The inspiration for Gerri’s Place came after my mother, Gerri, passed away. She had struggled with anxiety and periods of depression over the years, usually triggered by difficult life events and unhealed trauma from her past.

The support she got wasn’t working, she started to lose hope and began to self-medicate with alcohol as a way to numb the pain. We searched for something that would help her as she had always been there for everyone else.

As a fiercely strong woman, what she really wanted were the tools to help herself. We struggled to find the right support for her as an individual. Support to empower her and that was also affordable. We simply couldn’t find it. Medication had helped initially, but she needed something more.

I started to reflect on what might have been and what could have helped, especially in the earlier days. I became acutely aware of how many of us struggle at different times in our lives and how important it is to find the right support early. I started to picture a place. A safe, warm, open, inviting, and non-judgemental space. An affordable option for people on a low income.

A place for people to step out of a difficult situation for a few days and be cared for and space held. A place to learn coping techniques to use in everyday life. A place to connect with others in a similar situation. To feel heard, seen, and not alone. To be given the space to figure out the next steps. Ultimately, a place to find hope.

That place is Gerri’s Place.

Rest. Reset. Connect.

Three very simple steps. Because sometimes the simplest solutions can be the most powerful.