Alberta’s government is building the Alberta Recovery Model to increase access to supports focused on prevention, intervention, treatment and recovery. Everyone deserves an opportunity to pursue recovery from addiction or mental health challenges. Alberta’s government partners with organizations such as the Alberta Division of the Canadian Mental Health Association to ensure recovery-oriented services are accessible to Albertans in need.
With support from Alberta’s government, the Canadian Mental Health Association (Alberta Division) and Centre for Suicide Prevention have partnered with Medicine Hat Family Service to operate the recovery college, which will officially open on March 4. For more than a year, recovery college courses have been available in the Medicine Hat region online; this partnership will increase accessibility with both in-person and online options offered within the community. Recovery colleges use an innovative group support model where people in recovery help others build the skills needed to thrive.
The province has invested $3.6 million over three years to support recovery colleges in Medicine Hat, Lethbridge, Edmonton, Calgary, Grande Prairie, Camrose, Red Deer and Wood Buffalo. Over the past three years alone, Alberta recovery colleges have provided about 2,000 courses to approximately 10,000 participants in 40 communities.
“I’m so glad Medicine Hat will soon be home to its own fully operational recovery college. Recovery colleges are an excellent resource to support Albertans in their pursuit of recovery as they provide free, recovery-focused mental health services. I want to thank all our partners, professionals and those with lived experiences that have made this project possible. Alberta’s government is proud to continue our work in ensuring Albertans from all across the province can access crucial recovery services.”
“Establishing meaningful connection with others is an important part of recovery. Our government is grateful for the work done by those across the province to support recovery colleges, establishing connection and providing education to those in need. With this kind of support, Albertans will have the tools they need to live in long-term recovery from addiction or mental health challenges.”
“As a strong advocate for mental health, I am pleased to see expanded support in Medicine Hat for those seeking resources for recovery. Nobody who is dealing with mental illness or addiction should be left wondering how to get help, and I am confident the recovery college will play an important role in many peoples lives.”
Recovery colleges offer short-term courses and discussion groups on a variety of mental health topics. Delivered online and in-person, courses are facilitated by two trainers: a professional and a person with lived experience. Any Albertan aged 16 and over is welcome to participate. No referral is necessary, and the courses are free.
The recovery college model in Alberta is based on successful recovery colleges in the United Kingdom, United States and Australia to provide access to mental health supports through a range of courses that help develop resiliency, wellness, connection, belonging and hope.
“Recovery colleges help people make healing connections by sharing mutual life experiences. Courses embody hope, belonging, meaning and purpose and encourage participants to actively engage their mental health recovery journeys. This partnership with Alberta’s government and Medicine Hat Family Service restores this welcoming program for people in Medicine Hat, delivered by local partners.”
“I came from a dark place in life. They just brought me into the light a little bit - and that's all it took. That's what I needed to strive and to be confident within myself.”
In the 2023-24 recovery college evaluation survey:
- 92 per cent of respondents said they felt more hopeful about the future after attending recovery college.
- 62 per cent of respondents said they learned how to address challenges before they became a crisis with learnings from recovery college.
- 80 per cent of respondents who attended multiple sessions said they were more able to engage in their community, for example, by volunteering, working or doing leisure activities.
- 88 per cent of respondents said they felt a greater sense of belonging as a result of participating in recovery college.
Alberta’s government is making record investments in mental health services to support Albertans of all ages in their pursuit of wellness and recovery. This includes investing in digital supports like 211 Alberta and Kids Help Phone; investing in affordable online and in-person counselling; and supporting early intervention initiatives such as in-school mental health services.
Quick facts
- Alberta’s government is investing $3.6 million over three years (2024-25 to 2026-27) to support the operation of recovery colleges.
- Medicine Hat’s recovery college will be fully operational on March 4.
- Albertans can call 211 Alberta for information on mental health and addiction supports and services.
Related information
Related news
- Supporting mental health and addiction recovery (June 21, 2019)
