New Gold Provides Funding for CMHA Fort Frances Accessibility Upgrades
For many Canadians, the challenge of accessing mental health support can be made even harder when accessibility is an added barrier. In fact, the 2024 State of Mental Health in Canada report published by the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) indicates that the mental health of Canadians is three times worse than before the pandemic and 2.5 million people can’t access necessary care.
While CMHA operates across Canada, locally in the Kenora and Rainy River Districts, CMHA Fort Frances branch works to provide information, knowledge and support to promote mental wellness by enabling individuals, groups and communities to increase control over their mental health. Programming is accessible by anyone in the community, with strong representation from equity-seeking populations like seniors, newcomers, youth, Indigenous people and those who are precariously housed or experiencing homelessness.
“The Peer Support Drop-In program is the heart of our organization,” says Charlene Strain, Chief Executive Officer of the Fort Frances branch. “It’s the foundation of who we are here to support and who we most learn from”.
The program has been operating for over forty years, providing support to individuals and family members, 16-years of age and older, living with mental health and substance use challenges within the district. Led by a team of staff with lived experience with mental health and substance use challenges, the program promotes recovery and hope without judgment.
The program currently operates out of a 100-year-old house and is in dire need of upgrades. New Gold provided the Fort Frances branch with $40,518 for the construction of a concrete accessibility ramp. Through extensive renovations of the first floor, CMHA staff are working to ensure the space is accessible to everyone and completed in collaboration with individuals with lived experience to increase community access and positive health outcomes.
The CMHA Fort Frances branch’s Peer Support Drop-In Program is still running, with the new space expected to open spring 2027. Stay in formed about CMHAFF and their programs at www.fortfrances.cmha.ca
The post Strengthening Access to Mental Health Supports first appeared on Rainy River Mine.