Mental Health Resource Centre
"Getting the help I needed gave me a sense of relief, but along with my stability came the painful reality of my losses and present situation. Here I was in my late thirties, impoverished, living in isolation in a cockroach-infested hotel, trying to cope with a much stigmatized illness. Coming to the Centre has helped me to remain stable in many ways and has become part of my daily routine."
- Member of Mental Health Resource Centre
The Coast Mental Health Resource Centre plays an important role in the lives of people with mental illness, including those who are homeless. For many, the Centre is the first point of contact with mental health services.
Coast Mental Health Resource Centre assists consumers in meeting their basic needs by providing nutritious meals, free laundry and shower facilities. Regular members can make and meet friends, join in social and recreational activities, explore their interests in a variety of psychosocial programs and gain new skills through volunteering.
History
The Coast Drop-In was opened in 1993 with 5,000 sq. ft. and operated five days per week serving approximately 25 people per day. We moved to a temporary location at 1321 Richards Street where operation increased to seven days a week. Outreach services were added to meet the demand for more advocacy and prevention. Extra costs were covered by the Anonymous Donor’s contribution. Membership grew to 400.
In August 2000, we moved to a new location at 1225 Seymour Street and re-named it the Coast Mental Health Resource Centre to better describe the full-range of services we provide. The Centre has 11,000 sq. ft. There has been a steady increase of membership and we presently serve approximately 150 different individuals per day. We have added a significant peer support component where designated members connect with vulnerable people in hospital and in the community.
Coast Mental Health
For more information on the Mental Health Resource Centre or Coast’s other programs and services:
Coast Mental Health
293 East 11th Avenue
Vancouver, BC V5T 2C4
Phone (604)-872-3502
Fax (604)-879-2363
How the Centre is unique
It is the first point of contact with services for a homeless or under-served mentally ill person.
The centre’s program integrates outreach program with dual diagnosis program, St. Paul’s Hospital, Three Bridges Health Centre, Mental Health Teams such as Strathcona,West End, Assertive Community Treatment, Bridging Teams and Forensics Services.
Partnerships have been developed with other agencies such as the Art Studios and Affordable Housing Society.
Additional partnerships have also been developed with operators of downtown Single Room Occupancy Hotels and businesses that hire mental health consumers.
The Resource Centre combined with other community mental health supports are more cost-effective than the institutionalization of psychiatric patients.
What is offered at the Centre
- Individual support
- Housing advocacy
- Mental Health Outreach services
- Referral to community agencies
- Volunteer opportunities
- Psychosocial programs
- Member run programs
- Laundry and shower facilities
- Affordable lunch daily 12:00 – 1:00 pm
- Affordable hot breakfast, juice and coffee 9:00 am to 10:00 am
- Free snack at 3:00 pm
- Computer use and instruction
- Cooperative Neighbourhood Store providing bulk food prices in small quantities
Psychosocial Programs
- Community kitchen
- Peer support program
- Sewing group
- Seniors club
- Art program
- Women’s group
- Health and wellness program
- Life skills support including workshops on self esteem, budgeting,medications and assertiveness
- Dual diagnosis support group (for those with a mental illness and an addiction)
Leisure and recreational programs
- Weekly outings to local attractions
- Summer camping and barbecues
- Ping-Pong
- Bingo
- Bowling
- Music group
- Exercise group
- Crib
- Pool
- Swimming
- Ice skating
- Gardening and landscaping
- Movie nights