Shoppers Drug Mart® Run for Women - Markham 2025

Your donations and participation enable the essential programs such as art therapy, mindfulness based stress reduction, interpersonal therapy and postpartum cognitive behavioural therapy that help us care for hundreds of women in our community.

The pandemic has challenged each and every one of us. At Markham Stouffville Hospital we have seen first-hand the toll it’s taken on our staff and on our community. Referrals to our Women’s Wellness programs have increased, especially over this last year.

Your support is changing the landscape of mental health care for women in our community. Women like mental health warrior, Sandra Turner, who bravely shared her struggle with mental health and how she turned to MSH to begin her healing journey.

“I am thankful Shoppers Drug Mart supports programming for women struggling with their mental health. There’s not a quick fix, or a time limit. Healing takes many different pieces over a lifetime.” - Sandra Turner, grateful MSH patient

Women like Sandra are up to twice more likely to struggle with depression and anxiety, with these disorders often presenting during hormonal events such as puberty, pregnancy and postpartum, and perimenopause.

Your ongoing support ensures that the women in our community will continue to have access to leading-edge mental health programs and care throughout every stage of their lives.

Additional Stats:

• The Wellness Clinic opened November 2019 and has survived the pandemic (by going virtual for a period of time) and now is getting back to in person services with some really great feedback.

• These mental health services are essential, meaningful and make a difference in the lives of women who experience mental health challenges along their life journey.

• Last year there were over 1,200 visits for various group therapies serving Outpatient Mental Health Women’s Health and Wellness.

• These group therapy services included Art Therapy, Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction, Interpersonal Therapy, Postpartum Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Transitional Aged Youth Cognitive Behavioural Therapy.

• In addition to these volumes were visits for group introduction and orientation purposes and for individual counseling for female clients who needed some additional support. Over 1,300 visits in the fiscal year for total visits.