A ribbon-cutting ceremony took place Thursday in Portage la Prairie for the new location of Canadian Mental Health Association Central.

Executive Director Sean Miller is thrilled.

Sean Miller"We decided to celebrate our move into our brand new space," says Miller. "We're calling it our permanent home here on 102 First Street NW in Portage la Prairie. We'd been renting a spot on Saskatchewan Avenue for more than 20 years, and always, always with an eye for a place that we could move into and call our own."

Miller explains they wanted to deepen their roots in the city as part of their commitment to establish a strong presence here, noting they're here to stay. Rather than continue to rent or lease, they purchased the facility.

He outlines how they can now do more onsite.

"It really helped to separate our drop-in space from our learning centre space," adds Miller. "Before, in the old building, they were conflated. So, they were combined. It made it really difficult to offer drop-in services for people while we were running classes. So, now we can do that. We can do them concurrently."

He says they're also closer to their apartment buildings that they own, noting they do provide housing for the community. Miller says their location now removes them from the main drag, and they have more parking and better accessibility available. Miller says it's a little easier for people to come in when you're not on the main avenue, although he acknowledges, he wishes that stigma did not exist. He stresses they're offering something for everyone, not just those with mental health challenges.

Miller says five out of five people have mental health and everyone can see that improve, be protected and promoted.

He adds they do have many supports and services in Portage and are all free. Again, he continues, they exist to support the broad spectrum of the community, and not only those disenfranchised or people who are impoverished. Miller says many think CMHA exists just to help those in dire situations, but they really do have something for everyone. The Mental Health Education programs that they offer are top-notch, evident-spaced, and are developed by and for the community.

Miller adds, if you're supporting someone who has a mental health challenge, or want to improve your own mental health, you do not need a diagnosis to do that. Miller says even a Formula-1 racer has a top-quality vehicle but their engines have to be tuned up to perform optimally. Miller says this is also true for people to improve and live their best lives.