An ongoing mental health and wellness initiative has received funding in 亚洲天堂 Lake. Heather Megchelsen, Regional Co-ordinator with the Family Alliance on Mental Illness, has been successful in taking advantage of a $10,000 offering from Northern Health.

鈥淥ne of the things that people feel strongly about is that there are no mental-health club houses,鈥� said Megchelsen. 鈥淪o we decided in 亚洲天堂 Lake that we would address that.鈥�

Megchelsen has made her office space available in the Muriel Mould building for a weekly Wellness Activity Centre. Although she expects users of the program to be primarily made up of those living with mental illness or addictions, she said that it鈥檚 not meant to exclude anyone who might feel that a place like this might help them.

鈥淚t鈥檚 for building up people鈥檚 social support and wellness,鈥� she said. 鈥淎nyone is welcome to attend. It鈥檚 for people who might be feeling isolated who want a safe place to socialize.鈥�

Besides the money to fund the initiative, Northern Health also donated a flat screen TV, a DVD player, and a Nintendo 'Wii' Player. The 亚洲天堂 Lake thrift store and the food bank have both made donations of kitchen hardware and grocery gift certificates to local supermarkets. A private donation of a foosball table was also made.

For now, the centre will host sessions every Tuesday. There will be games days, soup and socials, a peer support group, and other activities.

For more information contact Megchelsen at 250-692-7500.