By Tanya Cronin

Royal Inland Hospital Foundation supports mental wellness

Dec 8, 2015 | 3:48 PM

KAMLOOPS — The Royal Inland Hospital Foundation has officially launched this year’s Holiday Fundraising Campaign, in support of Mental Wellness. 

The Foundation is hoping to raise $100,000 to benefit 1 South, the hospital’s Acute Mental Health Unit. The space, located in the Alumni Tower, is old and dull and in desperate need of a face lift. Heidi Coleman, CEO of the RIH Foundation says renovations will begin in the common room, an area critical to the health and well-being of patients and their families.

“We would like to be able to do some seperation in there, so people who want to read or meet with their parents don’t have to be listening to someone listening to music on the boombox. We want to renovate the kitchen area because the cupboards are old. It’s just sad in there and it doesn’t need to be sad, it has just been overlooked,” said Coleman.

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The Mental Health Unit at RIH sees close to 1,000 patients each year, many of whom spend days or even weeks in the unit. After several life-changes, Jen Rauschenberger found herself suffering from depression and anxiety, and turned to 1 South for help. Rauschenberger is grateful for the care she received from staff during her one-week stay, and says the unit deserves the attention it’s getting.

“While I was in there, there was a lot of down time and reflection time. It gave me the opportunity to really be able to focus on taking care of myself which is something I don’t necessarily always do. The staff really gave me the tools to be able to go out and be confident and to take care of myself,” said Rauschenberger.

Investors Group has donated $1,000 to kick-off the campaign. If you would like to help the Royal Inland Hospital Foundation reach its fundraising goal, donate online at www.rihfoundation.ca – in person at the hospital or over the phone at 250-314-2325.