CMHA Calgary Unveils First Friendship Bench in Calgary to Kick-Off Mental Health Week
On May 6, 2019, Canadian Mental Health Association – Calgary Region became the first location in Calgary, and also the first non-school location in Canada, to receive a Friendship Bench for mental health. The bright yellow bench will serve as a safe space for anyone to connect with peers and serves as a permanent and visual reminder of the importance of speaking openly about mental health issues.
After a long and secret battle with depression, Sam Fiorella, founder of The Friendship Bench, lost his 19-year old son to suicide in October of 2014. Since, Sam has dedicated his time to spreading awareness of post-secondary mental health issues, getting students talking and encouraging them to seek help.
Through the installation of yellow benches (and supporting the #yellowisforhello campaign) in high schools and post-secondary institutions, across Canada, and now CMHA Calgary, Fiorella is providing tools to inspire peer-to-peer conversations. Fiorella says, “We’ve seen an increase in the number of students who have asked for help after unveiling our campaign, including the now iconic yellow Friendship Bench.
Students want to crowdsource everything and when their peers make it OK to talk about mental health, they’re more likely to seek help from a professional. We are excited to extend the reach of the Friendship Bench to outside a school and in front of CMHA Calgary.”
CMHA Calgary’s Peer Support program provides the opportunity for anyone, individual, family member or professional, looking for a connection with others who understand what it’s like to go through a mental health or substance use concern the opportunity to connect with someone by providing hope, support, and guidance.
The Friendship Bench was sponsored and installed by Strategic Group, which owns and manages Parallel Centre where CMHA Calgary’s head office is located. CMHA Calgary is thankful to Strategic Group in providing the funds to permanently place the Friendship Bench in a publicly accessible space in front of the building.
About The Lucas Fiorella Friendship Bench
The mandate of the Lucas Fiorella Friendship Bench is to connect students dealing with mental health issues, and who are unsure or unable to ask for help, with campus resources and other students willing to help or listen. The yellow benches being installed on high school and university campuses across Canada serve as a visual reminder of the importance of mental health awareness and conversations among students. Each bench features a URL where students can quickly access on-campus and local mental health and suicide-prevention services.
About CMHA Calgary
Canadian Mental Health Association – Calgary Region creates awareness and provides education and support for individuals and families living with a mental health or substance use concern or a loss by suicide. We provide community-based programs including supportive and independent living, homeless outreach, aboriginal outreach, suicide bereavement and peer support for families and individuals. We work closely with other community organizations to bridge gaps in the mental health care system and facilitate access to important services and resources.
Our Peer Support program services can be accessed over the phone at 403-297-1402 or through email at peer@cmha.calgary.ab.ca.