There is a stigma attached to depression and mental health treatment in our society, and Alliance Health took a major step to change that today.

Dr. Mark Lemstra, Owner of Alliance Health medical clinic, announced the Mental Health Initiative today at the Moose Jaw YMCA.  The program will offer mental and physical treatment and support to 500 residents for 8 weeks, free of charge.

Lemstra said they wanted to start this program to help change some attitudes about mental health.
“Most people with mental health issues don't present to care,” Lemstra said. “And even when they do, few actually start the medical therapy that they are asked to start. Out of the few that do start, most quit anyways. A good general number is that for every 100 suffering with mental health (issues), 6 out of 100 will actually start and adhere to care, which means 94 aren't.”

He hopes this new program will help change that with a different approach.  The treatment will focus on therapy in a group setting dealing with cognitive therapy, stress reduction, and exercise. There will be a total of 40 sessions in the 8 week period.

Doctor Brad Thorpe, Medical Director of Alliance Health, hopes this program will change some of the attitudes towards mental health treatment.

“Why is the general population so reluctant to treat mental health? We don't question treating a heart problem or diabetes. The fact is that our mental well-being is just as much a part of our (general) health as our physical health” Thorpe said.

The program will begin in February and will be run through the Moose Jaw YMCA.  For more information or to be referred to the program, you can contact your family physician.