The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) of the Kootenays celebrated Mental Illness Awareness Week with a lavish fundraising dinner at the Royal Alexandra Hall in Cranbrook last Wednesday. CMHA staff and members of the Board of Directors were on hand to explain to the diners what the organization's work is all about.

Kevin Weaver, Vice President of the Board, explained that as part of a provincial and national network, CMHA of the Kootenays is one of the largest and most diversified branches. Its area reaches from Golden to the Alberta border and all the way East to Grand Forks. The mandate of CMHA is to promote the mental health, wellness and emotional stability of all individuals within the communities it serves.

During Mental Illness Awareness Week especially, Weaver stated, the organization also aims at increasing public awareness and understanding of mental health. Often, he pointed out, there is still a stigma on mental illness and many people do not recognize the symptoms. A short video presentation told one story and let people hear one voice on mental illness and the power of recovery.

Matthew Good, Juno Award winning Canadian musician, spoke about his own mental illness and how he recovered from it. For years, Good's bipolarity had gone unnoticed and he kept symptoms in check with anti-depressants. An accidental overdose of prescription drugs sent Good into the emergency room and finally sent him on his way to getting a diagnosis as well as the proper help.

"Taking action and taking the initiative is obviously something you have to do," Good stated in the video. He urged all people who suspect they might suffer from a mental illness to see a doctor or a specialist. For his outspoken support to raise awareness in this province, CMHA of BC named Good the 2008 recipient of the Voices Award.

Wally Eddy, President of CMHA of the Kootenays spoke more about the different services the organization provides in this region. They range from providing safe and affordable housing options, staffing crisis intervention services, connecting volunteers with agencies around the community and offering a transition house to women and their children fleeing domestic violence. CMHA also runs child care programs in Cranbrook, offers employment programs, youth programs and partnership opportunities.

When tragedy strikes, Eddy stated, CMHA is there to help. "There are no guarantees for safety, but good preparation can limit the losses," he said. "There's never been a better time to be a Cranbrook resident. There's never been a better time to make Cranbrook a better place."

This is why CMHA is calling on the community for support of its services. While the various levels of government are funding some of the programs, Eddy says funding levels are not adequate and the need in the community goes far beyond contractual obligations or exists in areas where no funding is provided. To find out more about CMHA of the Kootenays, visit www.kootenays.cmha.bc.ca.