Coast Mental Health

March is National Social Work Month, and as we reflect on the month, we want to take a moment to recognize the incredible, dedicated social workers across the Coast ❤️ Every day, social workers show up with compassion, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to supporting individuals, families, and communities. Your work makes a real difference, and it does not go unnoticed. To help mark National Social Work Month, we had the opportunity to interview three of our social workers and ask them a simple but powerful question: What’s a small but meaningful part of your work that reminds you why social work matters? Thank you to all social workers for the care, advocacy, and heart you bring to everything you do—this month and always. #NationalSocialWorkMonth

Words directly from one of our Peer Support Program workers 💙 Operating out of Coast Mental Health’s Resource Centre, the Peer Support Program is built on the power of lived and living experience. Individuals who are ready to share their story can apply for training, completing 70+ hours of classroom learning and a 50-hour practicum. Graduates leave equipped with the skills and confidence to pursue a variety of support worker roles – and to make a real difference in their community. Sometimes, the most powerful support comes from someone who truly understands.

Timber Grove Apartments provides 52 supportive homes in Surrey for people living with mental illness, including those with concurrent disorders and physical disabilities. Opened in 2010, Timber Grove was Coast Mental Health’s first housing site in Surrey. Many residents have lived there since it opened, while others have moved on to more independent housing or additional health supports as their needs changed. Using Coast’s psychosocial rehabilitation and recovery‑oriented approach, most residents live independently, with some receiving day‑to‑day support to build skills, set goals, and manage their mental health. Residents have access to 24/7 staff and a wide range of supports, including medication management, peer support, life‑skills development, education groups, employment preparation, and wellness activities such as exercise and healthy‑eating programs. At Timber Grove, housing and support come together to create stability, dignity, and pathways to recovery. To learn more, reach us out at: timbergrovestaff@gmail.com

We are grateful to Canada Life for their generous support of the Coast Mental Health Peer Support Program! This impactful program recognizes lived experience of mental health challenges as a powerful source of knowledge and connection. Through peer-based training and support, participants are empowered to use their recovery experiences to support others, foster hope, and strengthen community wellbeing. One program participant shared: “I love the peer support training, we learned a lot during the course. I also like that the course was as a conversation, so the skills that we learned were easy to put into practice. I like the style of training as it helped me to put the skills into practice in conversation in my work.” With support from our incredible donors and partners like Canada Life, individuals can transform lived experience into meaningful impact while building confidence, purpose, and pathways to future opportunities.

Rivers Reach ʔi cən tecəl ʔə tə stɑl̕əw 🌊 Rivers Reach provides 52 permanent supportive homes in Maple Ridge for people who need support to maintain their housing. Opened in spring 2025, Rivers Reach offers self-contained studio apartments with on-site clinical health care provided by Fraser Health. Using Coast’s psychosocial rehabilitation and recovery-oriented approach, residents receive 24/7, person-centred support. Daily supports include nutritious meals and breakfast, life skills training, medication support, and referrals to community services. Coast’s onsite community mental health workers work closely with residents and healthcare teams to develop individualized recovery care plans that reflect each person’s goals. Rivers Reach is a smoke-free building, with designated areas in place to support residents’ needs. At Rivers Reach, housing and health care come together to create stability, dignity, and pathways to recovery. Learn More: https://lnkd.in/gJhnCZYJ

$29 million raised to date. 153 past recipients. Countless stories of resilience. For 27 years, the Courage To Come Back Awards have honoured individuals who have overcome incredible adversity and inspired our community. Read more of their powerful stories: https://lnkd.in/gQ5pvRv

Pacific Coast Apartments (PCA) provides 96 supportive homes in Vancouver for people who have experienced homelessness or other barriers to housing. Opened in 2011, PCA is part of Coast’s supportive housing network and offers a safe and stable place to call home. Using Coast’s recovery‑oriented approach, residents receive daily support focused on maintaining housing and working toward personal goals. Staff are on site to provide support, build on strengths, and encourage choice and independence. Residents also have access to daily activities, social programs, and opportunities to build life skills. Over time, PCA has grown into a supportive and connected community. At PCA, housing and support come together to create stability, dignity, and a sense of belonging. Learn More about PCA: https://lnkd.in/gvxunkNv

Today we celebrate Nowruz (No-Rouz), the Persian New Year, which marks the first day of spring and the start of a new year in the Iranian calendar. Celebrated for over 3,000 years, Nowruz is a time of renewal, hope, and fresh beginnings. Observed by communities across Iran and many parts of Central and South Asia, the Middle East, and the global diaspora, Nowruz brings people together through traditions that honour light, growth, and connection from gathering with loved ones to welcoming the season of spring. This year, Nowruz also serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of hope, peace, and renewal in times of uncertainty, inviting us to come together with compassion and a shared commitment to brighter days ahead. Nowruz Pirooz! 🪻

Garibaldi Ridge provides 51 supportive homes in Maple Ridge for people who have experienced homelessness. Coast Mental Health began operating Garibaldi Ridge in 2019 to help respond to an urgent need for housing and supports in the community. Using Coast’s recovery-oriented approach, residents receive 24/7 onsite support from a dedicated team. Supports include daily assistance, mental health care, and connections to community services. Residents also have access to additional health supports through Fraser Health, including mental health and psychiatric services. Each self-contained unit includes a private bathroom and kitchenette, supporting dignity, comfort, and independence. At Garibaldi Ridge, housing and support come together to create stability, safety, and pathways to recovery. To learn more, contact: GaribaldiRidge@coastmentalhealth.com

Meet Kristen McBride: the 2022 Courage To Come Back Award Recipient, Physical Rehabilitation category. At 20, a car accident left Kristen McBride paralyzed from the chest down with a spinal cord injury. After seven months in hospital, she began the lifelong journey of adapting – and thriving. She returned to teaching, built a successful Mary Kay business, and rediscovered her competitive spirit through Wheelchair Rugby – becoming the only woman on a B.C. team and just the second to compete nationally. She later brought a rugby league to her community and was invited to light the cauldron for the 2010 Olympics and take part in the Paralympic Opening Ceremonies. A wife, mom, athlete, mentor, and accessibility advocate, Kristen continues to give back and inspire others through her positivity, leadership, and determination. Stay tuned, the 2026 #CourageToComeBack Award recipient in the Physical Rehabilitation category will be announced this May.