support • advocacy • awareness • Spring 2012

BalanceIt is never too early – or too late – to play an active role in your own mental health1,2,3

Power to the PeoPleHow you can be in the driver’s seat when it comes to your own care

the new frontierOnline counselling is changing the way you get treatment

prevention

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SUPPORT MENTAL HEALTH

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Mental illness costs Canadian businesses $52 billion every year in lost productivity and leaves of absence.

One in five of us will experience a serious mental illness within our lifetime; regardless of our age, background, ethnicity or economic situation.

CMHA – Calgary Region’s mandate is to create awareness of mental health and to support and advocate for individuals and families living with mental disorders and addictions.

simple ways to support mental health in your community!

BECOmE A mIND LEADErMake a difference for individuals, families and your community with a simple monthly pledge!

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Suite 400, 105 - 12 Ave. SE Calgary, AB T2G 1A1Tel: (403) 297-1700 Fax: (403) 270-3066 Web: www.cmha.calgary.ab.ca

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spring 2012 / Balance 3

PublisherCanadian Mental Health Association

— Calgary Region in partnership with RedPoint Media Group Inc.

General ManaGerAngela Anderson

ManaGinG editorAbby Miller

editorial CoMMittee Science Advisor — Dr. Deborah Dobson,

Angela Anderson, Lowri D'Sa, Kimberley Feist, Joan Landsiedel, Genevieve Roy,

Geraldine Shklanka, Claudia Tomczyk

Creative direCtorAnders Knudsen

art direCtorDavid Willicome

ProduCtion ManaGerMike Matovich

CorPorate ProjeCt ManaGerKelly Trinh

sales ManaGerKaren Hounjet

traffiC CoordinatorAndrea Hendry

PrintinGTranscontinental LGM

ContributorsAngela Anderson, Jaelyn Molyneux,

Lynda Sea, Leisa Vescarelli

subsCribe to the Balance monthly e-newsletter.

Email info@cmha.calgary.ab.ca

Balance magazine is published three times a year, with 11,000 copies distributed on newsstands throughout the city and 2,000 copies distributed by the Canadian Mental

Health Association — Calgary Region.

The information contained in this magazine is not intended to be a substitute for professional/medical advice. Always

seek the advice of your physician or a qualified health professional before starting any new treatment.

Statements, opinions and viewpoints expressed by the writers of this publication do not

necessarily represent the views of the publisher.

Copyright 2012 by RedPoint Media Group Inc. No part of this publication may be reproduced

without the express written consent of the publisher.

Canadian Mental health association — Calgary region

Suite 400, 105 – 12 Avenue S.E.Calgary, AB T2G 1A1

Telephone: (403) 297-1700 Fax: (403) 270-3066

Spring issue 2012

visit www.cmha.calgary.ab.ca

reSourceSFinding the right fitQuestions to ask when finding a therapist.

5p.

Balance4p. A new BAlAncewe announce a new future for the magazine.Message from the executive Director

reAl peopleGiving of herselfA woman volunteers to help others like herself.

14p.

FeAture Storyprevention 1, 2, 3it’s never too early or too late to take action.

6p.

12p.

Knowing MoreThe new frontier Technology is broadening treatment horizons.

Moving ForwArdpower to the peopleYou can be your own best mental health advocate.

10p.

4 Balance / spring 2012

Message from the executive director

phot

o by

alix

Bro

adw

ay

A s many who are dealing with a mental disorder know first-hand, it can be overwhelming to navi-gate through the mental health

system. the moments after someone has received a diagnosis can be confusing, and, if an issue is apparent but a diagnosis is yet to come, it can be outright frustrating. each and every day, we at cMHa — calgary region answer emails, phone calls and even walk-in requests about where to go next.

there are many resources available to people with mental health concerns, but they may be difficult to find, and parts of the system can be somewhat fragmented.

that’s precisely what this issue of Balance is all about — the importance of prevention and being proactive in one’s own treatment, at whatever stage one is at in the journey. we hope to provide some additional resources you may not have been aware of. you can also visit our website, where we offer many helpful resources and information about mental disorders. i hope you find this issue informative and helpful.

