The Canadian Mental Health Association, Kelowna and District Branch

The Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Kelowna and District Branch is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the promotion of mental health and well-being in Kelowna, British Columbia, and surrounding areas. Founded in 1956, the branch is part of a nationwide network of more than 80 CMHA branches across Canada. Together, these branches serve over 1.3 million Canadians annually, supported by more than 11,000 volunteers and staff in over 330 communities.

Mission and Vision

The overarching vision of CMHA Kelowna is to foster a mentally healthy community. The organization creates opportunities and connections for individuals of all ages to understand, nurture, and improve their mental health and resilience. Their mission emphasizes supporting people in living their best lives by empowering them, influencing public conversations about mental health, and enhancing the organization’s capacity to serve the community effectively.

Programs and Services

CMHA Kelowna offers a wide range of mental health programs and resources tailored to support individuals and families. These programs focus on:

• Promoting positive mental health
• Supporting mental health recovery
• Eliminating barriers that hinder people from thriving

The branch designs innovative programs that help community members develop skills and resilience, ultimately aiming to enhance their overall well-being.

Organizational Values

CMHA Kelowna is committed to fostering a workplace and community environment grounded in equity, diversity, and inclusion:

• Equity: Ensuring fair treatment, access, opportunity, and advancement for all individuals while working to remove systemic barriers.
• Diversity: Valuing differences across mental health status, race, ethnicity, culture, ability, age, religion, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, gender identities, education, marital status, language, and appearance, including diversity of thought and perspective.
• Inclusion: Creating welcoming and respectful environments where all individuals feel supported and valued, enabling full participation.

These principles are embedded in all the branch’s work and community engagements.

Role within the National Network

As part of the broader Canadian Mental Health Association network, the Kelowna branch contributes to the national effort to improve mental health outcomes across Canada. It collaborates with other branches to share resources, knowledge, and best practices to advance mental health promotion and suicide prevention initiatives nationwide.

Since its establishment, CMHA Kelowna has remained a cornerstone in the local mental health landscape, continuously adapting and expanding its programs to meet the evolving needs of the community.

This article summarizes the mandate, vision, and activities of the Canadian Mental Health Association Kelowna and District Branch based on available organizational information.