People took to the streets to show support for mental health in a walk last year. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Angela Brown

Week of learning, fun

Compassion and kindness focus of Battlefords’ Mental Health Week

May 2, 2024 | 4:00 PM

The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Battlefords Branch is getting ready to host a number of exciting events to celebrate Mental Health Week in the Battlefords.

Running May 6 to 12, the event includes everything from informative talks, to community walks to raise awareness of the important issue of mental health, and how it affects everyone.

CMHA Battlefords Branch executive director Michele Winterholt is looking forward to celebrating the week. The focus of the event this year is compassion and kindness, and how important that is in people’s mental health journey.

Winterholt said the week looks at the healing power of compassion.

“Compassion connects us and that’s through acts of kindness,” she said. “We encourage you or anyone to practice compassion, not only acknowledging suffering, but actively demonstrating care and kindness.”

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She noted a simple act of kindness has a ripple effect in the community, bringing its healing powers to many people at once.

“Compassion can start within yourself and expand to those around you,” Winterholt said, adding it can also ease depression, cause a “spike in happiness,” and makes people feel more optimistic.

The week will start with CMHA flag raisings at City Hall and Town Hall on May 6 to recognize the event.

Some other highlights of the week include a Mental Health Awareness Walk in North Battleford on May 7. People will meet at the CMHA Battlefords Branch and take part in a short walk downtown and back. The event, which starts at 11 a.m., will also include snacks and a drink for participants to enjoy.

The activities during Mental Health Week include some talks and a hospital tour on May 8 that’s organized by the Saskatchewan Hospital Legacy Trail , supported through the Battlefords North-West Historical Society .

“We partnered together to host a Mental Health Learning Forum during Mental Health Week to help create greater awareness within our community, and make sure we’re highlighting the need of mental health awareness,” Winterholt said. “We decided it would be a really great opportunity to have a couple of speakers tie in [to the event also.”

The event focuses on “a historical journey, and youth mental health.” The guest speakers during the talk include Dr. Erika Dyck, professor, Canada Research Chair in the History of Medicine, and Dr. Nathan Pyle and Alan Corbeil discussing child and youth mental health and addiction services, at Saskatchewan Hospital at 1 Jersey Drive in North Battleford.

Tours run at 5:30 p.m. Guest speaker talks start at 6:45 p.m.

Some other activities during Mental Health Week include an Act of Kindness Day on May 9. The CMHA will be out in the community delivering acts of kindness. People are encouraged to open the door for someone or buy someone a coffee, and do what they can to spread kindness in the Battlefords.

Then, on May 18 in Meota a 5 km walk/run is planned for this event that’s supported by the Catholic Church in Meota. The event starts at 10:30 a.m. at the church. It’s also a fundraiser for the CMHA Battlefords Branch.

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angela.brown@pattisonmedia.com

On X: @battlefordsNOW