Staff and clients Walk-A-Mile for mental health
Chris Flynn, patient services manager at Willow Pavilion, welcomes staff and clients to the Walk-a-Mile for Mental Health event.
“When Riverview closed in 2012, many people felt the tradition of Walk-a-Mile and Mental Health Week would go with it,” says Chris Flynn, patient services manager at Willow Pavilion. “Although attitudes towards mental illness have changed over the years, there’s still a lot of opportunity for education. That’s why it was so important for us to continue holding this event.”
Walk-A-Mile for Mental Health first began at Riverview Hospital in 1990 as part of Mental Health Week, which brought together staff, clients, family members and the community. At its peak, the walk attracted more than 1,500 participants and partners as far reaching as Squamish and Chilliwack.
Mental health clients didn’t just participate but they also played an integral role in planning the event. Flynn says this year was no different: “Mental Health Week has always been about celebrating the strengths and talents of individuals with mental illness, and to celebrate their recovery journey,” she says. “That’s why our clients will always play a prominent role in every event and show we host.”
Flynn adds that Willow Pavilion has big plans for the future of Mental Health Week and Walk-A-Mile. “We would really like to turn this into a two-week event filled with speakers and presenters who can educate the community about mental illness, and then have all the fun and light-hearted activities in between.”
Walk-A-Mile for Mental Health began this morning at 10 a.m. at the Heather Pavilion green space on Willow and 10th. The 1.6km walk around the VGH campus was followed by a BBQ lunch fundraiser and entertainment by the Pennington Hall Band, which is comprised of psychologists from across VCH.