WEYBURN - Mental Health Week in Weyburn will promote and celebrate mental health with activities organized by the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), including the Mayor’s Luncheon on Tuesday, May 7, featuring the Spirit Singers.
Mental Health Week was proclaimed in Weyburn for May 6-12, and to help kick the week, Weyburn This Week has a door hanger with a Call to Action for mental health awareness.
The theme for Mental Health Week is #compassion connects, which is “A Call to be Kind”.
As Tasha Collins, executive director of Weyburn’s CMHA read at the city council meeting for the proclamation, “We all have the capacity to be compassionate, and we know that doing so can make an enormous difference. This year’s Mental Health Week is centred on the healing power of compassion. In a world plagued by suffering, we emphasize that kindness is equally intrinsic to our humanity.”
A highlight of the week is the Mayor’s Luncheon, and the Spirit Singers will be on hand to provide the entertainment.
They will be doing excerpts from their recent musical production of “You’re A Good Man, Charlie Brown”, teaching about positive mental health through their songs.
The luncheon starts at 11:30 a.m. and runs to 1 p.m. at McKenna Hall. Tickets are $25 each or a table of eight for $200.
Tickets are available at the CMHA office at 404 Ashford Street, or at Barber Motors.
CMHA Weyburn is asking all city residents to help raise awareness of mental health, by placing the door hanger on their front door during Mental Health Week.
The hanger includes a QR code, which will lead the reader to a list of various resources available in the Weyburn area.
Also, the back of the door hanger lists resources, including the CMHA Weyburn branch office on Ashford Street; Envision Counselling and Support Centre; mental health and addictions from Sask. Health Authority; the Weyburn Police Service; the RCMP; and the Hope for Wellness help line, which is available 24/7 to all Indigenous people across Canada. The Suicide Crisis help line is also available 24/7 at 9-8-8.
New this year is a Self-care Workshop, which will be held at the CMHA building on Wednesday, May 8 from 7-8 p.m.
The workshop will explore the myths and facts around self-care, and attendees will learn the difference between mental health and mental illness.
Part of the activity will be to build your own self-soothing kit, based on your five senses. There is no cost to attend, but registration is required by emailing Tasha Collins at tashac@cmhask.com.
The used book sale will again be a part of Mental Health Week, and will be held on May 8 and 9 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Blue Earth Environmental, located at 35 Third Street.
Prices will be by donation, and all funds raised will be donated to CMHA Weyburn.