i want to take this time to announce an exciting transition for Balance. this will be the last print edition of the magazine. our goal is to provide you — our readers, supporters and friends — with the most valuable, timely mental health information in the most convenient form. that’s why,

starting this summer, along with the re-launch of our website, we will launch Balance in an e-newsletter format.

the new format will be delivered monthly to your email inbox, and articles will be hosted on our website. we will still provide the personal stories of calgarians dealing with mental health issues, but we will also be able to provide you with event information, timely news, interactive quizzes and more. our hope is that the e-newsletter will become a two-way communication tool where we can learn from each other, and deliver the most interesting and helpful information possible to you.

please enjoy this issue and let it bring some insight, education or just another perspective to your understanding of mental health.

dan delaloye executive directorCanadian Mental Health Association — Calgary region

please sign up for our e-newsletter on our website homepage at www.cmha.calgary.ab.ca.

For more information or help finding the right services for you, email us at info@cmha.calgary.ab.ca.

Balance announcing a new future for Balance magazine

letterS to BAlAnce

We invite you to send us a letter with your feedback, comments, article ideas or to share your personal experience with a mental health issue.

send your letters to info@cmha.calgary.ab.ca. select letters will appear online on the Canadian Mental Health Association — Calgary Region website.

*Please include your name and contact information in your letter. Your name will only appear online with your permission. Note that letters may be condensed for space.!

A new

spring 2012 / Balance 5

resources

C hoosing a therapist is as serious as many other long-term choices in a person’s life — and the answers and process can be just as varied.

no matter why you are seeking counselling, it is important to find someone you feel comfortable speaking to. it’s perfectly okay to meet with a handful of possible therapists and decide who you would like to continue with. However, be aware that, depending on the practitioner, some fees may apply for an initial consult.

getting StArteddeciding which form of therapy, and which therapist, is right for you will depend on your individual situation.

But there are some general questions the cMHa recommends you ask a prospective therapist to determine whether he or she is a good fit:

“what is your theoretical or philosophical orientation?”

“How would you describe the type of therapy you do?”

“do you use any special techniques?”

“where can i get more information on what you do?”

you’ve decided to seek help. the next step is finding a therapist who is right for you.

wHere to go For More inForMAtion! For more detailed information on types of therapy, a complete list of questions to ask a therapist, as well as a link to a therapist registry in Alberta, visit www.cmha.calgary.ab.ca.

By Angela Anderson

Finding the right fit

longevity oF prActicethe length of time the therapist has been in practice may also be important to you, as well as the

overall nature of their practice. on his website psych central, dr. John Grohol recommends asking questions that include:

“How long have you been in practice?”

“Have you seen a lot of clients with similar concerns to my own?”

“when was the last time you treated someone with a problem similar to mine?”

regulAtion iS iMportAntthe canadian psychological asso-ciation emphasizes the importance of knowing whether the practitio-

ner is licensed. if, during therapy, you have concerns about the behaviour of a regulated practitioner, you can contact the regulatory body and check with them.

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6 Balance / spring 2012

Feature story

By leisa vescarelli

A s our understanding and perception of mental health has evolved, so has the meaning of pre-vention. it used to be that a person was thought to be in good mental health

if they simply showed no signs or symptoms of a mental illness. increasingly, we're realizing that mental health is not just the absence of men-tal illness. instead, mental health exists along a spectrum from wellness to illness, with few

preventionclear-cut lines and definitions along the way. it is complicated and there are many grey areas we must deal with. the concept of prevention in regard to mental health can be equally tricky to define.

like mental health, prevention is best understood as a spectrum. it can generally be categorized as primary, secondary or tertiary prevention depending on whether the strategy prevents the first occurrence of symptoms, the severity or recurrence of a disorder, or addi-tional complications and disability associated

with an already present disorder. although the goals of each type of prevention appear to be straightforward, in practice there is consider-able fluidity — particularly between secondary and tertiary prevention.

