Christine Stewart, Executive Director of the Canadian Mental Health Association, for four and a half years has resigned. (CMHA)

By Alessia Proietti

Four and a half years with CMHA

Executive Director of Canadian Mental Health Association, Christine Stewart, resigns and reflects

Mar 31, 2022 | 3:13 PM

The old adage goes that it takes 10,000 hours of work to become an expert. If this is true, Christine Stewart makes up for a few experts in Red Deer’s mental health sector.

With nearly 20 years of experience, Stewart has resigned from her position as Executive Director with the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) after four and a half years. Effective April 20, she will be taking that expertise across the border.

“We have the most supportive team; I don’t think I have enough adjectives. The staff here are clearly not in it for the money. They love what they do, they love serving the people that we serve,” said Stewart.

During her tenure, Stewart described some of her highlights like the moving of Amethyst House, a permanent supportive housing complex, to a larger location. As well, her contribution to the Pathways 2 Housing program, in partnership with Alberta Health Services, provides housing to those chronically homeless due to major mental health illnesses. Out of 100 individuals housed, she says only two have left and out of their own volition.

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On a personal level, Stewart said a shining moment was helping to create the “5 Year Integrated Plan” to end homelessness, sitting as Chair of the Community Housing & Homelessness Integrated Plan ad-hoc committee.

Over her years, Stewart has noticed a notable flaw in the way mental health is treated.

“The healthy responses are not always the most socially acceptable ones,” said Stewart.

She referenced patterns in Alberta’s alcoholism and drug use. In 2021, a study by the University of Calgary showed a spike in excessive drinking by Albertans during the pandemic. That same year, according to the Government of Canada, Alberta was in the top three provinces for deaths and hospitalizations from opioids.

“It doesn’t seem to be in vogue to say ‘I’m really stressed out, I’m going to go for a walk’,” she said. “When you talk about getting together with your friends, it’s over drinks.”

Stewart says proper mental health requires positive coping mechanisms such as physical activity, being outside, and even just taking a day off from work to relax at home.

Although the pandemic has impacted the mental health of many individuals, Stewart says it has also brought much awareness to the issue.

“It seems to really reduce a lot of the stigma people were feeling because it impacted every single person,” she said.

However, she says that stigma is still prevalent amongst men and youth.

Stewart’s roots in the mental health sector stem from right in Red Deer, completing her practicum at Heritage Family Services in 1992, for her Bachelor of Social Work.

After a nine-year move to Washington, she returned to Red Deer as a Constituency Assistant for then MLA-Victor Doerksen before returning to social work at McMan Youth, Family and Community Services Association, and then to CMHA.

“I just love it here,” she said. “I love the activities, the schools are amazing, I love the community of people. It’s just all around a good place to live.”

However, since the 90’s, Stewart has noticed that mental health issues in Red Deer and in general are not subsiding.

“The number of people who are going to need permanent ongoing support in the mental health, whether it’s housing or just ongoing stability, is going to continue increasing because our world as a whole, in my opinion, is becoming more and more dysfunctional,” she said.

In her experience, she says she has seen more learning disabilities, fetal-alcohol syndrome, abusive homes, and easier access to drugs. While population growth will naturally increase the number of mental health issues, she says it also may have reduced the small-knit community feeling in the city and helping-hand nature.

While acknowledging Red Deer has an array of helpful programs, Stewart says attention should be placed on youth to end negative cycles early and increase awareness.

“We need parents to stop saying ‘my kid doesn’t need that’,” she said. “Let’s stop judging each other for what we need and just make sure we can provide it.”

And no matter what, Stewart urges others to always be kind.

“They’re such overused quotes but they’re so true,” she said. “We assume that everyone has been through something traumatic and it might be impacting the behavior in front of you and so, let’s talk about that.”

Stewart will be the new Executive Director for St. John’s Community Care in Collinsville, Illinois. With her husband Wade Thurber and two children, she will be closer to her family in St. Louis, Missouri, after spending 30 years away from home.

The CMHA-Central Alberta Region has been providing education, housing, income and support needs for individuals with mental illness, brain injuries and addiction since 1964.