When Karen Person isn’t working, she spends her day at Pathways Clubhouse in Richmond and helps in their kitchen — this has been a routine for her since 1989.
The non-profit organization on Granville Avenue provides vital support for people dealing with mental health challenges and those who’ve recovered.
“For me, I need routine in my life. When I don’t work, I don’t want to be alone in my house and watch TV…the clubhouse is made up of many different people with different personalities, and everyone gets along,” said Person.
“It’s been a good place for people who are going back into the workforce or need a place to come for a couple of hours a day to socialize.”
Person grew up in a small town in northern B.C. until she experienced mental health challenges in her 30s and moved to Vancouver for treatment. She was diagnosed with depression and was in a psychiatric ward for two months.
“I felt I was in a deep hole and I couldn’t get out of it. I didn’t want to shower, wasn’t functioning well at work and wasn’t looking after myself. It just wasn’t good,” recalled Person.
“I think it’s the fact that everyone was moving on with life and I wasn’t. I was the person that would stay home with my mom and I didn’t have friends in high school or elementary school.”
After leaving the hospital and receiving training to work in the restaurant, Person found a job in Richmond as a dishwasher. She was then introduced to Pathways, a non-clinical organization offering opportunities for people with mental health challenges to get training, social opportunities, volunteering, etc.
“I feel safe, I feel comfortable here,” said Person, who has been off medication now for a long time.
“I like working in the kitchen, I do the socials. I can just come and hang out in the morning, go to do strolls and then come back, two days a week.”
Person said she made the right decision to follow her doctor’s advice to move to Vancouver, a larger city where she expanded her social network and received support from organizations such as Pathways.
She said if someone is not feeling well mentally, they should tell somebody and seek help, and it’s important for those around them should give a listening ear.
At Pathways, once someone becomes a member, they become a member for life, no matter where someone is in their mental health journey, according to Erin Lee, a staff member at Pathways.
“I think a lot of people come here, because it’s a safe place to be where they know that other people have a story of their background and some people are open to talking about it, some people are not.”
She said the organization is purposely understaffed to create the need for members to support each other so they feel needed.
“I feel very supported here. They are the kindest and most open people that I’ve met here… People are very funny and supportive here so it’s just a fun place to be,” said Lee.
Local resources for mental health and substance-use disorders
BC 310 Mental Health Support Line: 24/7 310-6789 (no area code)
BC Crisis Line available 24/7 at 604-872-3311 or 1-800-SUICIDE
Chimo Crisis Line available 8 a.m. to midnight at 604-279-7070
Kids Help Phone available 24/7 at 1-800-668-6868 or text 686868
Seniors Abuse and information line available weekdays 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (except holidays) at 1-866-437-1940 or 604-437-1940
Foundry Richmond (youth services): 604-674-0550
Richmond Addictions Services available 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 604-270-9220
Richmond Mental Health and Substance Use Service (VCH) available 24/7 at 604-204-1111
Child and Youth Mental Health Richmond: 604-207-2511
SUCCESS: available daily from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. 1-888-721-0596, dial extension 1 for Mandarin and extension 2 for Cantones
