amount of members using the facility at one time.

“If you would come to our organization at lunchtime, you’d find people eating lunch on their laps or going outside,” Zielke de Montbrun said. “It’s really crowded because there are 25 to 30 people here at once.”

Zielke de Montbrun added the new facility will be double the size and can easily handle the current traffic plus more.

Greg Higgins is battlefordsNOW’s city municipal affairs and health reporter. He can be reached at ghiggins@jpbg.ca or tweet him @realgreghiggins.