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But You Seem So Strong

on #SickNotWeak

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Writing through the Darkness

I remember, at one point during a period of major depression a few years ago, wishing desperately that I could empty my head of the tangled, jumbled fragments of thoughts and memories that felt as if they were battering my skull from the inside. But talking was next to impossible. Following a conversation sometimes felt like I listening to people speak in another language. Wrapping my tongue around words was slow and laborious. When I tried to articulate my thoughts or my feelings, words just seemed to dissolve in my mind. Actually, even when ordering take-out or talking about the weather, words escaped me. I remember sitting there in that moment and thinking if I can’t let this mess out of my head, it will explode. I thought about writing, but finding a notebook and a pen, and then the act of putting pen to paper seem too arduous. So I pretended I was writing. I closed my eyes and pictured my hand scribbling marks on a page, as I “wrote”. As far as writing went, it suc

Why I Speak Up

Today, January 31, 2018, is Bell Let’s Talk Day . For those not familiar with this day, it’s an annual campaign to increase awareness about mental health, break down stigma and raise funds for mental health initiatives in Canada. When it first launched in 2010, I was inspired by the brave souls who shared, in such a public way, their stories of living with mental illness, how they worked every day to fight their illness and the stigma surrounding it. I was blown away by how many people this national conversation reached and the funds ($86,504,429.05 so far) it’s generated for mental health initiatives. Last year, I stopped watching from afar. Last year, on Bell Let’s Talk Day, I stepped up. I spoke up. I shared my struggle with depression. Those closest to me already knew about it, but that day I shared it wider — posting it on Facebook, Twitter and a blog I resurrected that day. I was emboldened by the Let’s Talk initiative; I was scared too. I needn’t have been.

The Elephant in the Office

Today is World Mental Health Day. This year’s theme is mental health in the workplace. While most of us would probably agree that work shouldn’t be the focus of our lives, the reality is we spend most of our waking time at work. It’s no surprise then that the workplace can have a significant impact on our overall well-being. A recent study by the World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that “depression and anxiety disorders cost the global economy US$ 1 trillion each year in lost productivity.” * The WHO also states that “Employers and managers who put in place workplace initiatives to promote mental health and to support employees who have mental disorders see gains not only in the health of their employees but also in their productivity at work.” There’s no doubt that with each year that passes, we’re breaking down the stigma that surrounds mental illness, bit by bit. In Canada, campaigns and advocacy by groups like SickNotWeak , Bell’s Let’s Talk initiati

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