Walking the talk about mental health stigma
Mental health is not an easy subject to talk openly about, but four advocacy groups in the West Island hope the community is willing to come out and walk for the cause.
Everyone knows someone, directly or indirectly, who faces mental health issues: a family member, friend, co-worker or neighbour. Those suffering often feel isolated, but it’s clear they are not alone. It’s been estimated that about 45,000 West Islanders are affected by a mental health-related illness, according to organizers of the upcoming West Island Walk for Mental Health.
A meeting with three walk organizers who shared their own stories made it clear there is reason for hope. There are resources in the West Island, with a possible entry point for care through your local CLSC. Support is also offered by the four organizations hosting the walk: Lakeshore General Hospital Outpatient Psychiatry, Perspective Communautaire, Centre Bienvenue as well as West Island Citizen Advocacy.
Costa Moshopoulos said he went through a difficult period after being bullied in high school before he found the right therapy to control his bipolar diagnosis.
“The first thing you have to do is accept (your diagnosis),” he said.
“I educated myself on what you have to do. I gave myself a chance at a normal life.” Moshopoulos launched his anti-bullying and anti-stigma campaign, The Rise Up Project, in 2010. You can see his mental health awareness films at theriseupproject.ca.
Pauline Orr, a social worker with Lakeshore’s outpatient psychiatry program, said her father faced mental health issues when she was growing up. She said no one dealing with a mental health issue, such as psychosis, needs to suffer alone. Noting there is a broad spectrum of mental illness, she added that talking about it breaks down stereotypes.
“I like to think of the walk not as a walk for people that are suffering from mental illness or caregivers. I like to think of it as a walk of compassion for everyone around,” Orr said. “Mental illness is something that needs to be healed by the community, it’s not an individualistic thing.”
Paula Toledo said she became a mental health advocate and walk organizer after helping a brother find care for schizophrenia.
“It’s more common than people realize,” she said. “I think every household has mental health issues. Life is going to bring us things that bring us down. People shouldn’t feel so alone, and I think shame comes up because no one wants to look different or strange.”
Taking part in this walk might not resolve a particular case of depression or answer all the demands for mental health services, but it’s important West Islanders support the cause. We all need to learn more about ending the stigma of mental illness and find out more about local services, whether they are offered through the public medical system or via non-profit community groups that offer support.
The West Island Walk for Mental Health will take place at Cap St-Jacques Nature Park (20099 Gouin Blvd. in Pierrefonds) on Saturday, May 6. Registration is at 9 a.m. and the walk starts at 10. Everyone, young and old, is invited to participate and there is no registration fee.
Walkers can opt for a 2K or a 5K loop. They are encouraged to wear yellow or green to represent hope, balance and growth. The walk will be followed up with live music featuring singer-songwriter Neema as well as Toledo.
The sixth-annual West Island walk will be collecting donations for the first time through the Lakeshore Hospital Foundation. Funds will go toward a mental health wellness camp. Donations can be made online (canadahelps. org/en/pages/west-island-mental-health-walk-2017 marche-pour-la-/) or at the walk site. For more information, visit www.facebook.com/ mental health walk/.
The first thing you have to do is accept (your diagnosis). I educated myself on what you have to do. I gave myself a chance at a normal life.