The Canadian Mental Health Association's (CMHA) Battlefords branch representatives and supporters gather outside city hall in North Battleford Monday for the official flag raising ceremony to proclaim this week as Mental Health Week. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Angela Brown

Community support

Mental Health Week officially launched with flag-raising ceremony

May 6, 2019 | 12:42 PM

There was a strong show of support to launch Mental Health Week in the Battlefords Monday.

North Battleford Mayor Ryan Bater proclaimed the event with a flag-raising ceremony outside city hall.

“This is an awareness week,” he said. “It’s raising awareness of the importance of the community understanding mental illness.”

He said when many people think about the concept of illness, they likely envision a physical malady rather than mental health issue. So it is essential to draw attention to the fact that mental illness impacts people’s lives as well.

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He said the week is also to recognize the agencies in this community that provide assistance and support for those who are experiencing mental illness.

“That’s equally as important,” he said. “We’ve had a lot of success in this community in terms of people being able to get the support they need. We want to build on that.”

Mental Health Week runs until May 12. The theme for the week is #GetLoud, encouraging people to talk about mental health and what it means to them.

“We all need to be mentally healthy, and also to help break down some of that stigma around mental illness and mental health problems, and educate people,” Battlefords CMHA Executive Director Jane Zielke de Montbrun said.

Among the various events taking place during the week are student mental health fairs at John Paul II Collegiate and North Battleford Comprehensive High School.

Other events include a tattoo session.

Those who are interested can purchase a symbolic semi-colon tattoo at the CMHA branch office in North Battleford until 6 p.m. on Monday. A luncheon barbecue was planned at Library Park.

A mental health awareness walk is planned on Wednesday starting at 1:15 p.m. starting from the Saskatchewan Hospital North Battleford (SHNB).

On Thursday organizers will host a Talent Show at the SHNB gymnasium from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Then, on Saturday the 10th Annual Champions of Mental Health Gala is planned for the Western Development Museum.

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angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW