This year is a celebratory one for Shalem, as we honour 50 years of work in the area of mental health! Originally developed as Salem Christian Sanatorium Inc., Shalem’s founding vision was to develop a psychiatric hospital. While this in-patient service did not materialize, Shalem has never lost its vision of offering services to those dealing with emotional pain and mental health issues.
With offices in Hamilton and Bowmanville, Ontario, Shalem Mental Health Network offers a variety of community-based services from individual and family counselling to restorative practices, and continues to strive for clinical excellence in its faith-based approach to mental health.
This anniversary year started with a celebration service at Holland Christian Homes in January. Over 100 supporters, many of them members of the original founding community, gathered for a service of thanksgiving and celebration. Stories were shared about the history of Shalem, as well as about the work currently being done. There was a time of praise and thanks for God’s faithfulness in sustaining Shalem’s work over the years, and for touching the lives of so many people in need of the support and care they received through Shalem.
Other events are planned for the upcoming months, including our big fall celebration on October 5th, and our Open House in November.