Bonnyville’s initiatives to treat mental health issues are quickly becoming the envy of rural Alberta.
Mayor Gene Sobolewski was interviewed by CTV about the town’s recently launched programs, which he relayed at Tuesday’s council meeting.
“We’re essentially pioneers in the province of Alberta in what we’ve done and what we’ve accomplished in a short period of time,” Sobolewski told council.
In the past couple years Bonnyville has established a Mental Health and Wellness Clinic as well as hire a Child and Adolescent Mental Health Navigator, whose primary job is to advise clients seeking mental health treatment on how to navigate the system and what resources they have at their disposal. Plans are also in place to open a mental health day camp in the summer for kids and teenagers struggling with mental health issues who might not be able to participate in other camps.
“The massive indication, especially from those people who were tweeting in, was that there is nothing like what we have elsewhere in rural Alberta, especially with the navigator and our focus on the youth,” added Sobolewksi. it’s really garnered some attention and I believe the Deputy Premier and Minister of Health are going to be paying us a visit and dialoguing with us on our next steps and things like that.”