Fundraiser helps community mental health support in Sudbury
A cheque was presented to the Northern Initiative for Social Action, also known as NISA, on Thursday. It was money raised in the Defeat Depression Walk held back in May at Bell Park.
NISA is an organization that offers community mental health support and programs and peer-to-peer connections.
"We offer peer support. We do social support, art based learning art based recovery. We offer support on the phones when everything else is closed and people might be isolated and have mental health concern they can call in and do support with a peer," Martin Boucher, the executive director of NISA, told CTV News.
The Mood Disorders Society of Canada was on hand for the cheque presentation. Defeat Depression is a major national fundraiser for the non-profit that supports smaller community-based community mental health organizations like NISA.
"Individuals with mental illness need this kind of support and so across Canada we need to have some kind of an idea of how do we support these groups? How can we come together and let the federal government know and provincial government know the importance of small mental health organizations and the work that they do," Ken Porter, the national program manager with Mood Disorders Society of Canada, said.
Officials said there is great benefit in peer support that is offered at NISA with members all having lived experience with mental health challenges or illness.
"Human connection is important because mental illness has a tendency to make you feel isolated and it makes you feel like you are alone it makes you feel like you are disconnected from society," Porter said.
NISA believes in active recovery rather than passive dependence on community services, according to officials.
To learn more about NISA visit their website.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Canadian gov't proposes new foreign influence registry as part of wide-spanning new bill
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's government is proposing a suite of new measures and law changes aimed at countering foreign interference in Canada, amid extensive scrutiny over past meddling attempts and an ever-evolving threat landscape.
Boeing Starliner capsule's first crewed test flight postponed
The long-awaited first crewed test flight of Boeing's new Starliner space capsule was called off for at least 24 hours over a technical issue that launch teams were unable to resolve in time for the planned Monday night lift-off.
Teacher charged in historical sexual assault of Calgary teenage girl
Calgary police have charged a teacher with the alleged sexual assault of a teenage girl more than 20 years ago.
Winnipeg man admits to killing four women, argues he's not criminally responsible
Defence lawyers of Jeremy Skibicki have admitted in court the accused killed four Indigenous women, but argues he is not criminally responsible for the deaths by way of mental disorder – this latest development has triggered a judge-alone trial rather than a jury trial.
Man banned from owning animals after fatal Calgary dog attack
The owner of three Calgary dogs that got loose and mauled a woman to death in 2022 has been ordered to pay a $15,000 fine within one year and banned from owning any animal for 15 years.
East-end Ottawa family dealing with massive rat infestation
Residents in Ottawa’s Elmridge Gardens complex are dealing with a rat infestation that just won’t go away. Now, after doing everything they can to try to fix the issue, they are pleading with the city to step in and help.
Mediterranean staple may lower your risk of death from dementia, study finds
A daily spoonful of olive oil could lower your risk of dying from dementia, according to a new study by Harvard scientists.
An El Nino-less summer is coming. Here's what that could mean for Canada
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
Newfoundland and Labrador latest province to tighten rules on Airbnbs
Newfoundland and Labrador is the latest jurisdiction to bring in stricter rules for short-term rentals, with a coming set of regulations that will force operators to register with the provincial government.