Despite all the changes and challenges presented to our community in 2020 and 2021 - the Ottawa Run for Women, brought to you by the LOVE YOU by Shoppers Drug Mart™ program, broke records once again! The ambitious registration goal of 6,000 participants was not only met, but also passed! In addition, a new record of over $795K was raised for women’s mental health at The Royal.
These results are keeping Ottawa as the most successful city in Canada!
Thanks to the Run for Women, matching donation sponsors David Burns & Associates and excelHR, and Run for Women participants and donors, The Royal is able to help women in our community with:
- Peer support groups (via zoom since April 2020) that are open to women in our community and beyond who self-identify as living with mental health challenges.
- Collaboration with Violence Against Women community offering recovery-focussed mental health support to shelter residents.
- Collaboration with Ottawa Birth and Wellness Centre offering recovery-focussed mental health peer support to perinatal women.
- Since May 2020, 19 Facebook live events providing specialized education sessions to service providers and users in the perinatal mental health sector (14,099 views and climbing) plus one VAW Facebook live on the association between mental health and Violence Against Women (800 views and climbing).
- Mental Health First Aid with a specialized focus on the unique mental health challenges for women.
- In spring 2020, The Royal, as part of their commitment for improved access to mental health, (link to strat plan), opened the C (Covid-19) Prompt Care Clinic. Since the re-opening on Jan. 18, 2021, of the 925 people referred, 65 per cent of the clients had never accessed mental health services and 67 per cent of the clients were women. The new Prompt Care Clinic provides gender specialized mental health care.
Thank you again to each person who became a captain, joined a team, raised money and supported our campaign in social media – thank you! Your effort will directly impact so many women’s lives directly in our community.