Momentum Counselling has been offering life-saving mental health services to Edmonton's men through the Anchor Men’s Group for over a decade. The group, led by Dr. David St. Arnault, a Registered Psychologist, along with a team of Registered Therapists, clinical interns and volunteers, provides essential weekly support to men facing a variety of mental health challenges. Since 2018, Anchor Men’s Group has been supported through Edmonton’s Living Hope initiative—a community plan to prevent suicide. Over time, the group has become a critical resource for men’s mental health in Edmonton, expanding its services to meet a growing demand and now branching out into surrounding communities.

This proposal seeks funding to continue offering two weekly Anchor Men’s Groups (virtual and in-person) for one full year, ensuring that no participant is turned away due to a lack of resources. The requested funding will cover facilitator costs, room rental, and administration expenses, totaling $80,000.

The Anchor Men’s Group: A Lifeline for Men

The Anchor Men’s Group serves men in Edmonton and surrounding areas, providing a safe, supportive space for them to discuss issues such as relationship breakdowns, anxiety, depression, trauma, substance use, and grief. Men are statistically less likely to seek mental healthcare, and Anchor addresses this by offering a service free of charge, with no barriers to participation. Many of the men who attend have shared that Anchor is the only place where they feel truly understood and supported.

The group meets a critical need in the community, particularly for men who feel isolated or overwhelmed by life's challenges. With weekly attendance averaging 50 participants, and nearly 2,500 participants over the course of a year, Anchor serves as a vital support system for those who might otherwise fall through the cracks of the traditional mental health system.

Participant Testimonials

“It’s great to see new guys onboarding for the first time, who say they had no idea this group existed. It points to the pain that men are going through, where there appears to be few resources to simply share in confidence in a safe place. We need this group, it is a lifeline.”

“Life saving in many ways for men! This is much needed.”

“Tonight was my first group and it felt like coming home.”

These testimonials underscore the life-changing—and often life-saving—impact that Anchor has had on men in the community.

Impact and Expansion:

Since its inception, Anchor has served thousands of men. In 2023, the demand for services continued to rise, prompting the expansion to two weekly groups—one virtual and one in-person. Both groups have been well-attended, a testament to the growing need for mental health support in Edmonton. Additionally, the program's reputation has spread beyond the city, with surrounding communities expressing interest in offering Anchor Men’s in their communities. After a successful pilot in the spring, Momentum Counseling is offering its first Anchor group in St. Albert.

While the program’s expansion is a positive step, it comes with logistical and financial challenges. In recent months, the need for more space has grown, requiring Momentum Counseling to secure additional room rentals to accommodate the in-person group.

Why Funding is Critical

The generous support from the City of Edmonton has allowed the Anchor Men’s Group to grow and flourish. However, the need continues to surpass available resources. With an increasing number of men attending, and the expansion of services to other communities, the program is at capacity and risks turning people away if additional funding is not secured.

Your support will enable Momentum Counselling to continue offering two weekly groups for a full year, ensuring that men have access to the help they need when they need it most. Without this service, many of the men attending Anchor would have nowhere else to turn for support.

Budget Breakdown

To sustain the two groups per week for the next year, the following funds are requested:

Facilitation: $61,200

This includes compensation for Dr. St. Arnault and seven contracted facilitators, who manage the groups and provide the necessary psychological support.

Room Rental/Rent: $11,000

As demand has grown, so has the need for additional space. The requested funding will ensure that we can continue to rent space to accommodate the in-person group.

Hosting & Administration: $7,800

This covers administrative costs, including group coordination, registration, and virtual hosting.

Total Request: $80,000

The Anchor Men’s Group is a proven, life-saving initiative that provides much-needed mental health support to men in Edmonton and beyond. The program has grown significantly, demonstrating its effectiveness and the profound impact it has on participants. With your financial support, we can ensure that this essential resource continues to operate, expands to meet growing demand, and reaches even more men in need.

Thank you for your consideration of this funding proposal. Together, we can continue to save lives and support men on their journey to mental well-being.

For anyone who prefers to give outside of GoFundMe, you can here:

https://momentumcounselling.org/donate-today/