Welcoming Hardworking Volunteers Committed to Mental Wellness For All in Our Community

August 30, 2024: Ten gathered to welcome David Norget to this ASK Salt Spring gathering. While the group was small (great weather, long weekend, and ???), we laughed about all being family as everyone in this conversation was involved in building community through:

United by the strong shared commitment to creating a community of care, our time together revealed a dedicated group of selfless individuals representing hardworking nonprofits (and local government) who see both the benefits and challenges of creating a community that welcomes all, even those who are different from us.

David began our conversation with a Territorial Acknowledgement that, thanks to words from Adam Olsen in an interview he had with him, reminded us that, although care for our land is deeply embedded in First Nations’ culture, we settlers are not exempt – we also have the responsibility to nurture and care for the land on which we live, work and play, recognizing our interconnectedness.

(You may want to watch the full 25 minute interview with Adam Olsen where Adam talks about what he sees as meaningful about the Mental Wellness Initiative, his message to community leaders, and his own W̱SÁNEĆ wisdom.)

When asked what “excited and delighted” him, David immediately responded, ASK Salt Spring and the opportunity to discuss those issues most important to him. Right answer :)! He went on to say that he was thrilled that so many are involved in reinvesting in a healthy community.

We began by learning a bit about Salt Spring’s Mental Wellness Initiative (MWI) (https://saltspringexchange.com/2021/04/28/salt-spring-health-advancement-network-launches-new-mental-wellness-initiative/) Begun four years ago, it was spearheaded by the Salt Spring Health Advancement Network (SSHAN) in partnership with the Salt Spring Community Health Society. Focused on strengthening community by investing in the relationships essential to our mental wellness, those with lived experience have partnered with change makers to help realize the wellness potential of our community.

David put some questions on the board, asking for our feedback. They were:

  • What do you see as examples of community wellness, including how we are engaging together? 
  • What do you see as the challenges? 
  • How do we as a community engage together in our community’s wellness? How can we work better together? 
  • By working together, what community benefits would be possible?

Want to share your thoughts and opinions? You are welcome to provide your own thoughts through this online survey: What Does it Mean to Have Community Wellness? Your answers will be used by the Mental Wellness Initiative volunteers to inform actions.

David asked us how to keep others engaged. We all agreed that getting volunteers involved is difficult. We recognized that many of the hardworking volunteers who have fueled much that is good on Salt Spring for the past several decades are aging out. More volunteers are needed to carry on their good work. It was also agreed that for many, life in our increasingly complex world is demanding, leaving no extra time for volunteering. Have time, have interest, even in a small way? Contact David at davidnorget@gmail.com. No time, but want to donate?

It was suggested that offering potential volunteers the tools they need to get involved may help. An example of this is Salt Spring Community Health Society’s very successful Mental Health First Aid course (https://saltspringcommunityhealth.ca/upcoming-events/). This course is a wonderful way for interested folks to gain the skills they need to feel comfortable interacting with others who may not see the world as they do. Over 80 people in the community have chosen to be trained through this program.

We were reminded that venturing into areas in which individuals are struggling with mental health and/or addiction challenges can be disturbing. When behavioural norms are different, it can feel very messy to those who are used to predictable and neat interactions. We were asked to be brave, expanding our boundaries to accept those who may not follow our codes of behaviour.

One Ambassador told us that, before becoming an Ambassador, she had not felt safe when she saw someone who was acting differently (maybe high on a substance) or was dressed in tattered and dirty clothing. Through the Ambassador Program she had come to know a number of the unhoused members of our community. As a result of this familiarity and ability to see them as worthy members of our community, her fear is gone. While she still depends upon her self-protective instincts, she told us that recently in Victoria she had seen a woman on the ground with her purse open. Instead of looking away or being fearful, she asked the woman how she could help and engaged in a caring conversation with her.

We spent some time discussing a recent Ambassador Program orientation during which an unhoused community member joined the meeting. Clearly drunk and angry, some were uncomfortable; others recognized that this is exactly what “messy” looks like, welcoming the opportunity to approach unexpected behavior with calm empathy.

