Angel Osmond, western regional co-ordinator of the Canadian Mental Health Association of Newfoundland and Labrador’s regional office in Stephenville, is seen with Blair Fradsham, assistant superintendent of that facility.
The assistant superintendent of the West Coast Correctional Centre in Stephenville was one of a number of people on hand for the grand re-opening of the office on Thursday.
He said it is especially good for their facility because the awareness that it helps promote is a positive influence all the way around.
A life Skills Group is delivered at the West Coast Correctional Centre to 10 inmates at a time by Angel Osmond, western regional co-ordinator and the only employee of the regional office.
The association is a not-for-profit organization that has a provincial office in St. John’s and two regional offices in Grand Falls-Windsor and Stephenville.
The office was closed for more than a year due to a staff vacancy but it reopened in July when Osmond came on.
The aim of the office is to provide education to the public on mental health services. While people are welcome to drop in and speak to Osmond regarding services, her job is not to provide services, but rather to point them in the right direction in the community.
She goes into schools to work with teachers and students and at College of the North Atlantic to do education and training.
Currently, the association is rolling out a Seniors Mental Health program for the province in partnership with Western Health.
She’s also working on reducing stigma in the community by developing posters and information handouts encouraging people to talk to their doctor about their mental health.
Osmond said one in five Canadians has a mental illness and the other four will know someone who does.
