SOS launches #supportmentalhealth donation campaign

Non-profit working to maintain pro-bono counselling

Government grants have expired but Some Other Solutions is working to maintain its pro bono counselling program in the community. 

The local crisis prevention centre has launched a donation campaign to highlight the importance of maintaining a pro bono counselling program in Wood Buffalo. The program originally began in January 2020, with SOS setting aside a block of appointments that could be accessed for free or reduced pricing. Government grants were initially available to support counselling for individuals and families needing support related to COVID-19 or the floods. The demand was exponential, with more than 830 pro bono sessions taking place over the last 18 months. 

The grants may be gone, but SOS is hoping the community will step forward to help maintain the program.

“Our youth are especially struggling with stress and anxiety and as they head back to school, we are getting more and more requests from parents looking for ways to support their children,” explains Jason King, Executive Director of Some Other Solutions. “Counselling is an important tool for mental health in our community, for individuals of all ages, and we don’t want income level to dictate whether people can access support.”

The nonprofit is focused on providing in-depth crisis prevention support in the community, with counselling one component. Mental health support is about wrap-around care, including counselling, parenting programs, child and youth support, mentorship initiatives and more.

How can you help?

You can help maintain the pro bono counselling program at Some Other Solutions through a direct donation to the nonprofit, but King hopes the community will also consider the alternative option: help yourself AND others. 

For every full-fee counselling session, SOS can provide one pro bono counselling session. Your insurance-covered counselling session will not only give you the mental health support you need, but it immediately allows SOS to provide pro bono care to others.

“We are committed to being a mental health provider for everyone in our community and we don’t ever want someone to hesitate to get the care they or their loved ones need because of financial barriers.”