It is an unfortunate reality that our public mental health system has holes wide enough for people to occasionally fall through. A local non-profit society is hoping to be a safety net to catch those individuals.
For many in our community, the difference between a breakthrough and a breakdown is simply a matter of dollars and cents.
It is this gap — the space between needing help and being able to afford it — that Dave’s Gift Society is determined to close.
The society was born from a heartbreak that is becoming all too common. Dave Andrew Rushford was a man who lived at the extremes of the human experience. Although he was undiagnosed, he struggled with bipolar disorder and psychotic episodes, according to Michelle Neustaedter, Rushford’s sister and the executive director of Dave’s Gift Society.
His days oscillated between high-energy periods of partying and gambling and crushing lows where he couldn’t find the strength to leave his bed. Despite his struggles, Rushford wanted to change.
He sought help through the public system, relied on government-funded programming and attended Alcoholics Anonymous. But the public system is often overwhelmed and underfunded.
While waiting for a long-term stay program, Rushford relapsed. In 2018, he accidentally overdosed on cocaine laced with fentanyl and died at age 35.
“When people are ready to get help (like he was), they need it right now, not after an unknown waiting period,” says Neustaedter.
A MISSION OF IMMEDIATE ACTION
Dave’s Gift Society is built on the belief that mental health care shouldn’t be a luxury. The organization’s mission is straightforward: to raise funds that support individuals’ therapy. By providing financial assistance to those without sufficient insurance or expendable income, it ensures that the cost of professional care isn’t the thing standing in the way of recovery.
“The public system is underfunded and overcrowded. They are not doing a bad job, but there are long waits,” says Neustaedter, who is a registered psychologist and owner of Michelle Neustaedter Counselling in Airdrie.
“In this economy, people are stretched thin,” she says. “It is not just low-income people that we are helping; there are also middle-class families where, despite both parents working, they can’t make ends meet. They need our help. We are stepping in to bridge the gap.”
The society’s subsidy program is the heartbeat of the operation. By funding counselling fees, it allows individuals, couples and families to bypass the long waitlists of the public sector. The society partners with qualified counsellors in private clinics; professionals who often want to help, but cannot afford to provide their services for free.
MORE THAN JUST A SUBSIDY
While the financial bridge is vital, the society’s work extends into the very fabric of the community through three key pillars:
Partnership: Building a network of approved mental health practitioners — licensed clinicians who uphold the highest standards of care.
Education: Providing information to local therapists and the broader community to foster a more resilient, informed public.
Advocacy: Expanding the conversation with government and health-benefit providers about the urgent need for extended mental health coverage.
“We hope we are not needed forever. We hope that insurance benefits and government support takes away our need to exist and we want to help make that happen,” says Neustaedter.
HONOURING DAVE’S LEGACY
The society is a living tribute to a man who, despite his own battle, sought a better life. By turning a personal loss into a public resource, the organization ensures that Rushford’s name is now synonymous with help rather than heartbreak.
“Dave’s Gift is about providing access,” says Neustaedter. “Our goal is to assist others to be able to access the support they need so no one else has to suffer the same consequences.”
As the society grows, it continues to look for donors and partners who believe that mental wellness is a right, not a privilege. In a world where the public system is stretched to its limit, Dave’s Gift Society is proving that a community-funded safety net can save lives, one session at a time.
Learn more or get involved at sites.google.com/davesgiftfoundation.ca/davesgiftfoundation/home
