Mental-health service provider grounds programming in faith

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This article was published 22/11/2021 (1456 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

FOR Brad Unger, the new CEO of Eden Mental Health Services, spirituality is an important part of the mental-health journey.

“We make sure that faith and spirituality are incorporated into our services, whatever that might mean for clients,” he said.

Unger, 43, starts his new job on Dec. 1. He comes to the position after being program director for Recovery of Hope, Eden’s counselling therapy program.

“I’m interested in the places where mental health, psychology and faith intersect,” said Unger, who attends Winnipeg Centre Vineyard church with his wife and three children.

Eden, which is owned by Mennonite churches in Manitoba, is part of the provincial mental-health system and works in partnership with Southern Health. It works with people of all faiths and no faith, he said.

“We use whatever resonates with clients,” he said. “Eden respects the world view its clients bring. We aren’t looking to impose a world view or values on them. The goal is to bring health and healing to where they are.”

Unger grew up as a preacher’s kid, attending Crestview Fellowship, an Evangelical Mennonite Conference church.

“Values of faith were taught early, and always part of the conversation,” he said of his growing-up years. “It was very formative for me.”

He also was interested in psychology, something that has been viewed suspiciously by some Christians. At the same time, it’s hard for some Christians to admit they have mental-health challenges, he said.

“For some, there’s a stigma to it,” he said, adding he thinks that is decreasing — there are clergy and church leaders who seek help from Eden and many churches see Eden as a resource.

“We see spirituality as an important part of the mental health journey,” he said. “If people have faith, we encourage them to use it as part of their recovery process.”

The pandemic has seen an increase in people seeking help, Unger said. “It’s been hard on many, with anxiety, depression, grief and loss,” he said.

As for the future, he’s excited about plans to redevelop Eden’s facility in Winkler, which was built in the 1960s, and to expand services in Steinbach and Winnipeg.

“We want to serve and meet the mental-health needs of the next generation in the Southern Health region,” he said.

Eden’s services include a 25-bed in-patient psychiatric hospital in Winkler; outpatient services; a housing program in Winkler, Steinbach and Winnipeg; career and employment support in Winkler and Steinbach; and Recovery of Hope Counselling services Winnipeg, Winkler, Steinbach, Altona and Portage la Prairie.

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