CMHA North & West Vancouver Branch Donor Advised Fund

about cmha

The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) is the oldest national mental health charity in Canada.

CMHA North and West Vancouver (NWV) branch is a not-for-profit, charitable organization. We provide a wide range of innovative and essential services tailored to and in partnership with the communities of North and West Vancouver, Bowen Island, the Sunshine Coast, and the Sea-to-Sky Corridor.

The CMHA North and West Vancouver Donor Advised Fund will support the operations of CMHA NWV Branch in delivering mental health services and the vision of mentally healthy people in a healthy society.

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OUR PROGRAMS

CMHA North & West Vancouver (NWV) offers a wide range of essential programs such as:

Housing -- we offer two different housing programs:
- the Circle of Care program is an innovative partnership with faith communities and a low barrier health clinic to house people leaving shelters with a capacity for 16 residents.
- the Supportive Housing program is a partnership with Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) offering 24/7 licensed mental health care to 19 residents.
Peer Assisted Care Team (PACT) -- mobile, community-led team that responds to crisis calls related to mental health and/or substance use on the North Shore.
Counselling -- offers confidential, self referral, low-cost counselling support to adults across communities in our region.
Social Support Groups -- aiming to foster a sense of community, wellness, and connection, we offer a wide range of social support groups free of charge.
Youth Programs -- the Steps Youth Program is a recreation-based group for the region's youth experiencing challenges with their mental health. We aim to support young people dealing with mild to moderate mental health challenges by building wellness through social activities.
Outreach -- we offer outreach services to assist people and connect them with housing, income, community resources, and other supports.
Peer Support -- peer navigators offer support to individuals navigating the mental health system which can often be overwhelming. They meet with you and identify the resources you need to move forward in your personal wellness.
Community Wellness -- we have been working alongside Tsleil-Waututh Nation, First Nations Health Authority and Reciprocal Consulting to pilot peer support initiatives in Indigenous communities in the South Coast region of BC.
Mental Health Education & Training -- we offer training such as Mental Health First Aid for organizations and community partners in our region.

Our 2021-2022 Annual Report provides a robust snapshot into CMHA NWV's services as well as sharing our successes and challenges.

impact stories

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Kutenda -- meeting immediate needs

Our Outreach Team met Kutenda, who was experiencing homelessness and substance use issues. Born in Zimbabwe, he had lost all his ID documents after arriving in Canada at a young age. Without ID, he was unable to access support services. Our Outreach Team helped him secure the documents and Kutenda was able to access financial and health services.

A pathway to recovery can start by having an immediate need met.

Sally -- self-esteem

Sally began counselling sessions during the pandemic. Housebound and experiencing heightened anxiety and depression, our counsellor recommended she join our art therapy support group alongside weekly counselling sessions. Sally began a daily painting practice. She thrived with the structure of weekly group meetings.

The combination of short-term counselling and social support builds self-esteem and long-term community connections, vital for recovery. Total Annual Cost: $400 (8 counselling sessions and free art therapy group).

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