Anger Management for Teens

This is a four-session program for teens dealing with their own anger or the anger of others. Teens gain a better understanding of how and why they respond to anger triggers the way they do; they learn how to change their negative responses and replace them with positive ones.

Anger Management for Adults

We all get angry from time to time. This four-week course is for anyone facing anger problems. Participants learn strategies to deal with their anger or the anger of another person. Participants are asked to monitor their anger for several weeks and notice changes as they practice techniques used in the workshops.

Active Parenting of Teens

This program for parents of preteen or teenaged children focuses on down-to-earth, practical ways to meet the challenges of raising teenagers in today’s fast-paced society. Many parents need special tools to communicate with teens and help in understanding the problems and challenges facing their children. In six weeks, participants learn tools to increase communication, leading to a happier family home.

Active Parenting

This program helps parents develop courage, responsibility, and character in their children through a three-evening, video- and discussion-based workshop. Family is the foundation for everyone’s mental health, and this workshop gives parents tools to actively and positively succeed at parenting.

Active Parenting for Stepfamilies

Parents in families with stepchildren need support and strategies in dealing with specific problems that arise from this family makeup. Everyone needs to learn new rules, and both children and adults need to build relationships with their new family members. This video-based program enables parents and step-parents to guide their children through the transition to a new family matrix, build a powerful parenting team, and strengthen their marriage.

Working with Stress

Current research now links stress-related illnesses like depression to physical illness. This program is for anyone facing our modern-day stresses. Learn how to recognize the stresses in your daily life, and make stress a positive influence in your life.

Seniors Outreach

This is for seniors who are in need of support or service referrals, who may be feeling isolated and are having difficulties with everyday life. The program promotes social independence and a sense of dignity and well-being, while assisting older persons to identify and act on their own social needs. Outreach workers help clients access services and programs and visit homebound clients.

Self-Esteem for Women/Self-Esteem for Men

If you feel a need to re-evaluate and nurture your self-esteem, this program is for you. With particular stresses of shift work, living without families and in isolation, many men and women need this support. Why is self-esteem so important? How do we learn to feel that we are competent and loveable? This program helps participants explore and answer these questions.

Cooperative Parenting and Divorce

This program is for parents who are divorced and sharing parenting responsibilities. This extensive, informed, and interactive program examines the complex realities of parenting and divorce. The program is designed to improve the quality of parental relationships in situations of separation and divorce, preparing parents to work positively with each other in parenting their children.

Mental Health Consumer Advocate

The consumer advocate helps in areas such as the Mental Health Act, housing, social assistance and/or AISH, education, income tax preparation, budgeting, clothing, and many other necessities. The program offers a referral service to clients, facilitation of support groups, assistance in goal planning, information and resources and will also advocate on behalf of clients to fulfill their basic needs and human rights.

Building Self-Esteem in Your Child

This course offers tools to parents of children between the ages of 5 and 13 that will encourage self-esteem in their children. In four sessions, parents are given strategies to engender their child’s sense of basic worthiness and competency. This course offers techniques for giving children a healthy foundation for life.

Club 4-U
A mental health consumer directed drop-in program providing leisure and recreation activities, peer support and social development opportunities. The program also includes a video lending library and client operated concession.

Applied Suicide Intervention Program
CMHA hosts the Suicide Prevention Training Program in Southwestern Alberta, which provides training in suicide risk assessment and suicide prevention techniques.

A la Karte Program
A client driven program that offers a concession service in the local government offices. Clients learn inventory control, purchasing and customer service skills and share in all the profits from the venture.

Enviro Rangers Program
The “Rangers” is a youth group focused on developing a sense of community through volunteering in a number of environmentally related activities.

Canadian Mental Health Crisis Beds
A 24 hour staffed community stabilization program for clients in crisis. Referrals through Crisis Intervention Team only.

Peer Support
A client directed program that offers leisure and recreational activities.

Chez Noveau
A client staffed program that offers a concession service at the CMHA office. Clients learn inventory control and customer service skills.

Education
The purpose of education programs is to increase awareness and understanding of mental health. The Association provides workshops for professionals, caregivers, clients and the community at large with a focus on mental wellness.

Independent Living Skills (ILS)
This program provides one to one support to adults who require assistance on developing and maintaining their daily living skills.

