The Canadian Mental Health Association is celebrating a major milestone.

For a decade, CMHA-NL’s Justice Program has supported over 100 people in reconnecting with family, completing school and starting careers after time spent in Her Majesty’s Penitentiary.

The program provides Social Work Case managers who work closely with those incarcerated and after their release for a period of 12 to 18 months.

All members have been diagnosed with a mental illness, concurrent disorder or dual diagnosis within the correctional system.

The program has supported 112 members since it began 10 years ago—67 per cent of whom have not re-offended or been re-incarcerated.

Justice Program Manager Heidi Edgar says a program like this is important to help people rebuild their lives.

She says they are trying to find a way to get back on their feet so they don’t reoffend and return to the correctional system. She says people are hopeful when they get out of the penitentiary, but they have many barriers to face, which make it almost impossible to succeed.