ABOUT US
This project is led by a community that cares. In 2021, the Banff Mineral Springs Community Board engaged in a community consultation with key healthcare, municipal and tourism sector leaders about the wellness of our community. The outcomes of these discussions were captured in a final report, Community Conversations, What We Heard. Participants said they wanted conversation forums to understand the complete picture of our community healthcare needs and gaps. They wanted to share data that would lead to an efficient, credible, and proactive understanding of our healthcare needs. They wanted a systems approach to be able to develop solutions that would result in a long-lasting and positive downstream impact on our community.
Banff Mineral Springs Hospital Community Board, 2024
Lori Bayne, BMHAW Chair
In the fall of 2023, a community board member, Dr. Shakil Amin, approached the hospital board with a proactive initiative to create a Mental Health and Addiction Week for our community.
In December of 2023, a community meeting was held with 35 partners to inspire them to create Banff and Lake Louise’s first Mental Health and Addiction Week (BMHAW). With a resounding YES! This week was created to:
Increase awareness about the mental health and addiction health concerns affecting residents.
Create a greater awareness of the services available to residents.
Break the social barrier of mental health stigma through community initiatives and conversations.
Create a systems level response to the mental health and addiction challenges in our community through a collaborative and coordinated approach.
