WELLINGTON COUNTY – The County of Wellington and the Canadian Mental Health Association of Waterloo-Wellington (CMHAWW) is working together on a campaign to spread positive messaging around life and suicide prevention through postcards.
The Messages4Hope campaign is an extension of the annual Here4Hope project. The Here4Hope project has been held in-person for the past two years but has adjusted to the pandemic.
“For the past two years, our Here4Hope campaign has been an in-person live event,” said Cecilia-Marie Roberts, suicide prevention project lead for CMHAWW, in a press release.
“This year with COVID-19, we have had to get a little creative. During these difficult times, we think it is appropriate to focus on connection and a sense of belonging.”
Messages4Hope will highlight the importance of meaningful connection and will encourage the community to reach out to each other with compassion.
A press release said the Here4Hope committee came up with an idea to mail one of their thoughtful postcards to someone they care about.
The postcards can be sent virtually or shared on social media with the hashtag #messages4hope and can be found here.
Physical postcards are available at Wellington County libraries from Oct. 19 to Oct. 23 or in the Oct. 23 edition of the Wellington Advertiser.
Children at child care centres are colouring postcards that are sent home and mailed while school students will be sending messages to frontline and essential workers.
“Connected and caring communities keep people well. Research shows that if you feel like you belong, are valued and accepted you are less likely to suffer from poor health,” Roberts said in a press release.
“Connections to others and the strength of those relationships are also a protective factor for suicide. They enhance an individual’s sense of purpose and that can be helpful in times of great distress.”
The goal of the campaign is for 10,000 postcards or messages to be shared and is running until Oct. 28.
