Be part of the story of recovery...help us to develop rehabilitative housing, community acceptance and understanding of people with mental illness and addictions

IMAGINE THAT THIS IS YOUR STORY

Your daughter Lauren has been in the hospital’s psychiatric unit for several months. She was taken there by police under the Mental Health Act.
That’s traumatic enough.
Now, imagine that the hospital says Lauren can check out of hospital but she definitely shouldn’t return to your family’s home or even live with friends.
Your community has no transition housing and Lauren isn’t capable of living successfully on her own at this point. Try to imagine this until your chest tightens and your head hurts.

WHERE CAN YOUR DAUGHTER GO?

Can you think of many, or any, options? Are you assuming that there is adequate transition housing on Vancouver Island?
There are very few accommodation options on Vancouver Island for adults with mental illness and addictions.
But many families have entrusted loved ones to the special and specialized care of the Columbian Centre Society over the past 37-plus years.

According to the Mental Health Commission of Canada, in any given year, one in five people in Canada experiences a mental health problem or illness. When you consider spouses, children, grandchildren, nephews and nieces, it is virtually inevitable that each family will be touched directly by mental illness.

YOU’RE PART OF THE STORY NOW

You can help Columbian Centre meet the needs of people with mental illness and addictions on Vancouver Island—and go beyond by helping them to thrive.
Columbian Centre provides rehabilitation services that enable residents to recover and go on to build a meaningful and satisfying life. Your donation is vital to Columbian’s work—and it’s directly applied to rehab programs and dignified housing.

The Columbian Centre provides education and awareness initiatives that are designed to decrease stigma and increase understanding.
It’s just as important to prepare the community to better accept and understand individuals with mental illness as it is that they be prepared to reintegrate with their community.

Few of us are prepared for mental illness and addiction challenges in our families. But thankfully Columbian Centre is here for all of us.
Columbian Centre has literally been the answer to many family’s prayers.

YOU CAN HELP THIS STORY HAVE A HAPPY ENDING

Enhance Columbian Centre’s ability to receive individuals discharged from hospitals with psychiatric and addiction diagnoses.
Support the journey people take from rehab to semi-independent supported housing—and on to independent housing.
Columbian Centre’s programs adhere to evidence-based best practices.

Dear community member, please take a moment to donate and help us to expand and improve our services that are so badly needed in the communities we serve. Thank you!