The “Giving Hope for Mental Health” campaign celebrates their purchases after 6 months and $162,900 raised!

Thanks to community support from organizations, individuals, and businesses such as Methanex, TELUS, Cancarb, CNRL, and Pembina, the Medicine Hat Health Foundation is making a difference for mental health in the community.

To date, the Medicine Hat Recovery Center has received all new mattresses, an all-season walking path, yard furniture, and newly landscaped areas. At the Medicine Hat Regional Hospital, the inpatient addiction and mental health department has received funding for 31 chairs for patient rooms, a new patient washing machine, a tub lift, a recumbent exercise bike, and patio furniture. Also, the pediatric floor is receiving a new mental health bed and safety upgrades for a dedicated mental health space.

Recently donations have also been utilized contracting Paintergirl for custom painting in the hallway leading into the inpatient psychiatric unit of the hospital. Patients and families can admire murals of the Saamis Tepee, Police Point Park, and the North Saskatchewan River during their stay. The manager of the unit is beyond thankful for the support and awareness that this campaign is providing.

Staff at the Recovery Center have reported the following:

“A client who was in for residential treatment last year and returned last week for our services told us how wonderful the new pathway was as ‘he can actually ride the bike on it now.’ Our recreational therapist is utilizing the path, garden, and meditation spaces for programing. Clients can now use the full backyard to exercise, reflect, and build community around outdoor activities. They are out every evening sitting around the fire table, making hotdogs or s’mores, and sometimes watching an outdoor movie. Clients are finally able to move around the full backyard on the path and utilize the new spaces for their healing. Some comments from the clients are: ‘it feels so therapeutic out there’ and ‘it encourages us to come together as a group in our activities.’”

The Health Foundation also continually ensure that the mental health programs have the journals and stationary that they need for patient therapy, as well as personal care and comfort items such as shampoo, socks, slippers, and distraction tools.

Our Giving Hope for Mental Health campaign continues to raise funds for the Inpatient Psychiatric Unit at the Medicine Hat Regional Hospital, outpatient support programs, and the Medicine Hat Recovery Center. To date, our donors have raised $162,900 towards our $500,000+ goal. For more information about the campaign, please visit www.ourhealthfoundation.ca/givehope4mh/.