One of our top priorities for 2022 is to elevate the opportunities for children and youth in Wood Buffalo for mental health and wellness support. From one-on-one counselling, to group support programs, mindfulness, mentorship and more, we are continually expanding our range of support and services that are specifically geared for children under the age of 18.
Read MoreAs employers, the mental health and wellness of our employees has rapidly come to the forefront. How do we establish work-life balance expectations for our teams? How do we facilitate an evolving work structure and still meet our goals? How do we empower our teams, while still encouraging them to take care of themselves?
Read MoreThere’s another barrier that keeps coming up: stigma. We’ve heard about stigma around mental health for years, and while we are making progress in the general community, that stigma still exists in many areas of Wood Buffalo. There are cultural, religious or family stigmas that may prevent those in the community from accessing mental health care.
Read MoreMental health matters - for everyone. With your support, we are stepping forward to be a leading provider of mental health and wellness in our community. Learn more in the October 2021 Community Update.
Read MoreOur children and youth are back in classrooms and that means we are too! Some Other Solutions is an active partner and collaborator with schools in Fort McMurray and the surrounding areas.
Read MoreGovernment grants have expired but Some Other Solutions is working to maintain its pro bono counselling program in the community. The program originally began in January 2020, with SOS setting aside a block of appointments that could be accessed for free or reduced pricing.
Read MoreThere is a wealth of opportunity in our community to strengthen partnerships, to work together to elevate the support in Wood Buffalo. From sharing funding opportunities to creating events and highlighting important issues, by working together, we can build up a collaborative network that can advocate for change.
Read MoreAnxiety and stress. These are two of the primary areas of concern as we move through August and back-to-school looms. We are seeing it not only in the community in general, but through the majority of our counselling sessions.
Read MoreOne in five people are affected by mental illness in Canada, which means that each and every one of us is impacted. The last year and a half has demonstrated more than ever the importance of keeping mental health as part of the conversation.
Counselling has always been part of Some Other Solutions (SOS), but the social agency is reaffirming its commitment to provide free mental health counselling for those who can’t afford to pay.
Read MoreIn-person mental health support is ramping back up at Some Other Solutions in early July, pending the removal of provincial health restrictions, but that doesn’t mean virtual support is going away.
In a time of great uncertainty, Some Other Solutions remains a safe space for all children and youth in the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo. And while we made the tough decision to cancel our Creative Roots Summer Camps again this year, I am so excited to share some of the new, engaging programming we have developed for our youth.
Read MoreCommunity strength comes from collaboration and partnerships. At Some Other Solutions, we work hard to be more than a counselling service and crisis line. We are a community partner in providing mental health and wellness support for individuals, families, and small businesses.
Read MoreWe feel the power of community in Wood Buffalo, but it’s not good enough to just assume that will always be there. We need to work together to nurture that power, to engage with individuals, families and businesses and continue to find strength to move forward.
Read MoreAs a community connector, it’s important to us as an organization that we help facilitate important conversations on issues that matter. A vital area we are working on drawing attention to right now is youth mental health.
Read MoreThe mental health impact of COVID will be something we’re dealing with for years. And we’re starting to see those numbers increase already. Over the last two months, we’ve had more than 70 counselling sessions that were related to COVID.
Read MoreCollaboration is an important part of the work we do at Some Other Solutions. We are continuing to reach out and work with different groups in our community to build a stronger foundation for mental health and wellness both in Fort McMurray and the surrounding areas.
Read MoreSome Other Solutions is offering photos with the Easter Bunny and all proceeds will directly support mental health programming at SOS.
Read MoreFrom building confidence to improving social skills and helping these young folks stay in school, mentoring is a powerful tool that can give a young person the support they need to find success both now and in the future.
Read MoreIn the last four months, we’ve supported more than 250 individuals through the Child and Youth Department alone, through one-on-one mentoring, the Community Helpers program and community presentations on stress management and self-harm.
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