Mental health centre in Penticton needs new home

Photo: BC Housing

The Canadian Mental Health Association needs somewhere to go in Penticton due to BC Housing redevelopment plans at its current location.

CMHA provides mental health support in the city, currently operating from Skaha Sunrise at 2852 Skaha Lake Road.

But BC Housing now has loose plans for a complex on the property and several recently-purchased adjacent ones, and CMHA has been informed they have until April 2022 to find a new place to operate.

The non-profit society is now looking for suggestions or offerings of where to go.

"An old restaurant or an empty church – we are appealing to the public for help,” said Colleen Caron, board chair, in a press release.

Caron also expressed concern over lack of services in the south end of Penticton.

"As we come out of a world-wide pandemic, mental health support and services are needed more than ever. The local branch of CMHA has been in operation since 1991, providing life saving mental health programs and community education," reads the press release.

"The branch operates a mental health clubhouse called Unity House with over 15,000 client visits per year, a meals program which serves 14,000 meals to vulnerable folks in our community each year, suicide prevention training, Mental Health First Aid training, psycho-social rehabilitation, and a variety of mental health education available to anyone who needs it."

Anyone who can help CMHA find a new home can contact the office at 250-493-8999.