Mental health sign project near Dube Centre thwarted
The idea turned into action almost overnight after a walk down the Meewasin Trail sparked a painful memory for mental health activist Jae Ford.
“It happened when I was hospitalized at the Dube Centre in 2014,” he said. “There was a particular day I was standing at a window in the reflection room and a gentleman happened down the Meewasin Trail. He stopped and looked at me and drew his finger beside his head making the crazy signal. Then he just kept walking.”
Ford said as a patient already struggling with his mental wellbeing the act was both disturbing and infuriating.
Three years later on with his girlfriend, Beth Blakley, the roles were reversed: He was now outside with a patient looking down at him. He smiled and gave the patient a thumbs up and the patient smiled widely back and waved.
Blakley said that moment, regardless of how small it was, felt powerful. From that moment the couple was brainstorming how to recreate this experience for every patient.
They decided to make signs with messages of understanding and support. Calling the project Signs of Healing, they planned to place four signs with positive messages like “You will get better” and “Your struggle is real.”
“Being an in-patient is scary,” Ford explained. “Everyday you meet with a bunch of different professionals and they all want something from you — your psychiatric history, substance abuse history, relationships, even the last time you went to the bathroom. They all want to help, but it’s at a cost. This project offers help but asks for nothing in return, that’s what makes it so special — it offers hope unconditionally.”
The signs would have coincided with mental health awareness week, which takes place until Saturday, but when Ford and Blakley showed up to place them things didn’t go quite as expected.
The plan was to use zip ties to fasten the signs to branches safely about 15 feet off the ground so they could be easily seen from any window in the centre. Not thinking they would need approval, Blakley prepared all her safety equipment for the short climb as Ford waved and showed the signs to patients curiously peeking out the window. Many smiled and waved back, one even gave him the “rock on” sign.
Moments later, a security guard followed by two members from the Saskatoon Health Region’s mental health and addictions services showed up. Blakley explained what they were trying to do but was told they didn’t have approval to place the signs and if they continued police would be called. However, it was not determined who could provide the approval.
“The idea came together so quickly we didn’t realize we would need approval,” Blakely later said. “We’ll still try, but I don’t think we will get approval now. We didn’t want to make a huge commotion. We were hoping they would just be up there for the patients.”
Their presence quickly attracted the attention of six more security guards outside and three inside the Dube centre.
“No one’s treatment is going to be compromised by this and that was something I considered very carefully when we went into the project,” Ford said as they left the trail. “I feel re-victimized. It’s like the guy giving me the crazy symbol all over again.”