Free mental health resource guide seeks three-year, $60K backing from Lambton County

Lambton County is being asked for $20,000 a year for three years to help fund a free guide to local mental health resources and supports.

Mental health advocate Debb Pitel, who’s also a Petrolia town councilor, created the No One Stands Alone project that prints and distributes a free booklet to libraries, municipal buildings, fire halls, community centres, businesses and other public venues around the county.

She also produces a version for Chatham-Kent.

Pitel spoke to county council Wednesday about the project and asked for $20,000 a year, for three years.

She has said she needs to raise about $100,000 a year from donors to produce the booklets in the two communities and expects to print about 60,000 copies this year.

Online information sources aren’t always easy to navigate and not everyone in comfortable with, or has access to, the internet, she said.

“My booklet takes the guesswork out,” Pitel said. Its local information is verified for accuracy each time its printed, about three or four times a year, she said.

Pitel and her family struggled to find resources for her son, who took his own life a month before his 15th birthday in 2001. In 2020, she released a book about her experiences, I’m Still Your Mom.

The booklet project grew out of her belief individuals continue to struggle to find and connect with local mental health services.

“I’m not suggesting I have the only solution,” she said. “At least for the last three years, my booklet has provided an alternative.”

She said the booklet also includes services available for those experiencing addiction and homelessness.

“Every day, I get a request for booklets,” from teachers, health-care workers, lawyers, parents, employers and others, she said.

“It is a book of hope” with information about “first steps, first contacts supporting veterans and parents, children, young adults, couples,” she said.

No One Stands Alone has provided copies of the resource guide to 22 local libraries, 11 municipal offices, 15 fire stations, ambulance stations and eight arenas. They’ve also gone to minor hockey, figure skating and other sports groups.

Pitel said the funding she’s seeking from the county would pay for printing and distribution of 8,000 copies.

The need for mental health services has grown in recent years and the booklet provides something individuals can pass along to someone they know who’s in crisis, she said.

County councilors voted Wednesday to refer her request to Lambton’s public health and social services departments, asking them to report back by July.

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