A not-for-profit organization providing counselling services to Flin Flon, Creighton and Denare Beach residents has experienced a membership decline in recent years.
The Flin Flon and District Assessment and Referral Service (ARS) offers counselling to employees of businesses that contribute to the service.
ARS coordinator and counsellor Ebony Trubiak told the Flin Flon and District Chamber of Commerce Tuesday that she hopes to see membership rise in the near future so more employees can benefit from the services provided.
ARS has been providing confidential counselling services for the past 25 years, helping individuals with depression, anxiety, stress and other conditions and situations.
ARS membership is currently made up of seven businesses and organizations in the area, including Hudbay, City of Flin Flon, Town of Creighton and Northern Village of Denare Beach.
Decline
Trubiak said the decline in numbers can be attributed to contract companies that were once a part of the membership but have since left the community.
The confidential services provided by Trubiak and part-time counsellor Carol Craig benefit more than the employees, as their immediate family members are also
eligible to use the service at no cost.
“It’s for the whole family,” Trubiak said.
Employers belonging to ARS pay an annual premium for their employees to be eligible to receive the services free of charge.
Confidential
Chamber president Tom Therien, who is also general manager of ARS member North of 53 Consumers Co-op, emphasized the confidentiality of the service.
“I know nothing of who goes there and I don’t want to know,” Therien said.
“We tell our employees and if they go, they do. We don’t know [who goes] and we don’t want to know.”
Trubiak further stressed the priority placed on confidentiality.
“The people are very respectful [and] the employer groups are very respectful,” she said. “I think there is some concern that their information might be shared…but we absolutely do not.”
Trubiak did mention that clients have asked for their information to be shared with their employer, but those situations are by request only.
Trubiak stressed that ARS services are provided to those who want help, not because they have to go.
“But when people are in trouble at work, I think [sometimes it can] be suggested and made a part of the rules,” she said.
Although ARS cannot write prescriptions in situations where medication can help, Trubiak’s 12-year stint in mental health with the Northern Health Region left her with knowledge on how to tap into the proper resources.
“We do work with physicians,” she said. “…sometimes our service is about connecting people with more appropriate services.”
Chamber highlights
Other highlights from Tuesday’s chamber of commerce meeting:
• Betty Kendall of the Northern Neighbours Foundation reminded members that the foundation is now accepting applications for grants, with about $88,000 to be awarded in the region.
• Linda Allen of the Flin Flon Arts Council announced the community will for the first time host the Contact Showcase this October. Groups and individuals will perform at the Flin Flon Community Hall from Oct. 23 to 25. Arts councils from around the province will be on hand, making lists of their favourite acts for their communities in 2016.
• It was noted that Flin Flon will host the first Flinty’s Fishing Derby on April 12 with $200,000 up for grabs in prizes. Chamber past-president Kory Eastman and director Dave Kendall both reminded anglers to purchase the early bird, which allows the advanced buyers to pick a super hole.
• Denare Beach village councillor Scott McCullum said the village’s Winter Festival is set for this weekend with events on tonight, tomorrow and Sunday.
