In Alberta 20% of adults will experience a mental illness at some point in their life, and family and friends will become their major caregivers.

We can help.

Our Story

KATHRYN RICHMOND, BFA, BEd, MBSR Accredited through the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. Kathryn is a member of the founding family of Pathways Mental Health Collective - Foothills.

Kathryn is a mental health educator and counselor. After 40 years of teaching, one of Kathryn’s son’s was diagnosed with drug induced schizophrenia. He was in and out of psychosis for 8 years. The family struggled to cope. The family thought that if we were having difficulty navigating the mental health care system , what were other families doing?

Kathryn retired from teaching to return to York University and U of T to study psychology, mindfulness and CBT. She began speaking at conventions such as the Schizophrenia Society, Family Mental Health Support Network of Niagara Region, Canadian Mental Health andAddictions, Fort Erie Native Friendship Centre and Veterans Affairs, bringing counseling and coping skills to educate families. We believe that an educated family is better equipped to handle the stresses of caring for a loved one with a mental illness and to also minimizes the stress of the loved one.

Kathryn offers free online courses such as an 11- week coping skills course that covers topics such as communication with a loved one without triggering them. Other topics covered are suicide awareness, boundaries, anxiety, depression, bipolar, schizophrenia.

Other free online courses offered are mindfulness twice weekly, forest bathing, boundaries book club, journaling, Atlas of the Heart book club and nature walking.. The courses vary with new topics offered frequently.

Kathryn has worked with the Family Mental Health Support Network of Niagara Region for 11 years building community. Kathryn also serves on several local boards such as Chair of Family Community Support Services for Longview, the Barnabas Board, and the Longview Bible Fellowship Board.

What We Do

Pathways Mental Health Collective Foothills offers free workshops that focus on helping caregivers understand mental illness, treatments, and what mental health services are available in the Foothills Region. The FSN also supports caregivers by teaching coping skills.