WEYBURN – The new Mental Health Week Initiative in Weyburn, “Creating Connection”, has been extended to the hotels in the city, as well as to surrounding RMs.
Creators of the initiative, Tasha Collins of the Canadian Mental Health Association branch in Weyburn and Const. Melinda Mintenko of the Weyburn Police Service, have been tirelessly getting word out about the green door hangers, as well as window clings.
Both the door hangers, distributed to every residence through Weyburn This Week in the April 29 issue, and the clings have a QR code which can provide people with a list of local resources to help with any mental health issue. Residents are being asked to put the door hangers on their front doors, green side out, during Mental Health Week, which runs May 2-8.
Const. Mintenko brought both resources to George Siourounis at the Weyburn Travelodge last week, and he said these will help greatly with people who come here to work for a time.
“It will help the people with mental health issues, such as depression, especially workers who come here away from home, whether they stay for seven to 10 days or two days. They stay in their hotel room by themselves. I can see them having depression, being away from their kids, their wife or their parents,” said Siourounis.
He noted when Const. Mintenko first approached him about placing the door hangers in the hotel rooms, “I jumped in with both feet. It will help my staff too. This will be very good.”
He also asked her for the window clings, thinking to place them in the public washrooms as well as in the bathrooms in the guest rooms, where the guests are likely to see them.
Const. Mintenko noted they are placing about 40 of the clings in the Weyburn Comprehensive School, so students can see them and reach out if they feel the need to talk to someone.
She also wants to approach gas stations and other businesses that see a lot of traffic come through their doors.
Both the hangers and clings will lead a person to a list of resources for programs and services that are available in the community.
“We have to help in whatever way we can,” said Siourounis.
Meantime, the Travelodge’s annual golf tournament will be held on June 12, and the funds raised will be split between Envision Counselling and Inclusion Weyburn.
