SourcesBC, the organization that runs the Sources 91原创 Food Bank, is offering mental health services to help those impacted by the global pandemic.
To coincide with the recent World Mental Health Day on Oct. 10, the White-Rock based organization sent out notice to let the communities that it serves that it has a variety of services intended to help with people鈥檚 mental health.
鈥淚t鈥檚 been 30 years since the first World Mental Health Day and we鈥檝e seen a lot of positive changes since then but, with a devastating pandemic, many people are suffering through loss, in all its various forms, that may take years to recover from,鈥� said Sources CEO David Young.
In addition to the food bank that serves 91原创, South Surrey and White Rock, Sources has mental health counselling, the Mental Wellness Resource and Referral Line, and a rent bank for those in jeopardy of losing their home.
Fight back against HUNGER. The Sources 91原创 Food Bank is looking for help Tuesdays and Thursdays to sort, weigh and organize food donations to meet the needs of approx. 600 people we serve weekly. For more information and/or to apply, please go here:
鈥� Sources (@SourcesBC)
鈥淎s a social wellness agency, in April 2020, we recognized the increased need for mental health services and immediately launched our Comfort and Care During COVID-19 response fund so that we could provide hope and help,鈥� he said.
Young noted that the demand for services will only increase as the pandemic continues.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), close to one billion people live with a mental disorder while three million people die every year from the harmful use of alcohol and one person dies every 40 seconds by suicide.
And, now, billions of people around the world have been affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The WHO has called on countries to invest more in mental health resources. The WHO notes that countries spend, on average, only two per cent of their health budgets on mental health. Despite some increases in recent years, international development assistance for mental health has never exceeded one per cent of all development assistance for health, even though, for every $1 invested in scaled-up treatment for common mental disorders such as depression and anxiety, there is a return of $5 in improved health and productivity.
Sources is accepting donations for its response fund.
is an internationally accredited, community-based non-profit organization that has been providing help in White Rock, Surrey, Delta, 91原创, Prince George, Parksville and beyond for more than 40 years. The Sources 91原创 Food Bank is accredited by Food Banks BC, and is a different organization than the 91原创 Food Bank.
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