Mental Health Crisis Intervention Team
An eighteen hour, seven day a week mobile support service that provides crisis intervention and stabilization. Pager number 403-329-5630.

Mental Health Client Program
In house education opportunities that include computer training, symptom management groups and other client centered programs in partnership with the Chinook Health Region and the Schizophrenia Society.

Housing
Laura House Group Home: Named after one of the Association’s benefactors, the group home offers transitional housing and respite care. Laura House is a community based residential program that provides alternative housing for persons with mental illness. Individuals residing at Laura House receives a variety of support and life skill development so they can live successfully in the community.

Laura House provides a 6 bed transitional home that incorporates skill development including symptom management, medication management, personal budgeting, personal presentation, communication and health education.

Laura House maintains partnerships with the Lethbridge Regional Hospital Day Treatment Horticulture Group and assisting with cooking at Peer Support and Club 4U functions.

Subsidized Housing: CMHA in partnership with the Lethbridge Housing Authority, provides six subsidized housing allocations for persons with mental illness. Lethbridge housing funds the individuals and CMHA provides the support needed for the individual to maintain their residence.

Housing Searches: CMHA provides support to individuals in securing safe, affordable housing options and assists with landlord / tenant issues.

Scenic Drive Apartments: A partnership between the Chinook Health Region, Lethbridge Housing authority and the CMHA, the project provides three community mental health crisis beds and supported apartment living.

Community Approach to Skills Development Training Program
This “Best Practices” program offers a variety of hands on skills training opportunities for persons experiencing mental health problems. The program is delivered through the Lethbridge Community College with training such as:
-Construction Technologies
-Small Engine Repair
-Life Management
-Life Skills in the Kitchen
-CPR/First Aid
-Workplace Hazardous Material Information System

Coordinated Community Outreach Team

This program is for people who are homeless, at risk of becoming homeless, or struggling with issues related to poverty. The program provides information and referrals, as well as advocacy and client management. Outreach workers meet with clients individually to provide direct assistance or referrals to appropriate agencies.

Peer Support Program

The Peer Support Program is designed for individuals who have mental illnesses and feel they are ready for the challenge of reintegrating into their community. The program offers clients a safe learning environment where they can relearn skills and gain confidence and a sense of security. Two educational courses are offered: The Art of Friendship and the Wellness Club.

Supportive Housing

This program is for individuals living with a mental illness who want to live in their own apartment with some outside support. Residents work towards goals and activities that allow them to participate more fully in the community. Goals are achieved through the work of on-site tenant support staff, consumer support workers, and a case manager, who work with clients to achieve day-to-day needs.

Volunteer Program

This program helps anyone interested in volunteering to contribute to their community, meet new people, build their resume, and share experiences and strengths. The program provides volunteer opportunities and experience in everything from retail and customer service to special events and public speaking. Come see how much fun volunteering can be!

Bereavement Support Services

This program allows individuals to learn about and explore grief in a way that they can better understand normal reactions and how grief changes people. Individual support and support groups are offered throughout the year, as well as workshops that provide education and training about grief-related topics.

Guardianship Program, Community Involvement Program

This is for an individual seeking private guardianship of a dependent adult. Guardianship is a legal process which gives an individual (a guardian) the legal authority and responsibility to make or assist in making decisions about personal matters on behalf of a dependent adult. This program provides self-help guardianship kits as well as direction and support to reduce the cost and clarify the process for those seeking guardianship.

Education Program

This is for individuals, family members, service providers, and the general public who want to learn more about mental illness and mental wellness. Presentations, resources, and information sessions are offered throughout the year.

Alberta Brain Injury Network

This program is for those who have suffered a brain injury after birth. The program helps these individuals increase their independence and gain a greater quality of life. Support workers assist with developing and maintaining daily living skills and independence. They also help with decision-making, medical/health practices, improving personal support networks, and increasing community participation. Through all this, the program provides support, coordination, and education to survivors, their families, and their caregivers.

Mental Health Promotion and Education Program

Learning more about mental health improves an understanding and acceptance of mental illness.  We provide presentations, displays, workshops and promotional campaigns that are tailor made for each event.  Activities are organized for Mental Health Week in May and Mental illness Awareness Week in October.  Stress Management workshops are  also available at various levels.

