Coast Mental Health

Today, on International Day of Charity, we celebrate the incredible impact that charitable organizations can have on individuals, families, and communities—especially when it comes to the power of strong social supports. As a charitable organization, we at Coast Mental Health are dedicated to supporting people with mental illness by providing three essential pillars of recovery, including housing, supportive services, and employment and education. These pillars empower our clients with the opportunity to build social connections that ultimately aid them in paving the pathway to a better future. Our CEO, Keir Macdonald, speaks to the importance of social support: "In our work at Coast Mental Health we have long believed that strong social connections and supportive relationships are fundamental to successful recovery. They provide emotional support, reduce feelings of isolation, and offer a sense of belonging and purpose. It's time we recognize as a society the profound impact of human connection and invest in community-building initiatives, mental health services, and policies that foster social integration. By doing so, we can enhance overall well-being and create more resilient, supportive communities.” Join us in honoring this International Day of Charity! Together, we can build stronger, more connected communities where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. #InternationalDayOfCharity #MentalHealthMatters #CommunityStrong #NonProfit #SocialSupport

Today our Brain Training team is sharing some knowledge and tips on attention and memory. We can think of our memory as a three-stage process: 👉Encoding information: moving information from our short-term memory into our long-term memory 👉Storing information: storing in our long or short-term memory 👉Retrieving information: recalling a memory when we need it If we are unable to pay attention, new information will not be encoded or stored properly, and will not be retrieved when we need it. One strategy we use in Brain Training to help with the ability to pay attention, and therefore the ability to remember, is sensory items. Do you have any other strategies that help you to pay attention? #BrainTraining #CommunityMentalHealth

Regular exercise has been shown to improve mood and sleep, offer stress relief, increase energy and mental alertness, and many other mental health benefits. Walking, running, gardening, cycling or even a trip to your local climbing gym can make a big difference! Our young adults loved their trip so much that they plan on making it a regular activity. What are you doing today to keep active? Let us know in the comments below! Thanks to much to The Hive Bouldering Gym for making us so welcome! #YesInMyBackyard #CommunityMentalHealth

People with disabilities are disproportionately affected by mental illness. From isolation to stigma, accessibility challenges and invalidation, there are so many root causes. At Coast, we support people hundreds of people living with mental illnesses, many of whom also live with one or more disabilities. Our amazing Brain Training team recently shared some tips for people to help manage their mental health with Accessibility For All Magazine - it all comes down to: 👉 Connection & Community 👉Finding Purpose & Meaning 👉Therapeutic Interventions 👉Creative Outlets 👉Advocate for Yourself Read in more detail here: https://lnkd.in/g6S3N9Q5

We take safety seriously in all aspects of our work and value the trust our clients place in us to keep them safe. On Overdose Awareness Day this August 31, the impact of BC’s toxic drug supply and overdose/drug poisoning emergency is top of mind. To help counter this, Coast Mental Health introduced the Lifeguard Digital Health alert system at three of our sites in 2023/2024 as part of a year-long pilot program. All tenants at these sites were supplied with LifeGuardLite devices in their homes, thanks to funding from Vancouver Coastal Health. The system adds a layer of safety for tenants who use substances alone by alerting staff and/or emergency services via a central control panel if a tenant is non-responsive while using. “LifeGuard keeps all the statistics and provides us with monthly reports,” says Pacific Coast Apartments Supported Housing Program Manager, Emily Grant. “We know how many tenants are using the devices, and in what ways. One tenant even used the device when they were having an asthma attack and couldn’t find their inhaler.” Read more about how we prioritize client safety at https://lnkd.in/gpJ5YNPp #safety #overdoseaware #coastmentalhealth #overdose

Mental illness has a ripple effect on the families and friends of the people affected by it. That's why we love hearing stories like Josh and his mom Lucy's. Since joining Coast's Culinary Training Program - which aims to support young adults living with mental illnesses - Josh's mom has seen a big change: “I’m less stressed, for sure.” “Some mornings I’m still sleeping and I’m so amazed that he’s already left for work! He’s even started going to the gym, swimming. “I’m so happy, it’s really made such a difference in his life. Now, he wants to live. And I can see my son and my husband smiling again.” This is one of the programs at Coast that is only possible thanks to the incredible generosity of our community. Thank you! #CulinaryTraining #YoungAdults #CommunityMentalHealth #YesInMyBackyard

"To the donors … many thanks and much appreciation from Pender House residents and staff!" Thanks to our incredible community of donors, this community home was given some funds to reclaim part of the property. They added planters for their new tomato, strawberry, herb patch, and so much more! "The project has inspired our residents and staff for culinary experience, plant knowledge, watering / weeding / harvesting; and for a particular client, the inspiration for commitment, work ethic, incentive “ownership” responsibilities and a great sense of pride and accomplishment." The power of simple acts like gardening cannot be underestimated. Thank you to all those who make it possible. #GardeningTherapy #DonorAppreciation #CommunityMentalHealth #YesInMyBackyard

Looking for your next leadership role? Come and join our dynamic organization. We are currently looking for a new COO.

On National Non-Profit Day, we honor the tremendous impact that non-profits have on our communities. Today, we extend our deepest thanks to the dedicated staff and frontline workers whose commitment and passion drive our mission at Coast Mental Health every day. Our mission is to support, advocate for, and promote the recovery of individuals living with mental illness. Our vision is to build a community that truly embraces and values people with mental health challenges, empowering them to thrive and contribute their unique strengths. Non-profit organizations are essential in breaking down barriers, enhancing understanding, and delivering critical support to those dealing with mental health and substance use issues. We are profoundly grateful for the collaboration and support from the many non-profits that work alongside us in this important mission. Your dedication makes a significant impact as we strive for a world where everyone can lead a fulfilling life. #NationalNonprofitDay #MentalHealthMatters #CoastMentalHealth #CommunitySupport #Gratitud

Have you had a chance to read our annual reports yet? Our staff and clients have loved finding out about everything we've achieved together in the last year, and we think you will too! Comment below and we'll send you a link. Thanks St. Paul's Foundation for the video inspiration.