'Friendly Calls' program expands to focus on support for Indigenous communities
A program run by the Canadian Red Cross that supports people with mental health challenges is being expanded, thanks to special funding from Bell Let’s Talk.
The $250-thousand partnership will enhance access to crisis services for people living with mental health challenges.
Friendly Calls began a few years ago and became a Canada-wide program in 2020. Now, a pilot project is starting in Manitoba this spring, tailored to the culture and needs of Indigenous groups, who are often located in remote areas.
Eighty-four-year old Pauline Werbowetsky became a Friendly Calls client a year ago, after a year of the pandemic left her lonely and down in her small community of Roblin, Manitoba.
Daughter-in-law Carmen Werbowetsky, who lives a 10-hour drive away in Edmonton recommended she join the program.
“Before the pandemic, she was quite connected in her community, with her church and other connections in the community but that hasn’t been the way over the past two years,” Carmen Werbowetsky said. “ She’s lost a lot of those connections.”
But now, Carmen can hear the energy and enjoyment in Pauline’s voice during their weekly phone calls. She says the Friendly Calls are often the highlight of Pauline’s week. Plus she knows if mental health problems start to creep in, the Red Cross volunteer is trained to spot them.
“They talk about all the things that are of importance and interest to her and it sounds like they have a lot in common,” Carmen Werbowetsky said about volunteer Catherine Sykes.
Sykes, who hails from Swift Current, Saskatchewan, was paired with Pauline after training and personal interviews. While she thought she would be doing something good for someone else, she says it also brings her joy.
“I ended up getting something like a surrogate grandmother," Sykes said. “She’s just a delight!”
Sykes said she started with 20-minute phone calls to Pauline but now their chats usually last an hour.
She said she is looking forward to training for the Indigenous Friendly Calls program, which is being developed with input from Indigenous elders and knowledge keepers.
“We are really looking at doing cultural safety training which encompasses a few different things,” Red Cross Director of Indigenous Relations, Shelley Cardinal, said. “We are looking at cultural awareness, we’re looking at cultural sensitivity”.
Cardinal said Indigenous culture has a holistic approach to health, in which mental, emotional and spiritual well-being are considered equally important to physical well-being.
But, she also points out that across Canada, there are many different First Nations, with different languages, beliefs and practices. She said offering mental health support to Indigenous communities will require training and sensitivity.
Still, she said, it will not be required that those volunteering with the new Friendly Calls program be of Indigenous backgrounds, but they must listen with care, without judgement and with cultural awareness.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
AS IT HAPPENED Wildfire reaches Jasper Wednesday night, causes 'significant loss'
One of two wildfires threatening Jasper National Park reached the townsite Wednesday night and caused 'significant loss.'
Alberta calls in army to assist with wildfire situation
Alberta has called in the Canadian Armed Forces to help assist with the worsening wildfire situation in the province.
Biden explains why he ended re-election bid in Oval Office address
U.S. President Joe Biden on Wednesday delivered a solemn call to voters to defend the country's democracy as he laid out in an Oval Office address his decision to drop his bid for reelection and throw his support behind Vice President Kamala Harris.
Barrie-Innisfil MPP 'blacked-out' and crashed car into window of child care centre
Staff at a Barrie child care centre say they are frustrated by what they call a local MPP's inadequate response after a car crashed through a window in one of the toddler rooms.
Norad intercepts Russian and Chinese bombers operating together near Alaska in apparent first
The North American Aerospace Defence Command (Norad) intercepted two Russian and two Chinese bombers flying near Alaska Wednesday in what appears to be the first time the two countries have been intercepted while operating together.
2 Canadians being 'sent home immediately,' removed from Olympic team after drone incident
An analyst and an assistant coach with Canada Soccer are being removed from the Canadian Olympic Team and 'sent home immediately,' according to the Canadian Olympic Committee.
An unwelcome attendee has joined the Paris Olympic Games: COVID-19
After a handful of Australian water polo players tested positive for COVID-19 this week, questions have emerged around how the spread of the disease will be mitigated at the Summer Olympic Games in Paris.
Vacations, meals, booze: Contractor used $100K of charity's money for personal expenses, B.C. court finds
A B.C. man who was hired to help a non-profit build a food hub but instead spent the money on personal expenses – including travel, restaurants, booze and cannabis – has been ordered to pay more than $120,000 in damages.
Male, female killed, 2 others injured in 'gun battle' outside Toronto plaza: police
Two people are dead and two others suffered serious injuries following a shooting that police have described as a 'gun battle' outside a plaza in Scarborough, Ont. early Wednesday morning.