Your Help is Needed to Save the Art Studios!
The Vancouver Coastal Health mental health program The Art Studios is closing after 21 years. This recovery-through-art program is member-driven and provides ongoing mental health Primary Care and Rehabilitation for it's 600 members. The safe atmosphere of The Art Studios arises directly from having Occupational Therapists and Rehabilitation Assistants on-site who are trained in mental health issues and who are able to intervene when a member is in crisis. Member participation in The Art Studios reduces an individual member's need for other mental health services and psychiatric hospitalizations. This model program is unique in Canada and has been proven effective.
You can show your support by signing the petition to Hon. Terry Lake, Minister of Health and passing this message on to your colleagues, friends and anyone else who these cuts may affect.
Watch the Global News clip on the Arts Studios, which highlights why this program is so meaningful to its members.
A peaceful rally against the funding cuts to Mental Health Services is being held on July 5, 2013 at noon at the Vancouver Art Gallery (Robson Street), and all are welcome to attend.
According to Vancouver Coastal Health private funding will fill in the gaps until March, 2014 but we still need to lobby for ongoing support beyond then!
ReplyDeletehttp://www.vch.ca/about_us/news/media_contacts/news_releases/2013-news-releases/vancouver-coastal-health-secures-private-funding-for-the-art-studios