Excellence in the mental health field was celebrated at the Champions of Mental Health awards banquet Saturday.
The event, held at the Dekker Centre, was sponsored by the North Battleford branch of the Registered Psychiatric Nurses Association of Saskatchewan.
Recognized were those who have made a positive impact on those living with mental health, as well as promoting mental health awareness in the community. The well-attended event also included a silent auction with proceeds going to Camp Cosmo.
Four Champions of Mental Health awards were presented.
A Mental Health Employee Award went to Pam Hanna, who was honoured for her work in the KidsFirst program. Her work included providing education and awareness programs for parents on a wide range of topics.
Carol Funk, who presented the award, said "her warmth, sincerity and caring draw people to her as she offers them support and direction to resources available."
She also piloted a project at KidsFirst focusing on maternal mental health, bringing maternal mental health tool kits to the area through the Prevention Institute. The kits are available to frontline health-care personnel and home visiting agencies who identify mothers suffering from post-partum depression.
The Mental Health Volunteer Award was presented to Helmay and Arnie Loewen, who share their musical talents at various events around the community.
With Helmay singing and playing the guitar and Arnie playing the fiddle, both have performed for Battlefords Mental Health Association clients, as well as at nursing homes and elsewhere.
Lucy Bendall said the Loewen's initial reaction on receiving the award was "we don't need an award, we love what we do."
Receiving the award in the category of Community Based Organization was the Prairie Employment Program. According to award presenter Marion Palidwor, it is a non-profit organization with a mandate to provide pre-employment counselling services, including capacities programs, skills training enhancement programs and work placements for those with difficulty finding or keeping employment. Ray Fox accepted the award on behalf of the program.
Finally, a second Mental Health Employee Award was presented to Cathy Watson, whose varied career included stints as an RPN at Saskatchewan Hospital, in acute care in Prince Albert, in Lloydminster at the Dr. Cooke long term care facility and the Battlefords District Care Centre, where she works today.
Her generosity, and that of her husband George, was cited as well, as they would dress up every year as Santa and Mrs. Claus and distribute gifts on Christmas Day.
Cathy was described as highly respected and loved by her coworkers and residents, going "above and beyond" in enhancing the image of psychiatric nursing. Her approach, according to presenter Judy Lavoie, was "resident and family first, long before it was the buzzword of today."
