At ConnectWell Community Health- Renfrew County, one portion of our SNAP project has been to run Resource Clinics. These clinics are a type of community organization fair. We invited various partner organizations to come to one location and be available to community members. The goal was to raise awareness of and increase accessibility to the resources that exist in our community. One client who attended our very first Resource Clinic came intending to find information to help a family member. This client ended up discovering a resource that positively impacted their own life in a very personal and meaningful way.

While chatting with the various organizations the client discovered a support group offered by a local organization, The Robbie Dean Counselling Centre, called “Path to Wellness Seniors’ Group”. With a little encouragement from our ConnectWell team, the client registered for the support group.

The “Path to Wellness Seniors’ Group” is an eight-week exploration of mental health wellness topics tailored to those 50+. The group is offered free, by the Robbie Dean Counselling Centre, and provides opportunity to explore life’s purpose and its challenges while building connection with others. In following up with the client who attended this group, they had nothing but positive things to say about it. The client stated that they found the homework assignments very impactful and while the assignments were not mandatory, they helped them get more out of the group and think deeper about the topics. Topics included: dealing with grief and loss, how to handle regrets, finding balance and happiness in life, reflecting on personal values, and building legacy for one’s life. The client described the group as being “eye-opening”. “When you listen to everyone else’s stories in the group, your own life and problems are put into perspective… When we shared hard things in the group, we learned from each other”, they stated. The client also described how the group helped them to think intentionally about life and what they want to do with the time they have left: “if I can keep going with what I have learned from this group, it will be good. I think everyone got something out of this group. I know I did”.

It is stories like this one that inspire us to continue expanding our System Navigation work at ConnectWell Community Health. Coming to our Resource Clinic connected this client to a life- impacting service available right in their community that they may not have discovered otherwise.