Recovery of Hope is launching a new series of free, community-sponsored mental health workshops aimed at expanding access to mental health education across southern Manitoba.
Roots of Anxiety: Nurturing Wellbeing in a Worried World running in Winkler later this month focuses on an issue which they feel has become an increasing concern for more and more people.
Program director Kim Thiessen sees the session as “focusing a lot on just providing people and clients … with life skill tools … focusing on stress and anxiety.
Counsellor Andrea Dyck will be leading the Roots of Anxiety workshop in Winkler later this month
“I think we’re very much aware that, in our current economic reality, there is some significant stress out there for employers, employees, families … all of those things like cost of living,” she continued. “And quite apart from all of those things that impact us every day, there’s also kind of the global reality that we live in a world that just feels kind of uncertain now.”
Thiessen sees a key thing here as being how stress and anxiety work their way into our lives and wellbeing both physically and mentally, and they have seen that through an increase in their client numbers.
“It’s not that it wasn’t there before, but it feels different,” she said. “It feels a little bit more pronounced than it has been in the past.”
The workshop is open to all adults, parents, caregivers, educators, faith communities, workplaces, and community members seeking practical tools to better understand anxiety and support emotional wellbeing.
The session will be led by Andrea Dyck, a certified counsellor, in Winkler on Feb. 25 from 7-9 p.m. at 545 Industrial Dr.
The evening will focus on understanding why anxiety is increasing in today’s world, how it presents in both adults and children, and practical attachment-safe strategies to support emotional wellbeing.
This workshop series also represents a new approach for Recovery of Hope, which has historically offered educational workshops on a fee-based model. Through a community-sponsored framework, Recovery of Hope is intentionally removing financial barriers for potential participants, Thiessen noted.
“We’ve learned over time that the people who could benefit most from this kind of education aren’t always able to afford the one-time workshop fee,” she said. “This shift allows us to respond to that reality in a way that aligns with our values—ensuring an accessible space to learn, reflect, and grow without cost being a deciding factor.”
The community-sponsored model also creates opportunities for local organizations, businesses, churches, and employers to play an active role in supporting mental wellbeing.
In addition to supporting the workshop itself, any excess sponsorship funds raised through the series will support Recovery of Hope’s sliding fee scale, ensuring individuals and families can access counselling services regardless of income.
“Community sponsorship allows the impact of this workshop to extend well beyond a single evening,” Thiessen said. “It supports ongoing access to counselling for those who need it most, while also giving organizations a meaningful way to invest in mental health within their own communities.”
While the workshop is offered at no cost to participants, advance registration is required as seating is limited.
To register, head to edenhealthcare.ca.
