A free two-day workshop in Slave Lake will give community members another opportunity to learn how they can better support people experiencing mental health challenges and help connect those at risk with professional resources.
The Sept. 22–23 workshop is the latest in an ongoing series of Community Helpers workshops offered periodically in Slave Lake.
The workshop will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days at the Slave Lake Native Friendship Centre.
Venice Yellowknee, a Community Helpers coordinator and facilitator with Primary Care Alberta, says the program focuses on mental health promotion and suicide prevention, with the goal of strengthening the support available within communities.
“Every community has people who others go to for help,” Yellowknee says.
The workshop provides those people with tools and information they can use when supporting others, while also helping participants become more familiar with available resources and professional services.

Yellowknee says the program aims to improve mental health and well-being, increase help-seeking, reduce the stigma associated with getting help and improve access to professional assistance for people at risk of suicide.
The workshop is open to anyone and is free to attend. Participants receive a certificate after completing the workshop, which Yellowknee says can be used toward school credits or for employment purposes.

The support does not end when the workshop is over.
Yellowknee says she remains available to participants and conducts follow-ups every two months after completing two workshops, allowing participants to stay connected and share resources.

“It’s a really great way to stay connected and share ongoing resources,” she says, adding that the program reinforces the message that people do not have to face a crisis alone.
Yellowknee says bringing the workshop to Slave Lake is important because suicide and mental health challenges affect communities across Alberta.
“This program is very important for any community,” she says. “We know suicide is a scary topic, and we know it has been happening.”

She encouraged people who are interested in becoming community helpers to take part, saying the training can help them stay informed about resources and give them additional support when helping others.
The workshop will also include speakers from Primary Care Alberta, Native Counselling Services of Alberta, Indigenous Support and Dragonfly Sexual Violence Services in Bonnyville.
Speakers include Tim Horseman of Primary Care Alberta, Jean Twin and Shelly of Native Counselling Services, Cindy Brady with Indigenous Support, and Katelyn and Reagan from Dragonfly.

Lunch will be provided both days.
Yellowknee says attendance at previous workshops has varied from three people to as many as 17, and she hopes to see a strong turnout in Slave Lake.
Those interested in attending can contact Yellowknee at 780-849-3039 or email helpers@slnfc.ca.

William Hetherington
Lakeside Leader