Toxic stress can derail brain development and result in poor physical and mental health and addiction. Fortunately, science tells us how to combat toxic stress: build resilience through positive supports.

As Edmontonians continue to navigate the challenges posed by the pandemic, the need for education and compassion around mental wellbeing, both in our personal and professional lives, continues to grow.

The power of love at the BRICK Learning Centre: Transforming students’ lives through caring relationships

Realizing their telephone-based teen distress line was underutilized, DCC decided to try something new, and became the first organization in Canada to offer an online peer chat and texting service for youth in distress, now known as ConnecTeen.

This story picks up from where we left off in the Shared Wisdom story, “From enforcement to coffee and compassion: Trauma-informed care at Edmonton City Centre” that described a sea change in how security services are conceived and delivered at Edmonton City Centre (ECC).

What is it about some forms of training that inspire people to put evidence and new ideas into practice? We explored the training provided by the Imagine Institute for Learning under the umbrella of the Community Mental Health Action Plan.

The rewards of supporting people in crisis or mental health challenges can be unparalleled. To know we’ve helped someone and made a difference in their lives can impart a deep sense of meaning and purpose to our lives.

Nestled amongst the towering spruce trees of Calgary’s Mission community, the Aventa Centre of Excellence for Women with Addictions has been serving women with addictions for almost 50 years. From its humble roots as a volunteer-run home for women struggling with alcoholism, Aventa has grown and evolved over the years, earning a longstanding and excellent reputation for providing gender-responsive, trauma informed addiction treatment services exclusively to women.

The complexity and dynamism of the people and communities we serve, the issues they face, and the systems we work in makes optimizing the results of our efforts – making a difference in the lives of people we serve – a daunting challenge. To achieve the best possible outcomes in this environment, organizations need to continually learn, adapt and improve. Building and sustaining these abilities or capacities requires dedication and effort and we can learn from the experiences and wisdom of those who have succeeded in this regard.

How the Family Centre (TFC) in Edmonton increased access to mental health services and saved money, too

An event, Creating Hope Through Action, was held commemorate World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD) on September 10th.

Last year, Centre for Suicide Prevention and Living Hope developed safe messaging campaign materials to promote suicide prevention in pharmacies, and that campaign has found its way into Alberta pharmacies!

There have been increasing calls to make health and wellness services more effective by directly engaging young people in service design, delivery & evaluation. That’s where Kickstand & MoreGoodDays comes in.

Youth experiencing mental health concerns are more likely to talk to a peer than a professional. How can we help to enhance the mental health and well-being of youth and young adults?

Suicide is a complex, multifaceted issue. The Alberta Suicide Prevention Community of Practice offers professional learning opportunities for those involved in suicide prevention initiatives across Alberta.

The Working Mind was created as a means of supporting organizations to create workplace cultures that foster awareness, reduce stigma and support mental health and well being.

Have you ever had the feeling that things “aren’t just quite right” – that you could be doing things differently and getting better results? Have you ever experienced a convergence of events that made you realize things needed to change? This is a story about these very experiences – and how critical reflection, courageous action, and linkages between a large business and community-based mental health and addictions agencies has generated ground breaking changes in downtown Edmonton.

Councillor Scott McKeen has been a champion for Living Hope from the very beginning.

In its third year of implementation three key areas of focus have been identified to carry the plan to a fulsome realization of its core goals.

A Men’s Shed is a relaxed and inclusive place, for men with time on their hands, to share stories and form friendships. A place to do that thing you have always wanted to do—or do nothing at all.