Counselling centre helps troubled youth reclaim lives
Organization offers kids and families tools to cope with mental-health issues
While classmates are focused on their grades, playing sports or friendships, Drew has been dealing with a mother’s cancer diagnosis and the deaths of a father and grandmother.
No junior high student should face such tragedy and turmoil at 14 years of age. Yet sadness, loss and fear have all but ruled Drew’s life for the past few years.
“The anxiety and grief got too high and I wasn’t at school for three months,” said the teen, who eventually found help at the Calgary Counselling Centre.
“Kids at school would complain how their parents suck and I’d think, ‘One of my parents is dead.’ That’s what Grade 7 and 8 was like for me.
“A lot of times I ended up blaming myself for my dad’s death. I don’t anymore because I know it’s not my fault.”
Smart and articulate, Drew nonetheless needed some coping skills and is learning to face fears of abandonment. A suggestion from a supportive teacher brought the family to the Calgary Counselling Centre. Drew still goes occasionally when anxiety and depression threaten to rise up.
“We are working on building up my self-confidence. I still sometimes feel anxious about my family. But (it) is really boosting my confidence. They help me realize the thoughts I was having were just in my head and not true.”
For Drew’s mother and stepfather, seeing the difference after sessions at the centre makes it worthwhile.
“Hearing (Drew) giggle again; that’s the most beautiful thing,” said mom Kristy Bacon.
“Drew sings now,” said Phil, clearly proud of his stepchild with whom he shares a love of Comic Expo. “We’re probably the nerdiest people you’ll meet.”
The support Drew is getting is exactly the kind of care supported by donations to the Calgary Herald Christmas Fund. Money raised in the 2017 campaign benefits the counselling centre’s new program Urgent Access for Depressed Youth. It allows for more access to mental-health services for children, youth and their families by providing 2,500 to 3,500 new counselling sessions.
Founded in 1965, the Calgary Counselling Centre provides a range of social and emotional counselling. But a burgeoning caseload (more than 5,500 new clients from 2015 to 2016) makes it difficult to meet all needs, especially for the most vulnerable.
“We’re facing the same kind of uncertainty that’s happening in the community,” said Robbie Babins-Wagner, CEO of the centre.
“Normally, after a recession ... demand increases as economic conditions worsen. When the economy rebounds, then we find volumes drop, but it never goes back to normal. This year, it hasn’t dropped. I’m not sure if this is the new normal or the recovery is going to take a lot longer.
“This is much more complex than it was in 2008-09. It is so deep, so profound and has affected so many people.”
The counselling centre tracks the reasons for service. In 2004, the majority of calls dealt with depression; 2015 was stress. In 2016, the key issue is anxiety.
“We’re seeing more youth under stress,” said Babins-Wagner. “It may or may not be linked to the economy. We’re seeing anxiety and depression in kids throughout North America. We’re seeing a link between the use of social media and phones and anxiety. It’s having all kinds of repercussions developmentally and socially.”
For Anna Sarkissova, it wasn’t just typical teenage angst that led her to the Calgary Counselling Centre. It was a suffocating darkness felt after she lost both parents by the time she was 18.
“I’ve dealt with a lot of depression and anxiety in my life. After I lost my parents, it felt like life was this scary thing and it felt like the rug kept getting pulled out from me.”
Reeling from her emotions and not sure how to cope, she ended up at the centre, although, she admits now, she didn’t expect much from it.
“I was kind of skeptical in the beginning. I didn’t see how it could help by just talking to somebody.
“It’s someone who’s removed from my situation, who’s at arm’s length. It’s having a fresh perspective and it’s nice not to have a person give too much of their opinions. It allows you to come to your own conclusions. Even if sometimes you want someone to tell you what to do.”
Now 25, Anna said she learned a lot of different therapies and coping mechanisms through sessions at the centre and feels like she now has the skills to shape her future. She’s studying psychology at university and hopes to complete a master’s degree in counselling.
“It really helped me when I felt I was spiralling downward. It’s a non-judgmental place ... especially for people without a lot of family or friends.
“If you don’t talk, it just makes mental-health problems much worse.” Total donations to Dec. 13: $332,561.22 from 1,082 donors.