A multi-year grant from the provincial government has enabled the Quesnel Women’s Resource Centre (QWRC) to get out into the community more to offer counselling services to people who might not necessarily walk through the centre’s doors.
The QWRC is one of 29 community organizations that received funding in late 2019 to support a broad range of mental health and substance use services. These services include easy-to-access counselling, with a focus on marginalized people and those who have faced barriers accessing the supports they need.
“For far too long, counselling was out of reach for many British Columbians,” Mental Health and Addictions Minister Judy Darcy said in a news release. “Today, we are saying loud and clear that the ability to get help should not depend on the size of your bank account or where you live in the province. This new, multi-year funding is a significant step toward a system of care that helps British Columbians get help when and where they need it.”
Up to $120,000 per year for three years was awarded through the Community Counselling grants program, administered by Community Action Initiative. Funding will support organizations to address gaps in the mental health and substance use continuum of care by creating multiple entry points to much-needed services. In addition, the funding addresses gaps in care for individuals who face barriers related to race, ethnicity, religion, gender, age, class, sexual orientation and/or financial means. The funding is part of A Pathway to Hope, which lays out the provincial government’s 10-year vision for mental health and addictions care and was released in June 2019.
Through this Community Counselling project, the QWRC is providing counselling through individual, group and family settings.
“This funding is for community counselling for adults in relation to mental health and substance use, with the goal of reaching under-served or hard-to-reach populations that do not have access to counselling opportunities,” said QWRC administrative co-ordinator Ravneet Sran. “This project is also for individuals or families who are not likely to engage in mainstream services. We have two counsellors at the centre with this new project; we are extending our services out into the community.”
Counsellor Sherry Harper says building relationships in the community is a key aspect of this program.
She also says they need to look through a trauma-informed lens when serving all people.
“We need to work together and listen to people and ask what would work best for them,” said Harper. “We recognize there are gaps in services and they don’t meet the needs of all people. Our hope is by building relationships in the community, it will help to remove barriers for people seeking help.”
One new aspect of this project is that the counselling involves men as well.
“Regardless of gender, we are going to focus on mental health, addictions and keeping this work sustainable,” said Sran.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the QWRC has been temporarily closed for drop-in clients for an indefinite time to prioritize the safety and well-being of clients and staff. The QWRC is still committed to serving its clients over the phone and can be contacted at 250-992-8472 or qwrc@shawcable.com.
“We try our best to be responsive to the messages and calls,” Sran said in an email. “We will assess the situations and provide essential services to clients as needed.”
READ MORE: Honouring the power of women in Quesnel
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