Mental Wellness Coalition

Introduction to the Vulcan County Mental Wellness Coalition

The VCMWC is a coalition of organizations and individuals concerned with the mental wellbeing of the residents of Vulcan County.

MENTAL WELLNESS can be categorized as a state of mental wellbeing that enables a person to cope with the stresses of life, realize their abilities, learn well and work well, and contribute to their community.

Mission

  • Vulcan County Mental Wellness Coalition (VCMWC) strengthens the community by fostering collaboration, improving resource accessibility, and reducing stigma to support mental well-being for everyone living in Vulcan County.

Vision

  • Vulcan County is a healthy and supportive community with easy access to high quality mental health services where all individuals thrive.

Values

  • Empathy: We listen with understanding and act with compassion, recognizing each individual’s unique journey.
  • Inclusivity: We celebrate diversity and create a welcoming space for all, regardless of background, identity, or experience.
  • Integrity: We uphold the highest ethical standards in everything we do, ensuring trust, honesty, and transparency in our services.
  • Collaboration: We believe in the power of working together to create meaningful, lasting change.
  • Respect: We treat each person with dignity, honor their autonomy, and acknowledge their inherent worth.
  • Growth: We are committed to continuous learning, both as an organization and as individuals, to better serve those we support.

Guiding Principle

Guiding principles for our target audience that includes farmers, livestock producers, and their families

  • We envision strong, close-knit rural communities where farmers, livestock producers and their families thrive with easy access to high quality mental health support. Rooted in the values of small-town connection and resilience, we foster collaboration and share evidence-based knowledge to ensure that our local producers and their communities can grow and prosper together.

Community and Professional Organizations Involved

  • Vulcan County Health & Wellness Foundation
  • Vulcan & Region FCSS
  • Act4 Health Coalition – Social Determinates of Health and Social Prescribing
  • Vulcan Community Mental Health Support Committee (aka the Suicide Awareness Committee)
  • Rainbow Literacy and Learning Society – Vulcan
  • Friends of Vulcan County Emergency Services
  • AHS Mental Wellness Clinician
  • Vulcan Community Health Centre’s Manager of Acute and Long-term Care Site Manager
  • Applied Social Psychologist and Professor at the University of Alberta
  • Facilitator from the Mental Health Commission of Canada
  • Addictions Community Support Worker
  • Two active and three retired Palliser Regional School Division Employees
  • Librarians – Vulcan Municipal Library Plus Other Chinook Arch Libraries in Vulcan County

Community Consultants

  • Representatives from the local business community
  • Representatives from our local agricultural community
  • Vulcan County Agricultural Services and County Councillors
  • Vulcan County Regional Ag Societies and Booster Clubs
  • Former Vulcan Regional Victims’ Services advocate
  • Retired family physician
  • RCMP Vulcan Detachment and RCMP ALERT and Integrated Child Exploitation Teams
  • Southern Alberta Regional Victims Serving Society – Vulcan Team
  • Palliser School District School/Parent Councils (Vulcan County Schools)

Collaborative Partners

Local and Regional

  • Vulcan County Agriculture Services and Vulcan County Council
  • Vulcan County Regional Ag Societies
  • Vulcan County Health and Wellness Foundation Trustees
  • Act4 Health Coalition – Social Determinants and Prescribing
  • Vulcan and Regional Family Community Support Services (FCSS)
  • Vulcan Community Mental Health Support Committee (Suicide Awareness/Prevention)
  • Vulcan County 4-H group leaders and volunteers

Provincial, Federal, and International Organizations

  • The Alberta Centre for Sustainable Rural Communities at the University of Alberta’s Augustana Campus – Rebecca Purc-Stephenson (Ph.D.)
  • Agricultural Wellbeing Alberta (agwellAB)
  • Do More Agriculture Foundation (DoMoreAg)
  • Canadian Centre for Health and Safety in Agriculture
  • High Plains Research Network – University of Colorado
  • 988 Canadian Suicide Crisis Hotline; National Farmer Crisis Line (1-866-FARMS01); National Farmer Wellness Network Crisis Line
  • Rowan House Society

Resources