MENtal Illness
Facing Depression
Jae’s struggles with mental illness began at an early age. Despite being raised in an abusive home, he was deemed to be a child prodigy. However, while society was celebrating him as this new Einstein, depression had other plans.
After spending many years suffering in silence, Jae is now transparent about his struggles with mental illness. Today, he is a passionate mental health activist who stands up for what he believes in.
The Bridge
Murray struggled with mental illness at a young age. However, the stigma associated with this created the belief that he would rather die than ask for help.
Finally, at the age of fifty Murray was able to seek help. As a professor, he shares his experiences to empower students to speak openly about their challenges with mental illness and seek the available resources.
Moving Beyond Anxiety and Depression
At the age of seventeen Eric wrote his suicide note and took a handful of pills. To his surprise, he woke up hours later feeling mad and embarrassed over his failure. More than twenty years would pass before he spoke about the events that took place that night.
Eric has broken the silence and now speaks openly about his challenges with mental illness.
Addressing MENtal Illness in Rural Areas
Normalizing MENtal Health in Agriculture
Stress, anxiety, depression, and emotional exhaustion have been shown to be higher in farmers than the general population. Matt struggled with anxiety ever since he was a child, and it escalated in this chosen profession. As a male, he was taught not to ask for help. Rather, he was raised to trudge along and “suck it up”.
Thankfully, Matt was eventually able to reach out for help. Today, both Matt and his wife Lesley are strong advocates for agriculture and mental health.
MENtal Illness in A Small Town
Living in a small rural town can sometimes feel like living in a fishbowl. Everyone knows everyone else’s business and word travels quickly.
After silently struggling with mental illness for years, James made the decision to share his experiences with his teaching staff. It quickly became evident that he was not the only teacher in hiding. James no longer had a secret, and finally he felt free.
Addiction
Facing My Pain
Former Humboldt Bronco’s Assistant Coach, Chris Beaudry, discusses his experiences on the fateful day of April 6, 2018. He speaks openly about his struggles with PTSD, and explains that healing is work.
Nobody is going to release our pain for us. Chris reminds us that if we want to heal, we have to look in the mirror.
Becoming the Father I Knew I Could Be
Brad struggled with addiction for 22 years. He reveals how he was finally able to leave his destructive lifestyle behind, and become the man he always knew he could be.
Brad strongly believes that his daughter is his angel, and the reason he is alive today. As a counselor and motivational speaker, Brad now speaks openly about his experiences with addiction and recovery.
Alcohol and Politics Don’t Mix
After struggling with alcohol for many years, Eric’s family sat him down one day and encouraged him to seek help.
Ten years later Eric continues to lead a life of sobriety and proudly serves as an MLA for Saskatoon University. As a politician and community leader he continues to be a strong advocate for mental health.
Treating Diseases Differently
Brad has seen how people treat diseases differently. When he was going through addiction, people crossed the street to get away from him. Meanwhile, when he was going through his cancer treatments, people wanted to get closer to him.
Whether Brad was battling addictions or cancer, he was still the same person suffering. His experience speaks volumes to the stigma that still exists around drug and alcohol addictions. Education and understanding will reveal that we all deserve love and respect.
Sexual Abuse
Silent No More
Over several generations the sickness of sexual abuse has trickled its way down Niall’s family tree. When he first spoke about his abuse, he was instructed to remain silent.
Niall reminds us that silence is not the answer. This sickness ends with him because he is talking. As a motivation speaker, Niall shares his experiences to offer strength and support to others who are suffering in silence.
Suicide
Losing A Son to Suicide: Part 1
Many people continue to associate the word ‘selfish’ with suicide. Ed lost his son, Justin, to suicide and he explains how we was able to gain some insight into why someone would contemplate dying by suicide.
Losing A Son to Suicide: Part 2
In an effort to end the stigma surrounding mental illness, Ed shares how he and his wife, Janet, openly talked about the topic of suicide. As a result, other people joined the conversation and began to share their own experiences with mental illness.
Discovering Who I Am
Following a suicide attempt, Nathan found himself admitted to a psychiatric ward. Nathan’s family was rooted in Cree culture, and his dad explained to the doctors that the hospital did not have the type of help that his son needed. Rather, his home community had people that could help.
Nathan began to immerse himself into his culture, and it was here that he found his healing. Today, he has embraced his past and now uses his story to empower others.
Impacting Change for the Future
Educating Our Youth
Before entering grade 12, Landan lost his older sister and best friend, Kylie, to suicide. Landan knew he needed to talk about this loss, but he didn’t want his buddies at school to see him walk into the counselor’s office. However, Landan quickly realized that he needed to take care of his own needs rather than worry about what anyone else thought of him.
Landan is passionate about ensuring that youth have a better understanding of mental health. He has even created a clothing line that generates an awareness around this prevalent issue.
Modelling the Way
Working in Student Affairs began to take a significant toll on his mental health. One day he felt as though he couldn’t take much more, and after much debate he decided to be open and honest about how he was really doing. Thankfully, he was met with understanding and support.
Peter believes that when leaders are upfront and honest about their own mental health issues, they create a workplace where others feel safe to be vulnerable as well.
The Power of Support
Creating Support Groups for Healing
Travis recognized a need for a healthy environment where men could come together, learn, and share how to stop sending negative messages to both self and others. Travis reminds men that vulnerability is not a weakness, but rather a strength.
This is What Happens When You Share
Tyson picked his day to die. On that day he turned on the TV and watched a show called “Off the Record”. Tyson became captivated as he observed the host, Michael Landsberg, speak openly about the topic of mental illness with NHL player Stephane Richer.
Having never shared his own struggles with mental illness, Tyson decided to send an email to Michael Landsberg after the show was finished. The rest is history. Tyson shares his powerful story to offer strength to others who are suffering in silence.
“Every single day try to validate the work of someone around you. A person who feels validated will always do more than is expected of them.”
– Allan Kehler