Canadian Mental Health Association (Niagara Branch)
5 Wellington Street, St. Catharines,
ON, L2R 5P7
PH: (905) 641-5222 Fax: (905) 641-8821




Overview:
Provides services to people experiencing mental health difficulties and promotes good mental health to Niagara residents through education and advocacy.

Program Investment by United Way:
1. Volunteer Training and Development
Volunteers work in all aspects of the organization, including client care, education, and promotion. Volunteer involvement satisfies the need for people to get involved in their community, allows the organization to keep its program costs down and reduces the discrimination faced by those experiencing mental health difficulties. Consumers of CMHA services benefit from the vast experiences volunteers bring to the program.

2. Public Education/Health Promotion
An estimated 72,000 individuals in Niagara will have a mental health problem at some point in their lives. Because they face prejudice and discrimination, these individuals often conceal their problems, allowing them to get worse. Education and health promotion helps decrease the incidence and severity of mental health issues by forming a more accepting community and dispelling myths about mental health issues.

3. Information and Referral
The counsel and support provided by CMHA staff is a vital service. Many callers are dealing with severe depression and thoughts of suicide. A major study of workplace supports found that individuals with mental health issues could avoid joblessness with less than one hour of support weekly. This timely support is provided through the CMHA’s telephone and brief walk-in counselling.

4. Phoenix House
Phoenix House offers a rehabilitation program for adults (16+) who have serious mental health problems such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and depression. Staff and volunteers provide assistance with housing, finances, medical intervention, advocacy and arrange social recreational activities. Phoenix House provides a safe, respectful and accessible program that focuses on recovery for some of the community’s most vulnerable citizens. The program also serves to reduce their dependency on more costly forms of intervention, such as hospitalization. The home welcomes homeless people as well, helping them meet their basic and psychological needs