Helping VJH help others

Photo: Contributed

Troye Campbell is trying to raise money for VJH.

Troye Campbell is trying to do what the provincial government isn't.

Campbell has launched a Gofundme page in the hopes of raising $50,000 for Vernon Jubilee Hospital to help those with mental health challenges.

Campbell is currently at the hospital as he deals with a “major depressive disorder” and was stunned at the state of the facility.

“They are just so underfunded here. It is brutal, I did not know how bad it was until I was put in here,” said Campbell. “They can't afford to do group counselling, you have to go into town for another program there.”

Campbell said even the basketball was unusable.

“I went out and bought one for them. They can't even afford plastic cups, they only give you one a day.”

Campbell hopes to raise money “for more counsellors so people can have more one-on-one care.”

“They do the best they can and the staff are great, but they are so short staffed here,” he said, adding he is not doing this just for himself.

“Mental illness will affect everybody at some point in their life. They may not have it, but a close friend or relative may struggle with it. It impacts everyone. It needs to be addressed, If you are not mentally healthy you are not physically healthy.”