complicated as it may be, prevention is cru-cial, especially in light of the fact that one in five canadians will personally experience a serious mental or behavioural disorder in their lifetime. prevention can reduce the duration and sever-ity of symptoms and prevent them from devel-oping into long-term and chronic disorders.

when it comes to your mental health, it is never too late – or too early – for prevention.

spring 2012 / Balance 7

Feature story

"For most diseases, there will be risk factors and contributing causes to the emergence of that disease," says dr. scott patten, a professor of psychiatry at the university of calgary who also works as a clinician treating those with chronic illness and mental-health issues. "some [of these factors and causes] may be modifiable, in which case, if you can modify those in healthy people, you can reduce the risk that they would develop the disease."

determining which risk factors play a role in the developmental pathways to mental dis-

preventionpriMAry prevention

this first type of prevention is the easiest to dis-tinguish. it seeks to reduce the risk of a disorder occurring in the first place. these efforts may be directed at the general public or a popula-tion group — such as school-aged children — or they may target sub-groups or individu-als thought to be at an elevated risk of men-tal disorders. For example, people who have experienced trauma, abuse, displacement or bereavement may be at elevated risk.

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8 Balance / spring 2012

Feature story

orders and poor mental health is not as simple as it is for many medical or physical conditions, but dr. patten points to a few approaches that show promise, such as the Headstart programs for socio-economically disadvantaged children in the united states. "this program targets chil-dren who are more likely to struggle and do more poorly than they should. the point is not to wait until that happens or starts to happen, but to be proactive," he says. some conditions, like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and severe depression, could be linked to certain perinatal complications, which, if reduced, may lower future risks of these disorders.

in the general population, primary preven-

high and high school students each year. pre-sentations include sessions on mental illness and stigma, suicide awareness and youth stress.

while formal feedback shows positive out-comes, it's the in-person feedback that truly speaks to lamantia. "we often have students come up to thank us afterwards, for talking in a really respectful way about something they've been going through or a family member's been going through," she says.

SecondAry And tertiAry prevention

while it is easy to identify forms of primary prevention — as they precede any signs of dis-order — secondary and tertiary prevention are trickier to isolate. they fall into what dr. patten calls grey zones. Generally, both secondary and tertiary prevention are for people who have already experienced a mental disorder or are currently dealing with a diagnosed, ongoing condition. the goals of these types of preven-tion are to either reduce the risk of a relapse or minimize additional complications associated with their disorder.

it is hard to draw a clear line between sec-ondary and tertiary prevention because of the nature of mental disorders. not only are the risk factors and causes of mental illness compli-cated, but the onset and progression of mental disorders may be difficult to pinpoint.

Heather* says she was already on a path toward discovering that she may have been experiencing symptoms of a disorder in 2004, when she picked up a copy of Balance magazine.

"there was an article about the difference between shyness and social anxiety, and i real-ized that what i was experiencing sounded a lot like social anxiety disorder," she says.

Heather contacted the cMHa and her family physician before entering a 12-week social anxi-ety program, which slowly and systematically helped her learn strategies for social situations, starting with very minimal exposures and work-ing up to increasingly challenging scenarios. "we learned how to try," she says. "we learned how to take the risks and progress a little bit more every time." after completing the pro-gram, Heather joined a support group operated through the cMHa’s peer options program.

it's really never too early or too late to take action to improve your mental health. the following programs offered by the cMHa – calgary region can benefit participants across the spectrum of mental wellness.

