Health and Community Services
April 22, 2015

Supporting Mental Health for Families and Communities

Provincial Government Supports Pathways Foundation�s Hope Walk

The Provincial Government today announced $35,000 in funding to support the Pathways Foundation�s Hope Walk. The Pathways Foundation supports the healing of survivors of sexual abuse from religious institutions and aims to promote healing and prevent harm from reoccurring. The Hope Walk will create provincial awareness of the organization and the many mental health supports it provides.

�We have come a long way in our province with respect to the services and programs that are available for people who are living with mental health issues. The Pathways Foundation is a wonderful organization that provides support to those who have experienced sexual abuse in our province. The Provincial Government is proud to support the Hope Walk, and shares its vision of creating mental health awareness.�
- The Honourable Steve Kent, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health and Community Services

Minister Kent joined members of the Pathways Foundation at Core Fitness in St. John�s for the announcement.

Pathways Founder and Chair Gemma Hickey will begin the Hope Walk in Port aux Basques on August 1 and proceed eastward, finishing August 31. Ms. Hickey will walk 30 kilometres a day, exceeding just over 900 kilometres of walking in total. She also plans to produce a documentary film about her journey and will engage the public through social media, and in person along the way.

�On behalf of the Pathways Foundation I would like to thank the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador for their generous support of the Hope Walk. This journey is about healing. It's about moving out of a dark time in our past into a bright, hopeful future � one step at a time. We are very pleased the Provincial Government will be supporting us on this journey.�
- Gemma Hickey, Founder and Chair of the Pathways Foundation

The Provincial Government continues to support mental health in Newfoundland and Labrador, investing approximately $100 million annually for mental health and addictions programs and services delivered by the four regional health authorities.

For more information on the Pathways Foundation and the Hope Walk, visit www.pathwaysfoundation.wordpress.com.

QUICK FACTS

• The Provincial Government is providing $35,000 in funding to support the Pathways Foundation�s Hope Walk.
• The Hope Walk will raise awareness of the Pathways Foundation and the many mental health supports it provides to survivors of sexual abuse within religious institutions.
• The walk begins in Port aux Basques on August 1 and ends August 31. Gemma Hickey, Founder and Chair of Pathways Foundation, will walk 30 kilometres a day eastward, exceeding just over 900 kilometres of walking in total.
• The Provincial Government continues to support mental health in the province with approximately $100 million annually for mental health and addictions programs and services.
• For more information on the Pathways Foundation and the Hope Walk, visit www.pathwaysfoundation.wordpress.com. .

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Media contacts:

John Tompkins Director of Communications Department of Health and Community Services 709-729-1377, 728-7762 jtompkins@gov.nl.ca

Janet Harron Communications The Hope Walk Project 709-631-0249 harron.janet@gmail.com

2015 04 22                                                 11:45 a.m.