As the season changes, we are seeing more people seeking assistance from our programs, and fall and early winter are always busy times at the WCSS offices. Demand for Outreach Services was already high in July and August, with 41% new clients in July alone, and we’re expecting numbers to continue to climb as we enter the winter months.
The success of WCSS Outreach Services relies on a dedicated and compassionate team and their unwavering commitment to community care. Our team of Outreach Workers is at the heart of what we do, providing one-on-one support, guidance, and care to individuals facing challenges with their mental and emotional health, financial insecurity, advocacy, physical health and injury, housing, food insecurity, substance use, employment, parenting support, or violence and conflict in relationships and more. Their work goes beyond simply offering services – they create personal connections, build trust, and guide people through difficult times with empathy.
Our 2024 TOGETHER Outreach Campaign raises crucial funds so WCSS Outreach Workers can continue this vital work in our community – DONATE NOW.
Read about one community member’s experience with WCSS Outreach and learn more about the impact Outreach has in our community.
“Last November, I was in the worst shape I have ever been in. I couldn’t get through the day without tearing up, suicidal thoughts were in my mind 24/7, and I couldn’t sleep. I felt completely disconnected and disassociated from my life. Someone would ask me a simple sentence, and I would not be able to comprehend what they had just said. Simple tasks, such as brushing my teeth, felt like running a marathon.
There were two months when I could not bring myself to lay in bed, and that was when I really started to spiral. My flatmates were a bit confused as to why I was always sleeping on the living room couch. One day, I went for a walk near the creek, and I sat down on a rock in the freezing cold and all I could hear was screaming in my head to end it all. It would be so much simpler for me to end it all right there. I was beyond exhausted. That was the moment I chose that enough was enough. It is time to get help.
I had googled ‘mental health support Whistler’, and a couple of options showed up. Keep in mind I was surviving pay cheque to pay cheque at this moment, so private counselling was not an option. So, I booked an appointment with Tom at WCSS. Going into it, I was anxious. I think I felt as though maybe my struggles weren’t severe enough or that there were other people in worse shape who deserve help more than me. I was also terrified that it was just going to be another thing to try that made me feel no different.
From the second I walked into the office, before even speaking to anyone, the two bowling balls that had been sitting on my chest the last couple of months, lifted slightly. I was safe. I was offered a cup of tea, and then I let everything out. I was supported by not only a safe place to unleash emotions but also by getting help to take action. I was explained what grieving was, a term I did not think I was worthy of. They fought for me to get doctor’s appointments urgently, brought me to the food bank, dropped off food at my house and checked in with me on a day-to-day basis. Whistler Community Services helped me find the tools it took me to save my life.
In January, I was hospitalized and chose to leave Whistler to be supported at home by my family. An option that was never an option to me until I was given peace of mind through WCSS that it would be okay – that sometimes to surrender and ask for help is the bravest thing to do. That keeping myself alive was my full-time job. I could finally breathe properly.
WCSS supported me immensely in getting through those months, teaching me and being there for me mentally, spiritually, financially, and physically. Assisting me with tasks I could not do on my own. They also have helped me figure out what drives me to get out of bed in the morning, that supporting others and connecting others who are struggling to resources (such as WCSS) is what ignites my soul, and I am now beginning to look at a career in the mental health field. They really helped me get back on my feet while honouring my struggles and strength at the same time
When I lost myself and was so scared I would never come back, WSCC helped me figure out that it wasn’t necessarily a loss but more of a shift and that it’s okay to come back to a different place. At the core, I was/am always me, but these days, I feel so much lighter and have a different perspective on my daily routine.
I feel so grateful towards every single human and service that WCSS offers; even if I may not use it directly, I know that someone is benefiting from it. They reignited hope and light back into my life. I would not be the person I am today without the constant support I received from the team, and I am so so thankful. Thank you so much, Whistler Community Services, for supporting me and this community through many seasons of this wild ride of life. It is truly wonderful what you do!”
– Anonymous Client