“Throughout the Correctional Services program, we learn that if we don’t take steps to care for ourselves, we won’t be able to sustain a career taking care of other people. I’m very vocal about mental health and self care, so I was grateful to have the opportunity to express that passion and really run with it.

I started by researching how community-based agencies and health-care providers in the inner city were responding to the opioid poisoning epidemic. As I interviewed nurses, support workers, overdose response outreach workers, social workers and students, I heard how front-line workers responding to drug poisonings and overdoses needed resources to help them feel supported and connected to each other – that they needed to talk to people who have seen what they’ve seen and know what they know. 

It seemed like they needed a unified, confidential mental health platform, and I was stoked to discover that my dream resource already existed. Togetherall, a confidential platform supported by Alberta Health Services, is available 24/7 and monitored by trained mental health professionals. Front-line workers can post as much as they want and talk in real-time with other people.  

During my interviews, nobody mentioned Togetherall, so I thought there still might be something I could do to help make sure people knew about this resource. I got to work and focused my energy on networking and attracting traffic to the site. 

I sent a lot of emails, made tons of phone calls, did more interviews and ran around the city delivering posters and cards. I know that I may never know if all of that work made an impact, but I’ve learned that “not knowing” is sometimes just part of the work. Even when outcomes can’t be measured, it’s important to keep putting your heart into what you do.” 

–Monica Hauck, 2nd year, Correctional Services