Drumheller’s town-subsidized counselling program launched in the fall last year and was quickly filled, demonstrating the need for affordable mental health and counselling services in the valley.
The program, organized by Family and Community Support Services with a $20,000 budget provided by the Town of Drumheller, has provided support for 26 clients, both completed and on-going, with FCSS applying for increased funding of $25,000 in coming years due to the need seen for this new program.
FCSS coordinator April Harrison says the program was developed to “meet the gap in services” in town, providing counselling services for clients who did not fit into the existing supports in the community. She says a social needs assessment completed last year identified affordable counselling and mental health services as a high priority for Drumheller.
“The fact that we have eight on the waitlist, and there are probably more, shows there’s a high need for it,” she says, adding rural people often face magnified challenges in acquiring services they need.
“Urban centres have more provision and accessibility as it’s easier for people to get around with public transit. The needs are exacerbated in a rural community as it’s not as easy to get into the city to receive services, and a lot of people find face-to-face support helpful compared to online or phone support,” she says.
Existing services include Alberta Health Service’s mental health and addictions counselling, the Association of Communities Against Abuse who provides free counselling for individuals facing sexual abuse-related issues, and Wheatland County Counselling which offers private counselling services.
The subsidized counselling program is open to all residents of Drumheller, regardless of age, and also provides services for not only individual clients but couples and family groups.
The Hersch So Good Fund was established last year to raise funds for the program in addition to the budget provided by the town. Anyone wishing to donate to the fund can contact the FCSS office at (403) 823-1315.
