GUELPH – The Canadian Mental Health Association of Waterloo Wellington (CMHAWW) has used $110,400 in funding from the Ontario Trillium Foundation to train its staff and volunteers for the realities of today.
That includes greater mental health needs in the community, more complex mental health needs, and how to combat compassion fatigue among those who provide compassionate care to community members.
The CMHAWW held a funding celebration at The Grove youth hub in Fergus on May 4.
“We have a new baseline of need,” said CMHAWW CEO Helen Fishburn in an interview on May 5.
“We have seen people struggle with much more prevalence and incidents related to mental health, addiction, and risk behaviour issues.
“And there’s an extra heaviness staff carries as a result. So, this funding is amazing.”
The agency received the funding last year and 560 staff and volunteers have gone through the training, that normally costs $50 to $200 per person.
Training covered includes:
- mental health first aid;
- safeTALK (suicide prevention course);
- ASIST (Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training); and
- compassion fatigue.
Fishburn said the suicide alert training will help those working the crisis phoneline or one-on-one counselors to “recognize when people are at risk of suicide and what to do to help.”
The compassion fatigue training is also vital, Fishburn said, as the work can be emotionally exhausting, and staff are getting burnt out.
“We’re not going back to pre-pandemic numbers. We have to shift to where the community is and learn new ways of managing it all,” she said.
Fishburn noted the COVID-19 pandemic caused layers of grief, loss, trauma and deeply-rooted fear and anxiety that’s exemplified by deep divisions across the country.
“There’s been a rise in hate and intolerance. It’s sad and it’s scary that darkness is there. But we can’t lose our focus,” Fishburn said.
“We invite people into healing so it doesn’t become destructive.”
Fishburn said the pandemic was a collective experience everyone went through, although it played out differently for individuals.
“Much of life has returned to normal, but we are still in the emotional wake,” she said, adding that being mindful and living in the moment can help bring perspective, and being kind can bring a positive reaction from others.
In a press release issued after the event, Wellington-Halton Hills MPP Ted Arnott stated the pandemic “caused a mental health crisis in our communities, and [CMHAWW] responded to provide support for thousands of our residents.
“As we continue to look forward to a brighter future, CMHAWW will continue to be there to help all of us maintain good mental health.”
Guelph MPP Mike Schreiner stated, “For decades, CMHA has provided Guelph with a multitude of services that are vital to those in need of housing, employment, and mental health support.
“CMHA has continued to strive for a better community that promotes resiliency and recovery. Thank you CMHA for your continued efforts to support the people
