Houston and Smithers among 44 communities supported by $6.7-million provincial investment
The Dze L K’ant Friendship Centre Society, serving the communities of Houston and Smithers, is among 44 organizations across British Columbia receiving support to continue offering free or low-cost mental-health and addictions counselling.
The province is investing $6.7 million through the Community Counselling Fund, administered by the Community Action Initiative (CAI), a non-profit organization that provides grants and training opportunities for counselling services throughout the province.
Since the program’s launch in 2019, more than 362,000 counselling sessions have been delivered, with 72,000 people accessing services for the first time. This year, the most common needs have included trauma, grief and loss, isolation, and economic hardship.
“The Community Action Initiative has been proud to partner with the Province of B.C. to provide grants and capacity building for non-profit organizations that provide counselling services,” said Julia Kaisla, executive director of CAI.
“As a result, community members from all across the province have gained new skills and supports to move forward in their lives, and in their healing. This has undoubtedly reduced the burden on our health-care system and has enhanced community health and capacity.”
Guided by Indigenous values, the Dze L K’ant Friendship Centre Society offers programs and services that emphasize skill development and personal strengths, supporting spiritual, emotional, mental and physical well-being to help individuals become self-sufficient and self-reliant.
Counsellors under the program can offer outreach, in-person or virtual sessions. In some cases, they may also help clients access housing, employment insurance, addictions treatment, or accompany them to appointments.
Counselling services form one part of the government’s broader strategy to expand mental-health and addictions care, including prevention, treatment, recovery programs, and supportive or complex-care housing.
Black Press Media has reached out to the Dze L K’ant Friendship Centre Society for details on how the funding will be allocated between the Houston and Smithers communities.
“When someone takes the courageous step of reaching out for mental-health support, services must be there for them,” said Josie Osborne, Minister of Health.
“Over the past six years, thousands of people across B.C. have received low- and no-cost counselling, many for the very first time. With this investment, we’re ensuring that people can continue to find affordable, life-changing mental-health care when they need it most.”
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