A check was presented Thursday to the Northern Initiative for Social Action, also known as NISA. It was money raised in the Defeat the Depression Walk held in May at Bell Park.
NISA is an organization that offers community mental health support and programs and peer connections.
“We offer peer support. We do social support, art-based learning, art-based recovery. We offer phone support when everything else is closed and people may be isolated and have mental health issues, they can call and provide support.” with a partner, Martin Boucher, executive director of NISA, told CTV News.
The Mood Disorders Society of Canada was present for the presentation of the check. Defeat Depression is a major national fundraiser for the non-profit organization that supports smaller community based mental health organizations like NISA.
“People with mental illness need this kind of support and so across Canada we need to get a sense of how we support these groups. How can we come together and let the federal government and the provincial government know how important small mental health organizations and the work they do,” said Ken Porter, national program manager for the Mood Disorders Society of Canada.
Officials said there is great benefit to the peer support offered at NISA with members who have lived through experiences with mental health challenges or illnesses.
“Human connection is important because mental illness tends to make you feel isolated and makes you feel like you’re alone, like you’re disconnected from society,” Porter said.
NISA believes in active recovery rather than passive reliance on community services, according to officials.
For more information about NISA, visit its website.