Suicide Prevention Program

A variety of prevention, training and bereavement services relating to Suicide are available to an individual, family or community group.  Workshops and presentations are tailor made to meet the specific needs of groups requesting them.

The Hope and Healing Support After Suicide Group provides a safe environment to those who have lost a loved one to suicide.

The Regional Suicide Prevention Council believes reducing suicide is a community’s responsibility.  This council is comprised of various partners from our region that want to have an impact on reducing suicide.

Yellow Ribbon Campaign

This is a Suicide Prevention Program for Youth that sends the message, “It’s OK to Ask 4 Help”®.  The Yellow Ribbon Program and cards empower youth, giving them permission and a way to ask for help.  The presentations teach awareness and suicide prevention skills to both youth and adults. Barb Lamoureux, who lost her stepson to suicide, is the facilitator for the Yellow Ribbon Program in Canada. She is invited to our region regularly to present the Yellow Ribbon Program to the youth in our region

The Post Thrift Store

Gently used clothes, books, furniture and household goods are sold in the Post Thrift Store, with proceeds used to support CMHA programs and services

Our volunteers enjoy working at the Post Thrift Store in retail and sales.

CMHA also provides supportive employment opportunities at the Post thrift Store sorting and selling donated goods.

Advocacy and Referral Services

CMHA promotes social change needed to ensure that people with a mental illness have the treatment and support they need to participate in community life.

CMHA is a place you can find help with AISH, CPP forms, reports and your income tax.  And we can provide referral services when you are not sure where to go for help.

Routes To Work

CMHA sponsors ‘Routes To Work”, an employment program for people with a mental illness.  They help the person get ready to return to work by exploring skills and interests, developing resumes, practicing interviews, and providing job support.

Mental Health Drop In Center

This centre is open Monday thru Thursday.  It is a place for people to enjoy recreation and leisure activities, meet new friends and find support in a relaxed, safe environment.

Mental Health Support Service

The Whispers of Wellness Mental Health Club is for adults wanting to improve mental health.   This is a peer support group that provides support through education, caring and sharing, and socializing.

CMHA also offers financial assistance in the form of bursaries that can help people with a mental illness pursue skills or training, or attend credit counseling classes.

A resource lending library is available for consumers, family members, the general community and other professionals.  A large assortment of books, videos, magazines and journals on mental health issues are available.

Community Resource Centre Program

The Community Resource Centre Program provides opportunities for adult with mental illness in the Camrose Community to engage in activities and receive assistance to maintain social, physical, and emotional well being.

Employment Support Service

This program is intended for individuals over the age of 16 who wish to pursue employment and have severe and persistent mental illness or a developmental disability or a combination . In cooperation with Alberta Human Resources and Employment, Persons with Developmental Disabilities, and the East Central Health Region, the program provides:

• One-on-one counseling
• Assistance to develop resumes
• Conflict resolution skills training
• Job search skills training
• Child care sourcing
• Personal support network development

The program is based entirely on the individual’s wants and goals.

Individual Support Services

This program is for individuals over the age of 16 with severe and persistent mental illness who also have a developmental disability or a brain injury and wish to live more independently. Services include, but are not limited to:

• Assistance with locating accommodation
• Budget/income concerns
• Meal planning/shopping
• Personal care
• Skill training
• Community integration

Assertive Outreach Program

The Assertive Outreach Program is for individuals 16 years of age and over who are in immediate need and who may not be reached by existing mental health or community support services (or who are unaware of those that exist). Clients are offered one-on-one counseling, financial assistance, help in attaining medication, and basic needs such as clothing, food, shelter, and medical care.  This is for people who may have “fallen through the cracks” because of difficulties following treatment or a diagnosis that makes accessing treatment a challenge.

Independent Living Supports Program (ILS)

This program assists individuals with severe and persistent mental illness to live independently and interdependently in the community. Individuals identify needs and interests and then develop a plan to address these areas; they also learn to advocate for themselves to remove barriers. Services are coordinated with other agencies and provide support and assistance to promote social, physical, and emotional well-being, while fostering self-determination.

