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7 | W aterloo C hronicle | T hursday,June 24,2021 w aterloochronicle.ca "... because I want to help my family, even after I'm gone." Whymake end-of-life plans? By completing your funeral and cemetery plans, and yourWill, you can protect your family and your estate, exactly the way you choose. Get your free Estate Planner today. Call 226-780-7418 MemoryGardens Funeral Home&Cemetery byArborMemorial 2723 Victoria Street N, Breslau, ON memorycemetery.ca Official FamilyRegistry EstatePlannerTM FREE Ask fordetails ArborMemorial Inc. • 550 Fennell Ave. E. Unit 16 B, Hamilton 289-768-6167 • 723 Rymal Rd.W. Unit 500, Hamilton 289-768-8971 • 570 University Ave. E. Unit 905,Waterloo 888-907-1436 • 350 Conestoga Blvd. Unit B3, Cambridge 888-737-9976 • 168 Barton St. Unit 3, Stoney Creek 289-203-3256 • 1144Wilson St.W. Unit D203,Ancaster 289-203-3195AWARD WINNING CLINIC | Doctor of Audiology NOW OPEN! 370Winston Road Grimsby, 289-206-5364 OPEN EvENiNgs aNd saturdays by aPPOiNtmENt Certified Lyric provider • www.auburnmountainhearing.com Happy MONTH HapHappy MONTH Unemployment and un- deremployment have com- pounded issues. "We have a lot of custom- ers obviously on anti-de- pressants and many on low doses or stable doses now requiring higher doses or changing medication to try and control worsening mental health and addic- tion, as well as many who had recovered from addic- tion who are relapsing," he said. Kids are suffering too. "The signs are certainly there that mental health is having a huge impact on our community." Niccoli said he's stable financially and employ- ment-wise, and because he's usually in the store, so- cial isolation hasn't been an issue for him. "I realized pretty quick- ly how privileged I was and felt a little bit of guilt hon- estly," he said. To help, he initiated a campaign for the Waterloo Wellington chapter of the Canadian Mental Health Association, rallying busi- ness associates to do the same, raising more than $100,000. The donation was more than matched by Shoppers Drug Mart na- tionally, for an overall con- tribution of $500,000. Funds will enhance and expand learning centres provided by the CMHA that are often referred to as "re- covery colleges." The organization oper- ates about 20 of the sup- portive learning environ- ments across Canada, where, during normal times, educational pro- grams can be facilitated out of boardrooms and lounges, or even at kitchen tables depending on what the centre has available, said Margaret Eaton, the CMHA's national CEO. They can incorporate walks and exercise, group discussions and lessons on various coping mecha- nisms, such as journaling, she said. "Anyone is wel- come." Recovery colleges are more preventive than they are reactionary, but they can provide people with a better understanding of various conditions and coping strategies, Eaton explained. Course materials ulti- mately provide people with lived experiences of mental health challenges, span- ning topics such as grief and grieving, meditation and mindfulness, as well as various types of anxiety. A list of programs can be found at cmha.ca. Many are currently offered virtu- ally. Some answer pertinent questions coinciding with the times, such as "Why am I so tired lately?" Others en- tail lessons on "self-com- passion" and how to cope in the "new normal." With a new study show- ing Canadians wait nearly a month for counselling, resources are in high de- mand. CMHA's spokesperson for Waterloo Wellington, Tanya Stuart, said the local branch is currently in the process of setting up a re- covery college and any money that flows to it will go toward the almost 40 per cent increase it's seen in de- mand for its services. "From my perspective, it's about having the re- sources and places to send people that meets them where they are in their journey," said Niccoli. "It's not always about di- agnosing a condition; it's about always caring for your well-being and doing things to prevent rather than treat," he added. "If someone doesn't feel right or is feeling hopeless because they lost their job or are unemployed or feel- ing the burden of home life in ways they hadn't before, this is really meant to help drive resources and sup- port." STORY BEHIND THE STORY: A local pharma- cist saw mental health deteriorating in his com- munity and took action. NEWS Continued from page 1 'NOT ALWAYS ABOUT DIAGNOSING A CONDITION': CMHA SPOKESPERSON Some might be waiting longer for counselling these days, but the Canadian Mental Health Association provides online resources to help people cope and gain a better understanding of various conditions. Torstar file photo SCAN THIS CODE for more local news.