Despite restrictions imposed by the coronavirus, the North Island Mood Disorders Society continues to offer one-on-one peer counselling, mostly to people referred by the crisis line.
Mental health counsellor Douglas Sewell said the website (nimooddisorders.com) has grown exponentially and is now operating globally.
“I was supposed to be in Africa with one of our outreach projects when COVID hit and ruined our plans,” Sewell said.
The Campbell River-based non-profit hopes to bring mental health, and mood disorder awareness and support to the 46 sub-Saharan countries in Africa — an indication of how NIMDS has morphed into a comprehensive information and research site.
“It was a gradual process,” Sewell said. “We developed a few online contacts and began to realize that there was a huge need for education, and that was something we could do quite well.”
The society supports people who who have all varieties of depression, bipolar and anxiety disorders.
The website includes video news feeds, and posts at least two educational articles a day. It also provides a list of mental health resources.
Contact the North Island Mood Disorders Society at 778-348-0588 or nimooddisorders@gmail.com for further information.
The Vancouver Island Crisis Line is available at 1-888-494-3888.