Cooking with Class

This fun class provides instruction in basic cooking skills to those coping with a severe and persistent mental illness. Participants prepare simple meals while learning safety principles with kitchen utensils and equipment. Menu planning, food pricing, cooking in quantities, and meal appearance are also included. Participants cook two meals – one to eat and one to take home, twice a week. Improved shopping and cooking skills often lead to improved physical and mental health.

Residential Program

This program is for individuals over the age of eighteen with a severe and persistent mental illness.  Individuals must be willing to work in cooperation with an Independent Living Skills Worker. Individuals must want to live in a shared living arrangement and be able to get along with others.

Speaker’s Group

The Speaker’s Group is a group of mental health consumers who, with help from an instructor, writes the story of their personal experience, reaction from family and friends, when and how they got help and how they are coping today. They are also given a mini Toastmaster’s training to help prepare them to speak in public. Their stories are mostly the emotional, not statistical, so audiences can understand and some relate to the speaker better. An evaluation form on the presentation, new information received and their reaction is handed out to each person that hears the story. The speaker is paid a $30.00 honorarium for each presentation and if it is out of town they receive mileage.

Women’s Web of Discovery

Held one afternoon each week for women dealing with severe and persistent mental illness, group activities provide support and socialization for women ages 18 to 64. Feelings of low self-esteem and isolation are addressed by building an atmosphere of safety and mutual caring. Women have substantial input in planning program activities.

Volunteer Program

This program provides volunteers for specific programs as well as for fundraising. Volunteers, who can be adults from the general community or client volunteers, work in the majority of CMHA programs in this region. This program provides a step towards more independence, including volunteering outside of CMHA, part-time employment, and returning to school. Training is provided in areas such as:

• Working with people and children with mental illness
• Administration fund development
• Bingos and casinos

Community Education

The Community Education Program is a broadly based community program designed to increase the understanding and awareness of mental illness in order to reduce stigma. The focus is to educate people about maintaining and enhancing mental health and securing proper treatment and support. This is accomplished through workshops, presentations, displays, website, distribution of printed materials, and video loans.Challenge by Choice

This program offers wellness oriented, recovery focused programming for youth age 16 – 30, who are living with a mental illness. The format is an experiential learning approach to teach recreation and leisure skills as well as developing enhanced social and personal development skills.  

Family Support Group

The Family Support Program offers information, education, and support to help family members who are supporting a loved one living with a mental illness. It is a drop-in group that occurs once a week and people are invited to come once, or as often as they need to.  

Housing Program

Our goal is to provide quality, secure, and affordable housing for people with mental illness and/or low income. The program works with tenants and their supports to maintain long-term housing.  

Workshops

CMHA Edmonton offers a number of training workshops for both adults and youth. This includes Applied Suicide Intervention Training, Mental Health First Aid, Mental Health First Aid for Youth, and others. 

Street Outreach & Stabilization

Up to 70 percent of homeless individuals have a mental health concern. The Street Outreach and Stabilization Program (SOS) helps address the needs of these hard-to-reach individuals. SOS assists by reaching out to those on the streets and helping them turn their lives around. Program recipients often transfer to other CMHA services, and in time, move towards independence.

Suicide Services

In Alberta, more than 400 people die by suicide each year, outranking such causes of death as motor vehicle collisions, AIDS, and homicide.

The Suicide Bereavement Support Program offers:

• Bereavement Counseling
• Individual Peer Support
• Group Support
• Informal Drop-in Group
• Debriefings and Educational Presentations
• Consultation and Resources
• Volunteer Opportunities

The Suicide Education Program helps prevent suicide through comprehensive awareness building in the community. This is achieved through interactive presentations made available in schools and for adult groups.

Supported Housing

The Supported Housing Program provides accommodation and a safe living environment for those who have difficulty living independently because of a mental illness. Skill development and other services are tailored to the client’s level of need and can include linkage with medical resources, emotional support, teaching skills around personal care, cooking, shopping, budgeting, and more.

Workplace Mental Health

The Copernicus Project is designed to break through the barriers that keep us from dealing effectively with mental health concerns in the workplace. The program brings groups of people together for informed dialogue about the underlying problems contributing to the dramatic rise in disabilities due to anxiety, depression, and other mental illnesses, which often are mistaken for performance issues in a workplace.