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trade her work something to do. They helped by Cathy Olliffe Barb Bracken isn't afraid to admit it-- ago, she di mentallyill. "People have a stigma about mental illness," the gentle, soft- spoken Port Perry woman says. "Soiyatly I did, I knew nothing of it." Not that she professes to be an expert in the field. She doesn't. But with three years of training and experience with the Community Involvement Volunteer Program (CIVP), she feels she better understands mental health, CIVP can be a godsend to those with mental health prob- lems. The organization acts two ways--it matches volunteers with people who suffer from mental illness, and it provides a drop-in centre for those same people to get together, enjoy some social time, and talk about 't understand the their problems. . One-on-one matches are care- fully chosen, and volunteers meet with those who have ei- ther been hospitalized for men- tal health problems and sent 'back to the community, or peo- ple who have never been hospi- talized but suffer from prob- lems such as depression or isolation. The volunteers are good lis- teners, who more often than "not, act as friends and lifelines totheirmatch. If an individual is terrified of leaving his or her own room, a volunteer can help the person 'gather up enough courage. ' If a new mother is suffering from a severe bout. of post- partum depression, a volunteer. can help her see lightin a tun nel of darkness. - until three years A man who has just gone through a traumatic divorce can find a friendly ear to listen to his problems. And a patient who has just re- turned from Whitby Psychiatric Hospital can adjust more readi- ly to the daily rigours of society with the help of a volunteer. Barb Bracken isn't a one-on- one volunteer, although she says it's something she'd like to do. In fact, she's in the midst of 'an advanced training course that would allow her to do just that. In the meantime, Barb has an important job at the drop-in ~ centre, held every Wednesday between 1 p.m. and 3 p.m, at the Kin-Scout Hall on Lilla St., Port Perry. ~CIVP coordinator Elaine Arsenault runs the centre, but Barb is her "right-hand man", assistingin any way she can. Although Elaine can and does take "clients" aside for individu- al counselling, Barb's job is more general, helping people to enjoy the atmosphereofthecen- tre It's sort of a social club for those who attend, a chance to get together, play some euchre, and exchange conversation. Three or four times a year the group goes swimming, and spe- cial occasions like Christmas are celebrated with "parties." People from all over go to the drop-in centre, from as far away as Stouffville and Pontypool. - Anybody , Barb says, can "drop-in" at the drop-in, wheth- er or not they have any mental health problems. "An 80 year old lady came to the drop-in to play euchre with a boy who had schizoprenia," she recalls. "They got along really well. She just wanted Fried Chicken Fish & Chips e P.ST. where applicable 3 Snoopy Sunpac Fruit Drinks (Tetrapaks) and with any ~~ purchase buy 3 Snoopy Fruit Drinks for only 0 0 ¢ viet with any purchase over $10.2 e Limit 3 Snoopy Sunpac Fruit Drinks with any purchase o Valid at participating Dixie Lee locations DIXIE LEE CHICKEN & SEAFOOD 136 WATER STREET, PORT PERRY 985-9009. ' Peanuts Characters: © 1958, 1965, 1971 United Feature Syndicate, Inc. (lL Sees J Snoopy Fruit Drinks while supplies last om - eachother." Up until three years ago, Barb was a volunteer for Com- munity Care, which was in the same office as CIVP. Former CIVP coordinator Nell Mar- - shall wanted to start a drop-in centre, and talked Barb into helping her out withit. Barb was a little unsure about the whole thing, but agreed to take a 30 hour, 10 ses- sion training course in Sunder- land to teach her the basics Shout dealing with the mentally ill. PORT PERRY STAR -- Tuesday, March 28, 1989 -- 23 There she learned about cop- ing skills, how to listen, and how to understand the different mental illnesses such as schizo- prenia, neurotic disorders, eat- ing disorders, phobias and de- pression. i From that moment on, she found the field fascinating. "Anybody who has ever taken the course has found it reward- ing," she says enthusiastically. The training course is provid- ed absolutely free, and as Barb says, "Where else can you get this kind of training, provide by such experts? It's a great thing, itreallyis." : And the best of all, for Barb, was learning not to be afraid of mentalillness. "If you get to know the people, they're wonderful. I was a little apprehensive at first about one man with schizoprenia, but I look at him now and I think, wasn't stupid? "They're mentally ill. They've rgot an illness, just like any oth- er kind of illness. If you took the time to get to know them, they're really nice. Some people in Port Perry have even taken them into their homes for par-. ties and lunches." Another thing she has learned is how easy mental ill- ness can be brought on. Job- related stress, divorce, death-- all of these can all trigger men- talillness. : And she's learned how good she can feel when she can offer support. "T like it. I like the people. I like helping them. Anyone can do it. All you have to do is want to help people," she says. "I'm very shy and I never dreamed I would ever be in this field, ever." But she is, and now she wouldn't trade her position as a Whunige? for for any- thin Like many volunteer agen- cies, CIVP is constantly search- ing for more volunteers. Elaine Arsenault would be happy to hear from anyone who would like to learn more about mental health through free training sessions, and who would enjoy - devoting a few hours of t time to helping other people! : For a ration. the Scugog Community Care of- fice at 985-8461. YOUNG DRIVERS : to PORT PERRY, UXBRIDGE & AREA Barb Bracken is one of a rare breed. As a volunteer for CIVP, she works with people who have mental health - problems--a job few people understand or even want to understand. But Barb wouldn't trade her work for anything. In fact, she's now taking ad- vanced 'training courses to learn even more. See sto- ry for detalls. CASH & CARRY BULK FOOD and DAIRY STORE Butterscotch CHIPS $19) COCOA POWDER BAKING ODA PEANUTS in shell S$ $19 3 a $50 : We reserve the right to limit quantities. Specials in effect from March 28th to April 3rd, 1989, or while supplies last. Myers Cash & Carry next to -- Kentucky Fried Chicken vb. STORE HOURS: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday 9 AM to 6 PM . Thursday & Friday ...........cccunnmniniininninns 9 AM to 9 PM >