We briefly discussed some myths that have been proven to be simply untrue:

  1. Myth: By helping those who are struggling with addiction and mental health issues, we are only enabling them. Reality: Instead of enabling, help is strengthening them to regain their balance.
  2. Myth: By being empathetic and supportive of our unhoused community, we will attract others who are not Salt Springers. Reality: Most of the insecurely/unhoused are locals who have been here a long time. Although there can be small summer increases, our unhoused population remains relatively consistent..
  3. Myth: Folks in trauma have chosen this path; they should just buck up and get a job. Reality: People who are struggling with these issues didn’t choose the trauma that led them to their struggles. We really can’t know what anyone has endured, and it doesn’t help to judge them. Instead, it is empowering when they are heard and understood.
  4. Myth: Gossiping and cancelling (shaming, excluding) other community members is only natural and does not hurt anyone. Reality: We all know this is not true but too often forget.

The good news is that are many groups are working collaborating to successfully address issues:

  • Groups are working on collecting emergency supplies that are sure to be needed when our cold, wet winter is upon us.
  • Other groups are working to fill the gaps in our support systems and identify the larger strategic needs that must be addressed. Collaboration between key agencies, like Island Health,Community Services, and local government is vital. Essential also are the interagency partnerships like SSHAN and hard work by nonprofits like IWAV (https://saltspring.fetchbc.ca/service.html?i=220) and the Salt Spring Community Health Society.
  • We, thankfully, have a fully-functioning Laundromat (https://www.ssilaundromat.com/) after so many years of struggle to fill this unfortunate gap in essential services. 
  • BC Housing now gives annual support of over $1 million to keep our Community Services shelter open year ‘round.
  • And, don’t forget the Community Services’ Food Bank, serving so many despite a large increase of those needing food, skyrocketing food prices, and simply not enough funding.

Despite this progress, there was also the recognition that we have not yet successfully addressed the warmth, safety and mental health needs of those who are unhoused, especially as winter approaches. We spoke of the caring folks who set up a Warming Space in CRD parks during COVID the winter of 2020-2021. Evicted nine times, each time losing precious supplies to fend off the winter weather, most would see this as a failure.

Seeing the Warming Space of 2020-21 as a failed effort is not the conclusion of many involved in this initiative. We learned that creating the Warming Space and the evictions galvanized them while also creating new relationships with local government and many other caring groups. Additionally, during those periods when the Warming Space was functioning, we were told that unhoused-related calls to the RCMP and visits to Lady Minto Emergency dropped significantly.

It was agreed that for such a Warming Space to be operational in time for winter, many things need to happen quickly: 

  1. Land must be found. Initially CRD parkland (Mouat’s, Centennial, Portlock, Rainbow) appeared to be the logical place. But, as parkland, its uses are strictly defined. So, where could such a Warming Space be established for the coming winter?
  2. Funding will be needed to construct and equip it.
  3. A nonprofit (or a partnership of nonprofits) would need to take responsibility for it, including supervision and liability. 

While a daunting list and a short timeline, stay tuned for progress creating this needed Warming Space.

As our time together drew to a close, we learned a bit about three more exciting new programs: 

  1. Reach Out Salt Spring – #ReachOutSaltSpring – of the Mental Wellness Initiative is a partnership of mental health practitioners each offering 10 free sessions to those unable to pay. With over 80 free counseling sessions, 10 free yoga/awareness, and 20 bodywork sessions already amassed through this exciting new program, free help is now available for many of our vulnerable community members.
  2. The Mental Wellness Initiative has one year of funding for a 35 hour/week peer support outreach program to support agencies and community members get the care they need.
  3. Spark BC (https://www.sparc.bc.ca/), successfully connecting those with need through technology by giving away phones and 100 free Canada-anywhere minutes, has given the Salt Spring Health Advancement Network/Mental Wellness Initiative 20 free phones.

Interested in learning more about these new programs? Contact David at: davidnorget@gmail.com. Interested in volunteering, contacting any of the programs discussed at this ASK Salt Spring gathering, or. . . .? If in doubt, you can begin by contacting David! 

We bid a grateful farewell to David and his growing team of caring folks working diligently day after day connecting community to create a place in which everyone belongs. (Thanks David and your great team!) 

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