More than 1,000 youths in Moose Jaw now have the opportunity to improve their physical and mental health — at no cost — with the help of the YMCA.
Alliance Health is organizing the Healthy Kids Initiative, a free 12-week program that gives youths from grades 6 to 12 the opportunity to work with a registered dietician, psychologist or social worker, and kinesiologist. Each of these health workers will provide advice about nutrition, cognitive behavioural therapy classes, and being active five days a week, respectively.
Pratts Food Service will provide daily fresh fruit to youths participating in the program. There will be no cost for any of the educational services, YMCA gym membership, or fruit. To register, contact Alliance Health at 306-693-6222 or call the Moose Jaw YMCA at 306-692-0688 (Fairford) or 306-692-1211 (Athabasca).
All youths — athletic and non-athletic — are eligible for the program. The initiative’s focus is not weight loss, but giving youths the tools to lead healthy lives.
This program is also being run in Regina and Saskatoon for 1,000 youths in those communities.
The launch of the initiative occurred at the YMCA Fairford Street location on May 8.
“We’re using a validated tool to measure quality of life (and) a validated tool to measure depression. We’ve already had good results,” said Dr. Mark Lemstra, CEO of Alliance Health.
A three-month pilot project was held from January to March, he continued. In the first group, 57 per cent of youths were depressed, but only 18 per cent were depressed at the end of the pilot program.
With youths being given 72 free sessions in the gym, plus a free gym membership, plus other health-related sessions, this adds up to $2,000 per participant. With 3,000 participants in the three communities, this equals $6 million.
However, all the costs are covered, Lemstra said, since the federal government has contributed some money, the YMCA is letting youths use the gyms for free, and Alliance Health is covering the health costs.
Improving the health of youths now is important so diseases and other illnesses are prevented in the future, he added. About $6.6 billion in taxpayers’ money goes to the health-care budget, but most programs treat illnesses rather than prevent them.
About 82 per cent of all heart disease cases are preventable, Lemstra pointed out, while 91 per cent of Type 2 diabetes is also preventable.
“We are very excited about the Healthy Kids Initiative,” said Mayor Fraser Tolmie. “The health and well-being of our children and youth is so important, and the Health Kids Initiative is taking the lead to ensure our children and youth have the best start possible.”
Physical health is an important part of community well-being, said Police Chief Rick Bourassa. This initiative helps realize the shared vision of a community that is safe, harmonious and welcoming.
The research shows when the social, economic, mental, emotional and physical well-being of a community are enhanced, the safety of that community also increases, he continued.
“Community safety and well-being are one integrated piece,” Bourassa added. “So we support and applaud any initiative that works to enhance community well-being.”
Keeping youths healthy now is important since they could become the firefighters of the future, said Deputy Fire Chief Mike Russell. He has coached sports for the last 30 years and works closely with youths. He knows some are driven and some are not.
“An initiative like this, where kids can learn and do it on their own, with the help of professionals … is huge,” Russell added.
The YMCA has a history of working with other agencies to improve the lives of youths, said Diana Deakin-Thomas, interim CEO of YMCA Moose Jaw. Having worked in other municipalities, Deakin-Thomas has found that Moose Jaw is unique in how every organization attempts to work together on projects. She also thinks it is great that this project is occurring.
