The journey to mental health has many paths, and they all include asking for help when you need it. We need your help today.
Mental health recovery is about more than treating symptoms—it’s about helping people build the skills, confidence, and resilience they need to heal.
Since 2018, the Movement for Mental Health Yoga Program has provided patients at Health Sciences Centre with a safe, trauma-informed space to improve both their physical and mental well-being. Through gentle movement, breathing exercises, and relaxation techniques, participants develop practical tools that can support their recovery during their hospital stay and long after they leave.
Thanks to generous donor support, this evidence-based program has helped thousands of patients experience reduced anxiety, improved mood, and a greater sense of connection. But without renewed funding, the program is at risk of ending.
The Health Sciences Centre Foundation is seeking to raise $385,000 to sustain the program for the next three years while expanding access through additional classes, virtual programming, and resources for patients across Manitoba.
Together, we can help ensure more people living with mental illness have access to innovative, compassionate care that supports healing of both body and mind.
Read the full case for support to learn more about the program, its impact, and how your generosity can help shape the future of mental health care in Manitoba.
Program evaluations collected from 1,912 inpatient and outpatient participants between 2019 and 2024 demonstrate strong patient-level impact.
-66% reported a significant improvement in mood
-74% rated their post-class mood as a 4 or 5 on a 5-point scale
-88% reported they were very or extremely likely to attend again
Qualitative feedback consistently described feeling calmer, more relaxed, and more connected, with participants valuing the program’s inclusive environment.
Real Patient Impact: Vanessa Russel
“Yoga encourages me to be calm & strong.”
Vanessa, a participant in Movement for Mental Health, was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia in 1999. She has been an inpatient over the years at HSC and comes to the hospital once or twice a month for follow-up appointments with her psychiatric team. She is currently enjoying her longest stretch out of the hospital since first being diagnosed.
Vanessa credits this program in part for that stability. “You can’t just treat a mind,” she says. “And yoga is about mind, spirit and body.”
Recovery looks different for everyone, but no one should have to face their mental health journey alone. Your donation will help sustain the Movement for Mental Health Yoga Program, giving patients access to evidence-based tools that promote healing, resilience, and hope.
Together, we’re helping ensure more Manitobans have access to compassionate mental health care that supports healing of both body and mind.
