Preventative mental health care can’t wait

Impact comes from a strong community. It’s the work we do together to support early intervention and prevention programs that make the impact we see each and every day for both individuals and families in Calgary.?

That feeling of community was an inspiration last month at the Willow Park Charity Golf Classic. Raising more than $600,000, this tournament is directly contributing to our Expanding Impact campaign that will elevate the ways we can provide support and services for those who need it most.?

We are expanding mental health and health clinic resources. We are expanding addiction treatment services. Mental health is and will continue to be a serious concern in our community, but we know what needs to be done. Early intervention and prevention programs at the community level take the pressure off the acute and urgent care health systems in our province. They help people get fast access to the care they need in the moment they need it most.

Elevating access to integrated care

“At 36, I found myself pregnant for the first time. I was newly single and suffering from concussions. My dad had recently passed, and my mother lived out of the country, so clearly, I needed some help.”

For this single mother, it’s not enough to walk into a social service, be handed some forms and told to come back in a few months for an appointment. The goal at CUPS is to expand our impact immediately. That means connecting her with a Care Coordinator right away and getting her the supports she needs efficiently in an integrated way.?

As part of the CUPS Expanding Impact project, we are working to improve access for people like this mom. A new 10,000+ square foot space will not only re-align the physical entrance to CUPS to be more welcoming and comfortable for clients, but will also house several community partners in the space. This is an integrated approach to early intervention and prevention for mental health challenges in Calgary.

For that mom who sent me a letter earlier this year, it was the wrap-around care she received at CUPS that has guided her on a stronger path forward.

“CUPS has helped me in so many ways. They helped to educate my son and myself, assisted me with a Housing subsidy and helped me get food from the Food Bank when I needed it. I felt unsafe and they helped me move. CUPS has made mine and my son’s quality of life so much better.”

Expanding impact with your support

Preventative mental health care isn’t something that can wait. This is a top priority of CUPS and many of our community partners.?

We have seen first hand the impact community programs can have through connecting individuals and families quickly with the services and supports they need. Preventative physical and mental health care. Parenting programs and access to the Child Development Centre. Long-term housing stability and improved wellbeing. It’s your support that helps make this happen.?

“CUPS believed in me, so I could believe in myself.”

If you are interested in supporting the CUPS Expanding Impact campaign, please reach out directly.