Health, wellness focus of new centre

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This article was published 29/10/2014 (4272 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A facility focused on treating people with mental illness and addictions is now open.

The Kelburn Estates Health & Wellness Retreat christened its 10,000-square-foot facility Tuesday morning in St. Adolphe.

Its director, Josephine D’Andrea, said Kelburn is the first facility of its kind in the province to deal with these issues under a single roof.

The centre is also a culmination of many years of work educating people that mental illness is truly a disease, not a sign of weakness, as it was seen a decade or two ago.

“There is still some shame and fear attached to (mental illness), especially at the employment level where people are afraid of coming forward for fear of being stigmatized at their workplace,” said Kelburn. “But today, people can say, ‘I can’t cope,’ or ‘I’m under stress right now’ or ‘I have trauma.'”

Located in a nearly 50-year-old house about a 10-minute drive from the south Perimeter Highway, Kelburn has capacity for 10 full-time residents, 10 in its day program and five in the three-evenings-a-week program. In addition to numerous bedrooms and an assessment centre, it also has an entertainment room and a large swimming pool.

Outside, the 60-acre property boasts a private nine-hole golf course, the exclusive domain of Kelburn’s residents, as well as walking trails.

A month in the residential program costs $16,000, while the day and night programs will set clients back $5,500 and $2,500 respectively.

“The residential program means you need to be away from everyone because your coping skills are (compromised). You need that break from everyone so that you can focus on what is challenging you, whether that’s depression or post-traumatic stress disorder,” she said.

Participants can contact the centre on their own or get a referral from a doctor, psychiatrist, psychologist, family, employer, union or insurance company. D’Andrea said many insurance policies cover its services.

The house is owned by Peter Ginakes, president of the Pony Corral Restaurant & Bar and Bob Harris of Harris Transport.

Ginakes said he had considered using the property to host special events, but ultimately decided to partner with D’Andrea.

“I’ve known her for years. She came to me with a business plan to (treat people) with addictions and we figured we’d help her develop it.”

geoff.kirbyson@freepress.mb.ca