one by one®: Survivor’s Hope Crisis Centre
Resources in a small town can sometimes be scarce sometimes. The staff at Survivor’s Hope Crisis Centre in Pinawa, Manitoba, understand that it can be tough for a survivor of a traumatic experience to find the support they need.
“Our center is unique to our province,” executive director Coral Kendel said. “As the only sexual assault service provider in rural Manitoba, we fill a lot of gaps. Survivors see friendly faces and know their information will be kept confidential here. They know they’ll have someone who can understand what they’re going through, hear them and listen to them.”
The mission of Survivor’s Hope Crisis Centre is to provide hope and healing to individuals who experience sexualized violence. A variety of programs focus on meeting needs as they’re identified, which gives survivors a sense of individualized and empowered care.
“For a survivor, the core of that experience was that their control was taken away,” Kendel explained. “We want to empower them again, to help them feel they can make their own choices and live their lives their way, and not have that experience dictate their choices moving forward.”
SARAH counsellor LP Penner poses with some promotional fidget toys.
How promotional fidget toys can help make counseling more comfortable
The organization offers a number of programs to support survivors of all genders in the Interlake-Eastern region heal from their experiences. The Sexual Assault Recovery and Healing (SARAH) program provides a two-prong approach. The first is through immediate care with the Crisis program, which is available 24/7 through select hospital emergency departments and RCMP detachments. Next, the SARAH Counseling and Support Program provides long-term care through individual counseling which is available for participants ages 13+.
“To have a place that’s a refuge where people can speak openly, without it being shied away from, is healing in itself,” Kendel shared. “A lot of folks don’t really understand how traumatic these experiences can be.”
To help make counseling sessions more comfortable, participants are given squeezable Push Pop Balls. These promotional fidget toys can make it easier for survivors to refocus and be mindful when discussing memories that can be difficult to talk through.
“Traumatic events can be felt in the body a lot,” Kendel elaborated. “These are so beneficial for someone who has been in traumatic situations. It’s difficult to get in touch with emotions and holding the fidget toy helps them externalize and distract from their anxieties. They’re significant in creating comfort and are a small way to cope with what they’re feeling.”
Ultimately, the organization also hopes to address larger systems in place that perpetuate sexually violent behavior. Prevention efforts, such as the Sexual Assault Discussion Initiative (SADI) program, involves staff going into schools to talk with students about healthy relationships, boundaries, consent and other topics.
“Our work is broader than just the day-to-day,” Kendel said. “We’re trying to address gender-based violence as a whole at the macro-level of prevention. We’re looking at the core sources of violence, like gender and racial roles and other systemic issues that allow this to continue.”
If you or someone you know are age 13 or older, residing in Interlake-Eastern Manitoba, have experienced sexualized violence and are seeking support and resources, please contact the SARAH program at 204-753-5353 or e-mail support@survivors-hope.ca.
A note from Cheryl
It is inspiring to see Survivor’s Hope Crisis Centre using promotional fidget toys to help bring a sense of comfort to survivors. 4imprint is pleased to play a small role in its mission to provide care and healing for survivors of sexualized violence. To learn more about a 4imprint one by one ® grant, visit onebyone.4imprint.ca.