Today?s partner profile features the Amethyst Women?s Addiction Centre. The Centre has been around since 1979, providing alternative addiction services to women in our community. Cynthia Waldmeier took some time to talk to us about the great work they do to support women dealing with addiction.
The Amethyst Women?s Addiction Centre is one of the beneficiaries of proceeds from our Women of Comedy night on February 6th, which features an intimate and interactive evening with Sheila McCarthy, Deb McGrath and Nikki Payne.
CUTC: Tell us a bit about the Amethyst Women?s Addiction Centre and what it does:
CW: The Amethyst Women?s Addiction Centre was the first addiction treatment centre of its kind in Canada when it opened its doors in 1979 in Ottawa, Ontario.? The Amethyst Women?s Addiction Centre offers alternative addiction services to women.? Amethyst is committed to working with diverse and marginalized groups of women.? Our aim is to support women, individually and together, to take control of factors affecting our health and well-being.? Amethyst is grounded in the feminist belief that women?s experiences with alcohol, drugs and gambling cannot be separated from our experiences and status as women.? We make direct links between the unequal position of women in society, the various forms of violence against women and substance use and/or problem gambling.? A central task of Amethyst is to help women take charge of their lives by ending substance use and/or problem gambling and by making changes that enhance their strengths, their freedom and their choices.
CUTC: Why is supporting mental health so important in our community, and how can laughter help?
CW: Laughter and humour can be coping mechanisms that can help people to ride out many difficult life situations. Laughter is often regarded as the medicine of soul. Good healthy humour (which means not laughing at others but laughing with others) improves human connection and is the shortest route to friendships. Scientifically speaking, laughter and humour increases oxygen consumption by brain cells. MRI study shows that laughter can increase blood supply to neurons more than any other brain activity can do. Laughter is used as a medicine in many terminal illnesses as it can improve longevity and boost immune system. Full belly laughter for about an hour can also burn calories. It reduces stress level, relaxes body muscles and brings back the balance of neurochemistry.
CUTC: What kinds of mental health support does the Amethyst Women?s Addiction Centre provide?
CW: Addiction and metal health issues are closely interlinked. Addiction itself can also be a mental health issue as an ? impulse control disorder?. The rates of depression, personality Disorder, anxiety disorder are very high in addicted population. Besides, the link between Trauma and addiction is also well established by now. Addiction is actually the tip of an iceberg. Sometimes people become addicted as a consequence of self-medicating their underlying issues including mental health problems. Some people develop mental disorders as result of substance abuse too. So, it actually forms a vicious cycle.
CUTC: How do your programs help women and their families?
CW: Our Centre offers the following programs which benefit women struggling with addiction issues:
- A confidential and free Intensive Program to women who are dependent on alcohol and/or drugs. Treatment intensity and duration are tailored to individual women?s needs
- A Sexual Abuse Support Program that provides group and individual counselling support to clients as they heal from the trauma of childhood abuse
- A Problem Gambling Program tailored to the unique needs of women. Length and intensity of treatment are tailored to individual women?s needs
- Amethyst also offers n Early Childhood Development Program for pregnant women with addictions and/or with children six years and under. The Addiction Treatment Case Manager provides case management, assessment and treatment planning for the women coming to this program. This includes assisting the women in system navigation, advocacy and referrals.
- Amethyst is committed to working with the families of the women participating in the Centre?s programs as addiction is truly something which impacts an entire family, not just the woman herself.
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CUTC: Besides coming to the Cracking Up the Capital Women of Comedy night on February 6th, what are some of the other ways people can support Amethyst House?
CW: 80% of Amethyst?s clients have concurrent disorders, that is, addictions as well as mental health disorders/issues.
There are an estimated 20,200 women in the Ottawa region coping with a serious alcohol abuse problem and this figure does not include addictions to other drugs. We know the number is significantly higher, and the need for our services is essential.? As a non-profit organization, we need your donation. If you would like to make a donation, please make your cheque payable to Friends of Amethyst and mail it to us at:
Friends of Amethyst
488 Wilbrod Street
Ottawa, Ontario
K1N 6M8
Get your tickets for Cracking Up the Capital?s Women of Comedy Night, in support of the Amethyst Women?s Addiction Centre here.?
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