In honour of Bell Let’s Talk day, we’d like to address mental health—a topic very dear to our vision and mission. Despite the many public initiatives, awareness campaigns, and personal stories meant to debunk myths and celebrate acceptance, stigma and shame associated with mental illness seems to reign supreme. […]
When Lawrence received the diagnosis for the ADHD he had had his entire life, he was in a very dark place. He was so depressed, in fact, that he did not know where to turn, and wasn’t sure how he’d continue to deal with his “scattered mind.” Unsure of […]
It’s National Stop Bullying Day, which for many of us may evoke visions of stolen lunch money and playground shenanigans. We tend to think of bullying as a concept concerning children and youth, as though adults eventually grow out of it. Unfortunately, the reality is that National Stop Bullying […]
Who knew that pencil crayons could turn your life around? If you told Emma a year ago that today she’d be a thriving artist and the instructor of Try Angles – an art class under the umbrella of the Community Linking Programs, Wellness Network – she wouldn’t have believed […]
Lillian had been homeless for twelve years when she arrived at DECSA exhausted and discouraged. She was facing mental and emotional health challenges, and she was more than ready to find some stability. “I was broken, and I was trying to hide it, but I felt like I wasn’t […]
Every day at DECSA, we work with people who are living with shame because of differences they have, experiences they’ve had, and choices they’ve made. We all live with shame, and it’s frightening to be vulnerable about the weak and damaged parts of ourselves, so we keep our secrets hidden. […]
PLEASE NOTE: As of August 21, intakes for our Assets for Success program are closed for the year. If you have a mental health condition (depression, stress, phobia, anxiety, etc) and employment is your goal, then Assets for Success is the program for you! Am I eligible for this program? Albertans 18 […]
When we talk about reasons for volunteering, we often think about how it nice it can look on a resume, or how rewarding it is to give back to our community. Sure it’s great to volunteer for those reasons, but what about the potential health benefits we can reap? Here are three […]
Theatre for Living in collaboration with Alberta Health Services, the University of Alberta and the Canadian Mental Health Association Present… maladjusted stops for two performances in Edmonton, Alberta on February 27 at 7:30pm and February 28 at 2:00pm Boyle Street Community League, 9538 – 103A Avenue Tickets $15 available here Information […]
“My teacher is wonderful. She’s funny. It feels like she’s a twin to me because we’ve experienced the same stuff,” says Francine, a participant in DECSA’s Assets for Success program. Tanya, Francine’s “wonderful” facilitator says, “Francine is eager to learn, and she is very enthusiastic in every aspect of […]