From Despair to Hope Thanks to The Salvation Army’s Mental Health Support
During the COVID-19 lockdown, Robyn Darker had to make a difficult yet necessary decision to keep her and her family safe. She left home with her three children, escaping a domestic violence situation.
Dealing with mistreatment over some time made Robyn feel alone and with a lot of self-doubt. Feeling confused and anxious about where to go took a toll on her mentally. To address and take care of her mental health, she turned to The Salvation Army for help.
“I reached out to The Salvation Army because I knew they always help people. There is no judgment, they are just there to help you. When I reached out, they were able to give me some tools that were able to help me and now I’ve been able to change my life immensely,” Robyn shared.
Robyn went to The Salvation Army’s Northridge Community Church in Aurora, Ont., which offers mental health support to clients all over the York Region. A few years prior Robyn had been part of the STAIR program at Northridge, which helps participants deal with trauma. Knowing of the services offered, Robyn knew Northridge was a place she could turn to, even in the middle of a global pandemic.
“I reached out to The Salvation Army because I knew they always help people.”
“I called them, and they were the only people that didn’t say no. They said, ‘We can help you’. They gave me an appointment within a week.”
Not long after reaching out to Northridge, Robyn began taking part in one-on-one counselling sessions weekly with Registered Psychotherapist, Vicki Nishihama. She also once again joined the STAIR program, which hosts group sessions. Over time, Robyn could see improvement in how she dealt with her mental health, thanks to the techniques and advice she was provided. The atmosphere at Northridge also played a part in her development.
“I will say when walking into that building, I feel warm, and I feel at home. I am now a member of the church at Northridge because I felt welcomed there and because they are very discreet about why you are there,” Robyn added.
Northridge currently provides mental health support to an average of 30 clients weekly. They are expanding their team as the pandemic caused an influx in clients. Vicki Nishihama explains that the loneliness brought on by the lockdowns added to the already overwhelming stress of everyday life for many people.
“I was hired on primarily to deal with some of the mental health issues that became worse because of the COVID-19 lockdowns, and we are still seeing some of that play out four years later,” Vicki said. “Then of course, there are life challenges, job insecurities, financial insecurities, mortgage rates going up, housing, food insecurity. All these insecurities on top of pre-existing mental health issues, cranks things up. I am so pleased with the way The Salvation Army is addressing mental health issues.”
“I wouldn’t have thought that five years later, I would be sitting here talking to you at my home office, being able to strive as a human being because I got the help.”
In September 2023, Northridge hosted a gala to raise funds for their mental health programs. The event had many speakers including Robyn. Even though she had never done a speech in her life, Robyn was happy to share her journey, if it meant giving back to the place that helped her. The gala was successful, raising thousands of dollars.
Speaking at the gala made Robyn realize she had come a long way since she first went to Northridge, reaching milestones she didn’t think were possible a few years back.
“From the nights that I couldn’t sleep, I wouldn’t have thought that five years later, I would be sitting here talking to you at my home office, being able to strive as a human being because I got the help. Being able to excel in places I never thought that I would be able to because I was always struggling,” Robyn said.
By Juan Romero
