Giving Changes Mental Health Care
Building a healthier future, together.
“In the wake of dual public health emergencies, and recognizing the broad impact of mental health, we need innovation, collaboration, and a renewed focus on prevention in order to continue to meet the needs of our communities.”
Danielle Cameron, Clinical Operations Executive Director, Interior Health
Almost everyone is familiar with mental health challenges, whether personally or through someone we care about. Supporting our hospital is, and will always be, essential. But supporting people earlier can help address challenges before they escalate, reducing the need for acute hospital care and strengthening our entire health care system.
Mental health care plays a critical role at KGH, but it does not stop at the hospital doors. Lasting mental wellness is also built through strong community supports that help people heal, recover and thrive.
Through Closer to Home Than You Think, we put that understanding into action. Together with you and our community partners, we invested in immediate needs while also looking further upstream, strengthening services at KGH, expanding community-based care and bringing organizations together to create more connected solutions. Today, that impact can be seen across the Central Okanagan, helping people access care and support in hospital, at home, at school and throughout our community.
British Columbians (1 in 5) currently experiencing a mental health issue or substance use disorder
has experienced mental health challenges by the age of 40
children in B.C. are not receiving the mental health treatment they need
These are just a few examples of how campaign support is strengthening mental health care across the Central Okanagan.
Supporting Recovery at KGH
The Music Therapy program on KGH’s Adult Inpatient Psychiatric Unit offers patients living with complex mental health diagnoses a meaningful way to engage in their care and recovery.
Led by a certified Music Therapist, the evidence-based program provides 15 hours of care each week, with group and one-to-one sessions that support emotional expression, self-regulation and social connection. Music Therapy helps strengthen coping skills and build resilience, giving patients tools to support their recovery beyond the hospital.
Last year alone, 306 sessions were provided to more than 200 patients.
Bringing Care Beyond Hospital Walls
Two mobile clinic vans have now been funded for the Central Okanagan Integrated Health Outreach Team (IHOT), helping expand access to medical care for some of our community’s most vulnerable residents. The first van has already more than doubled the team’s outreach capacity, and a second will soon expand that reach even further.
Strengthening Community Care
Some of the most important mental health support happens long before someone reaches a hospital. Campaign funding helped trusted community organizations reach people earlier, remove barriers to care and strengthen support for children, youth and families. A few examples include:
Upstream Kelowna | BGC Okanagan
Delivered in three Central Okanagan middle schools, Upstream Kelowna identifies young people who may be quietly struggling and connects them and their families with coordinated support before challenges reach the point of crisis.
Family Hub | Kelowna Community Resources
KCR’s Family Hub provides a welcoming, one-stop space connecting families with young children to coordinated services that support healthy development, build resilience and address anxiety and stress early. Building on this work, community support is helping to expand Family Hub into West Kelowna.
Foundry West Kelowna | CMHA Kelowna
Donor support is also helping bring Foundry services to West Kelowna, providing free and confidential services for youth ages 12 to 24 and their families, including counselling, peer support, physical and sexual health care, and education and employment support. The new location will serve West Kelowna, Westbank First Nation and surrounding rural communities.
outreach capacity through the donor-funded IHOT mobile clinic van
music therapy sessions offered last year
students received direct support through Upstream Kelowna
youth experiencing or at risk of homelessness housed through Bright Mindz
Working Together for a Healthier Community
Some of the most complex challenges facing our community cannot be solved by one organization alone.
Thrive Okanagan is a KGH Foundation-supported initiative focused on improving health and well-being through prevention, collaboration and system-level change. It brings nonprofits, health care providers and community partners together to align efforts, reduce duplication, and develop more connected solutions to shared challenges.
Explore more about Thrive Okanagan here.
MENTAL HEALTH CARE
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Mental Health Resources
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, support is available: