Creating community and confidence: The success story of The Gathering Place in Lunenburg and Queens counties

The Gathering Place provides more than what its name entails. The program, run by Nova Scotia Health Mental Health and Addictions services, provides a welcoming place for people in Lunenburg and Queens counties who are struggling with mental health and substance use concerns.

The Gathering Place offers a safe, comfortable, non-stigmatized environment to help clients improve their social interactions and other wellness goals.

The program’s concept was originally born out of the Beacon Program in Kentville, that provides rehabilitation and recovery-oriented supports for people with more severe mental illness.

It was identified that this type of care and support could benefit people with similar struggles in the southeast part of the province.

Jackie Mahoney, licensed practical nurse and Sarah Swinamer, community support worker, with the Mental Health and Addictions Program immediately recognized the opportunity and worked on bringing the Gathering Place to the area.

“The opportunity to gather as a group in a home-type atmosphere around the table and break bread with one another was a vision that Sarah and I had when we left the Beacon Program’s open house earlier this year, said Mahoney. “After putting our heads together for a couple months, the Gathering Place was established at the Wiles Lake Fire Hall with the help of Fire Chief Jeff Rosevear who oversees the hall.”

The Gathering Place supports people working toward three main goals: building self-confidence, building self-esteem and to having a safe place to work on socialization skills without any attached stigma.

On a typical day, clients start with the opportunity to sit and chat with other members of the group over tea and coffee. The group then prepares a meal to share together. Each client is provided with a copy of an easy, low-cost meal recipe to put in a binder which they build upon each week to take home.

Meal preparation, as well as all housekeeping duties, are completed together by the clients. Many clients have flourished in this area by taking on leadership roles in the kitchen.

“To see the difference in clients now compared to when they started a few months ago is so rewarding,” said Swinamer. “There’s lots of chatter and laughter in the kitchen now compared to the relative quiet when the Gathering Place began.”

Lunch and learn sessions are also among the activities that are regularly scheduled at The Gathering Place.

Session topics range from employment readiness skills, nutrition and dietary needs, housing, anxiety and stress management, to movement, yoga, health conditions, and community resources.

The program runs every Thursday, 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. When it started in June there were with three clients and six supporting staff. Since June, the number of clients has grown to 14 people.

“We are really pleased to see this number increase over the past few months,” said Mahoney. “Those that came to the Gathering Place quiet and shy, are now more open and comfortable with speaking and doing activities in large groups within the community.”

Support from local community partners such as the Wiles Lake Fire Hall, Lunenburg Transit, Municipality of the District of Lunenburg, HB Studios, St. John Ambulance Dog Therapy Services, The ARK and VON have supported the growth of the program.

For more information on the Gathering Place, email the Mental Health and Addictions Program at TheGatheringPlace@nshealth.ca