Project Peace for Mental Wellness began in Peace River 20 years ago as one of six pilot projects in Alberta, according to Sandra MacKenzie, Mental Health Capacity Building Project Peace program manager. MacKenzie says the project is now part of Recovery Alberta and the Mental Health Capacity Building team, and she says the work that started in Peace River has grown alongside similar programs across the province.

What began as six pilot projects has expanded into 40 different Mental Health Capacity Building projects in Alberta.
The project was inspired by the need to fill a gap in prevention, MacKenzie says. Research showed mental and emotional well-being can be nurtured through promotion and prevention efforts, she says, and the programs are intended to help individuals identify warning signs and intervene early, before mental health challenges grow into crises.

Prevention, health promotion and early intervention are central to the Mental Health Capacity Building initiative.

Supporting young people was also part of the project’s foundation, MacKenzie says.

Untreated mental illness significantly affects youth, she says, and suicide is a leading cause of death among Canadian youth. Mental Health Capacity Building was designed to serve children, youth and families by strengthening protective factors, which MacKenzie says can help young people manage challenges, build resilience and connect with support before difficulties become more serious.

Mackenzie also says schools are an important part of Project Peace’s approach.
Because children and youth spend much of their time in school, bringing mental health promotion directly into the education system creates a natural and stigma-free place for support, she says.

Many Mental Health Capacity Building initiatives also prioritize rural and remote communities, where physical access to clinical mental health care can be difficult.
Placing programming in schools helps reach children and youth where they already are, while also supporting families and communities, MacKenzie says.

Project Peace primarily facilitates tier one universal programming for children and youth in schools, MacKenzie says. She says the programming is delivered by a team of Success Coaches who facilitate social emotional learning in every classroom in the schools where Project Peace is located. MacKenzie says the project’s primary goal is to promote positive mental health and build resilience in children, youth and families.

The initiative works toward that goal by focusing on health promotion, prevention and early intervention.
One thing MacKenzie says she wishes more people knew is how dedicated Project Peace staff are to supporting everyone in their communities. In her role as program manager, she supports the Success Coaches in schools so they can bring the strongest programming possible to both schools and the community.

MacKenzie has been involved with Project Peace for eight years, including four years as a Success Coach and four years as program manager.
For students and parents, Mental Health Capacity Building means access to a school- and community-based initiative focused on prevention, early intervention and mental health promotion, MacKenzie says.

Children and families learn skills to manage emotions, build resilience and foster supportive environments before mental health challenges escalate into crises, she says. The initiative is typically operated through regional health authorities, such as Recovery Alberta, in partnership with local schools and agencies, according to MacKenzie.

Children and youth benefit from the project in practical ways, MacKenzie says.

Students participate in classroom activities and group sessions that focus on emotional regulation, self-care and healthy choices, she says.

The programming helps students recognize, understand and verbalize their feelings, which can reduce frustration and behavioural issues.

Students also learn how to bounce back from everyday stressors and build protective factors that can support them throughout their lives, MacKenzie says.
Parents and families are also supported through Mental Health Capacity Building.

Families can gain access to educational workshops, coffee talks and mentorship opportunities.

These programs are designed to help them better understand child development and support mental well-being at home.

Wellness coaches and teams can help spot mental health or addiction concerns early and guide families toward the right help quickly, MacKenzie says.

The initiative may also serve as a bridge by connecting parents and caregivers to local community resources, treatment services and support networks, she says.

Project Peace is currently operating in three communities: Peace River, Grimshaw and Fairview.

The program has eight staff members and is currently in 10 schools.

Each school has at least one wellness coach onsite to encourage students to be educated on mental health.

These roles also ensures that students have opportuites to engage in activities that are good for positive mental health.

MacKenzie says she would always like to see the program grow into other communities.

In what she describes as a perfect world, she says she would like to see Mental Health Capacity Building programs in every town and school in Alberta.

That growth would extend the same prevention-focused support to more children, youth and families, MacKenzie says.

Project Peace’s work is rooted in helping communities build skills before mental health concerns become crises, while making support available in places that already feel familiar to students and families, she says.

The project’s continued presence in schools allows Success Coaches to work directly with students.

This is done through social emotional learning and to help connect families with resources when they need them, says MacKenzie.

For more information on the project or to apply for programming, applicants are encouraged to contact MacKenzie directly via email at MackenzieS@prsd.ab.ca.

Sara Driedger
Lakeside Leader