Ride Don’t Hide 2018

On June 24, 2018, communities across Canada will cycle together for mental health. Ride Don’t Hide brings Canadians from all walks of life together to break the stigma and raise funds for mental health programs and services.

Come out and join CMHA Peel Dufferin in Caledon to support local youth mental health and awareness programs by raising funds, donating and riding in our family friendly cycling and walking event! Register now for this year’s ride in the beautiful Caledon Hills.

Proceeds raised for our Ride Don’t Hide event will be going towards our Youth Programs and Initiatives. Melissa’s story highlights some of our work with youth in our communities.

Melissa’s Story

“Melissa” is an 18 year old who has been working with a Youth Mental Health and Addictions IMPACT worker at CMHA Peel Dufferin for over 8 months. When Melissa first started in our program she was homeless and living under a bridge in Brampton.

For years, Melissa had been a victim of human trafficking and was unable to access a stable housing environment, which led her to becoming homeless. During this time Melissa’s mental health was negatively affected as she had no one to help her through the struggles she was facing both physically and emotionally. As a result she began experienced emotional dysregulation and became a polysubstance user; abusing prescription medication such as Xanex and street drugs like marijuana, cocaine and ecstasy.

Eventually all of the negative feelings and harmful coping mechanisms led her to have suicidal thoughts, and it wasn’t long until these thoughts turned to actions. Melissa was at a very low point in her life and felt as though she had no hope and no one to turn too, when she reached out to CMHA Peel Dufferin.

We worked diligently with several services to get Melissa help and to support her recovery. Our goal, was her goal, to move forward to a healthier and happier lifestyle. After months of hard work and dedication Melissa is now in a much healthier place in her life and is continuing to move forward positively. She has recently been entered into Portage (a residential substance use treatment program) in order to continue in her recovery.

Melissa’s recovery process was made possible as a result of CMHA Peel Dufferin’s youth programs, as well as a number of other community partners and services. In total we worked with 11 service providers and supports to get Melissa the care  she needed for recovery.  These services included: AYSP, Victim Services, Major Crimes Unit (OPP, Peel & Toronto Police), Portage, 247 Crisis Support Peel, CAMH and more.

CMHA Peel Dufferin’s youth services include IMPACT (youth addictions and substance use), Fact Peel+ (early intervention program) and Youth Net (In-school youth mental health awareness program).  Proceeds from our Ride Don’t Hide, bike ride for mental health on June 25, 2017 support our youth mental health and awareness programs.

Click here to check out our Ride Don’t Hide website to register and donate today!