Walk-A-Mile event keeps the tradition alive
Walk-A-Mile at VGH: Participants included clients, families, staff, physicians and nursing students from Douglas College and UBC.
Vancouver’s tertiary mental health programs made their mark on the VGH campus during Mental Health Week May 6 to 10. The week’s highlight — our Walk-A- Mile event — was held on Wednesday, May 8. This event began at Riverview Hospital and had been an annual community and awareness-building event for more than 20 years. A number of devoted staff worked hard to keep the annual tradition alive as tertiary services transitioned from Riverview Hospital to VGH this past year, and we’re proud to say that in our first year on the VGH campus the Walk-A-Mile event was a big success.
Chef extraordinaire: Ken Kwong, mental health nurse, flipped burgers for a hungry crowd.
More than 200 people put on their walking shoes
The event drew more than 200 participants and included clients and staff from tertiary programs and partners such as Willow Pavilion, the BC Psychosis Program (UBCH), the Trout Lake Rehabilitation Program and VGH Acute Mental Health services. We also had fantastic support and volunteering from staff, families, physicians, clients and nursing students from both Douglas College and UBC. More than 300 hamburgers were served from our new deluxe BBQ, which was generously provided by the VGH and UBC Hospital Foundation. Our event themes focused on raising awareness about mental health, reducing the stigma associated with these conditions — and that’s just the beginning!
Celebrating our clients’ strengths, talents and recovery
Mental health for all: Dr. Soma Ganesan shared a few words with the crowd and affirmed our commitment to keep the Walk-A-Mile tradition alive.
A total of nine events were held over the course of Mental Health Week with building momentum over the course of the week. Events centered on providing opportunities to celebrate the strengths and talents of individuals with mental illness, and to celebrate the recovery journeys they’re embarking on. Some of the events held were:
- Hidden Treasures Art Show partnering with the MPA community services
- Comedy show with Stand Up for Mental Health
- Creative Showcase with the talents of our current clients
- Movie Night showing Silver Linings Playbook
- Willow Games
- And an evening dance