Mental health support has come a long way
Students are getting the ‘Let’s Talk’ message and becoming self-advocates
Undiagnosed as kids, we were known for being dreamers, fidgeters, slackers … We knew there was something wrong, but what?
Look at us now! A group of childhood friends who spent every recess together back in the 1960s, flicking hockey cards against the brick wall, racing around the field, making snow forts. The best part of school for us was when the bell rang. It meant we were free. We burst through the school door and, for 15 minutes every morning and every afternoon, we felt happy.
We grew up and kept in touch. Got jobs. Had families. But it took 50 years of friendship before we started talking candidly about the challenges that made the classroom so difficult for us. All of us dealt with symptoms of what came to be known as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. As a mental health disorder, ADHD affects 10 times more boys than girls. Looking back at our shared experiences, we have a new understanding of the excruciating hours each of us spent trying to focus on grammar and math problems. We failed tests. We endured detentions. Our report cards reflected a common theme. Teachers felt we had the potential to succeed if only we would apply ourselves.
ADHD, anxiety and depression are treatable mental health conditions that often affect academic success, relationships and career outcomes. Undiagnosed as kids, we were known for being dreamers, fidgeters and slackers. None of us wanted to be defined by our inability to focus. We knew there was something wrong, but what? We seemed to be OK, but we didn’t feel OK. We were good kids who felt bad about our inability to complete tasks that others found easy.
Talking about those little boys we once were, makes it clear that there have been great strides in support for mental health issues. Students today are getting the “Let’s Talk” message and becoming better self-advocates for improved mental health.
Mental health issues affect everyone. Some inherit a genetic predisposition for mental illness. Some are plunged into depression by grief, loss, or failure. But suffering silently never works. Talking works. Connecting to support systems works. Accessing community programs works.
The Canadian Mental Health Association is committed to increasing the availability of programs and resources to support people suffering with mental illnesses in a timely fashion. The sooner people get help, the better the outcome.
The Canadian Mental Health Association in Hamilton provides important services for thousands of Hamiltonians. Last year alone the organization supported over 4,000 members of our community suffering from serious mental illnesses. Its website is a gateway to real help. It says, “Mental illnesses can take many forms, just as physical illnesses do. Mental illnesses are still feared and misunderstood by many people, but the fear will disappear as people learn more about them. If you, or someone you know, has a mental illness, there is good news for you: all mental illnesses can be treated.” (www.cmhahamilton.ca)
On June 25 CMHA Hamilton will embark on its second Ride Don’t Hide event along with 32 other communities across Canada. All four routes start and finish at McMaster University. Riders can choose a route with a distance appropriate for them. They will ride in solidarity to encourage positive conversations about mental health, reduce the stigma associated with mental illness, and raise funds to meet the growing need for CMHA programs right here in Hamilton. The ride has more than 100 volunteers, a growing amount of sponsorship support and riders are still signing up daily.
It will take the commitment and action of the entire Hamilton community to create an environment of support and caring for individuals and families who have kept their struggles with mental illness hidden. Visit the CMHA website to learn more about programs and volunteer opportunities. I hope you’ll go to ridedonthide.com and join us on Sunday, June 25.