Human services and mental health

We find people working in the field of human services in every facet of a community, including schools, HR and mental health educational services. Human services help with human issues, such as inadequate housing, food insecurity and mental wellness, to name just a few.

Human service work is an ever-changing field due to society evolving. It can differ from community to community, age groups, demographic or need. What one struggles with another may not. Things such as the pandemic can influence how the work is delivered, therefore we need to keep up to date on all issues facing our community and the available resources.

The last two years, with the pandemic, many people, from all walks of life are in need of such help. Businesses closed indefinitely, community members lost jobs, and schools were back and forth between in-person and online. Our future and ability to provide for ourselves and/ or family was uncertain. Youth were relying on the adults around them to give answers and provide a sense of normalcy, while the adults were struggling with what “normal” looked like. People worried if we would ever get back to our regular lives, or if we would have to adapt to a “new normal.” With that, came an increase in low mental health, and the need for more human services work.

The good news is our community has the social and educational resources needed to assist community members in building resiliency, which propels us forward as individuals and community. With mental wellness education, we can learn and see we are not alone. We can incorporate the knowledge we gain into our everyday lives, which leads to a better quality of life. It strengthens our resolve, allowing for us to advocate for ourselves moving forward.

At Canadian Mental Health Association — Alberta Southeast Region, we provide education and support for areas surrounding mental health. We have our Suicide Prevention Program, Recovery College, Keep In Touch Program, and Community Helpers

Program. These programs target different areas of mental wellness as well as different age groups.

Tracy Bahler is the Community Helpers Program Coordinator at Canadian Mental Health Association, Alberta Southeast Region and can be reached at 403-5041811. To find out more about CMHA programs and/or events visit www.cmha-aser.ca. If you are in crisis, call the Distress Centre at (403) 1-800-784-2433.