Mental health support for older adults in the Sudbury area
Northern Initiative For Social Action (NISA), a mental health peer support organization in Sudbury, wants to get the word out about its program for people 55 and over who are facing emotional and mental health challenges or struggling with social isolation.
Officials said the program is there to let people know they not alone, especially during the Holidays.
Postcards are being distributed throughout the community along with information cards on NISA's Older Adult Peer Support program.
The coordinator of the program said this age group often has difficulty opening up about mental health challenges.
"The older adults are suffering from loneliness, isolation," said Shirley Rajotte, the co-ordinator of the Older Adult Peer Support Program at NISA.
“When they were young, if they admitted having a mental health problem, that was a big taboo, that was a big stigma and you may end up in an institution. So a lot of them just covered it up.”
NISA offers peer-to-peer mental health support.
A recent meet-and-greet was to share how NISA is there for people during the Holidays and all year long.
"Peer support is really important in the sense that it's a bit different than typical counselling services," said Shanleigh Brosseau, the communications co-ordinator at NISA.
“It's more so about supporting people in their recovery. It's very self-directed. People have the opportunity to sort of pursue their own recovery as they see is right for them. And we are more here to support them and direct them (to) the right resources.”
Officials at NISA said the Older Adult Peer Support Program started in 2019 and it recently received funding from Health Canada extending it to 2026.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Police identify two of eight migrants pulled from water near Akwesasne, Que.
The Akwesasne Mohawk Police identified two of the eight migrants whose bodies were pulled from the St. Lawrence River earlier this week, but said Saturday they're still searching for a local resident whose boat was found near the victims.

Hungry iguana bites and infects toddler with rare bacterial infection before snatching her cake
A rare infection with tuberculosis-like symptoms was reported in a toddler after an iguana bit her before snatching away a slice of cake on a trip to Costa Rica.
W5 investigates | Priest, neighbours issue plea for help for struggling international students in Cape Breton
Cape Breton University has more than doubled in size by enrolling thousands of international students, and critics say the campus and community weren't ready. Watch the documentary 'Cash Cow' on CTV W5, Saturday at 7 p.m.
Interim RCMP commissioner Duheme 'very concerned' about foreign interference
As questions continue to swirl around the issue of other countries' meddling in Canadian affairs, interim RCMP Commissioner Michael Duheme says he's 'very, very concerned' about foreign interference, and would like to see the national force be able to use intelligence as evidence in its investigations.
Migrant bodies in St. Lawrence 'heartbreaking' but 'predictable,' advocate says
After the bodies of several people were discovered in the St. Lawrence River, who authorities say were likely trying to cross illegally into the U.S., a migrant advocate is questioning why people are fleeing Canada.
April storms bring May norms: Weather Network’s seasonal forecast
The latest seasonal outlook from The Weather Network shows early April will continue to be chilly with flip-flopping temperatures bringing above and below the usual levels of precipitation seen around this time.
At least 26 dead after tornadoes rake U.S. Midwest, South
Storms that dropped possibly dozens of tornadoes killed at least 26 people in small towns and big cities across the South and Midwest, tearing a path through the Arkansas capital, collapsing the roof of a packed concert venue in Illinois, and stunning people throughout the region Saturday with the damage's scope.
A glass of wine or beer per day is fine for your health: new study
A new Canadian study of 4.8 million people says a daily alcoholic drink isn't likely to send anyone to an early grave, nor will it offer any of the health benefits touted by previous studies, even if it is organic red wine.
Federal minimum wage, taxes on alcohol: Here's what's changing in Canada April 1
The federal minimum wage is increasing from $15.55 per hour to $16.65, and taxes are going up on gas and alcohol nationwide starting April 1.