The Right Time is Now

tion efforts are often focused on such things as stress management, work-life balance and mental health education and awareness, including strategies aimed at breaking through the stigma related to mental illness.

ashley lamantia is an educator with the cMHa — calgary region’s community edu-cation program, which promotes mental health and wellness among youth and empowers them to use healthy coping strategies and to seek appropriate help when needed. led by program staff, inluding a trained teacher and a crisis counsellor, the program boasts a team of dedicated volunteers who give interactive presentations to approximately 20,000 junior

coMMunity educAtion This program aims to increase awareness, improve attitude, reduce stigma and promote mental health and wellness through interactive presentations. To get involved, schools and community-based organizations can call (403) 297-1722 or email education@cmha.calgary.ab.ca. This program also welcomes volunteers.

workplAce MentAl HeAltH educAtion This program is designed to break the silence surrounding mental health issues, as well as providing a better understanding about mental health in the workplace.For more information, call (403)297-1700 or email info@cmha.calgary.ab.ca.

peer optionSPeer Options offer several programs where those with mental health issues can further their health and well-being by reducing isolation and building social skills. Ongoing peer groups include support groups for social anxiety and for those looking to sustain or upgrade their employment and working on workplace relationships. There are also opportunities to volunteer or become a peer mentor.For more information, call (403) 297-1715 or email debbie.wiebe@cmha.calgary.ab.ca.

SkillS For liFe workSHop This free eight-week interactive workshop is designed to help participants understand more about issues that impact their mental health.For more information, call Claudia Tomczyk at (403) 297.1701 ext. 1761 or email claudia.tomczyk@cmha.calgary.ab.ca.

You can find out more about all of the prevention programs offered by the CMHA by visiting www.cmha.calgary.ab.ca/programs.

spring 2012 / Balance 9

Feature story

Though categorical definitions can be confusing, what shines through is the value of preventative measures across the spectrum of mental wellness.

after completing the social anxiety program, she attended a course called “the art of Friend-ship” — learning about things like boundaries, responsibility and commitment, as well as deal-ing with conflict. the next step was a peer sup-port group called circle of Friends, where she was able to practise her skills through social activities, group meetings and art walks. a couple of years later, Heather took the training program and became a volunteer herself, work-ing with the same peer options support group she had been a part of earlier in her journey.

unlike Heather, sara* had been diagnosed

with schizophrenia in 1989, but it was many years before she found the program that she describes as, "awesome enlightening and extremely helpful." while schizophrenia is a chronic disorder, it tends to be experienced in cycles of remission and relapse. tertiary treat-ments aim to reduce the severity, course and duration of symptoms and associated complica-tions. sara participated in the cMHa’s skills for life program, where participants learn a variety of skills including self-awareness, problem-solv-ing and stress management, in an understand-ing and supportive environment.

"[in the program], we do a lot of talking about what i can do with my life, and what skills i need to learn and work on," she says.

an important thing for sara was learning how to cope with negative thoughts and not feeling very "healthy" or good about herself.

"it gives you self-esteem," says sara. "you learn how to live with your disorder and deal with things in a productive manner, instead of getting caught up in the negative thoughts."

though categorical definitions can be con-fusing — even among mental health profes-sionals — what shines through is the value of preventative measures across the spectrum of mental wellness. whether we seek to stop the first incidence, the recurrence or the worsening of a disorder, there are always strategies that can have positive impacts on our mental health and overall wellbeing.

*names have been changed

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8AM Boat Launch

10AM Shotgun Start

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10 Balance / spring 2012

Moving Forward

F or many of us, a mental health diagnosis can make us feel like we are incapable of making decisions on our own behalf — like we must rely on oth-ers, maybe a family member

or friend, to speak up for us, and/or that our own feelings and opinions about our treat-ment hold no value. while the support of

friends and family is important, when it comes to health, we can be our own best advocates. the most effective treatment often begins with feeling empowered to take a proactive role in deciding what your treatment plan will be.

“the ability to be proactive has to be very much connected to hope in people,” says deb-bie wiebe, manager of the cMHa — calgary region’s community transitions team. “Hope

that things can be different and that they are the driver, not the passenger.”

to be the driver, you have to be handed the keys and, in this case, those keys are the tools to navigate the resources avail-able. Mental health treatment is not one-size-fits-all. increasingly, treatment plans are becoming more integrated, with individuals choosing from a variety of program options

PeoplePower to the

choosing your own combination of treatment puts you in the driver's seat when it comes to your care.

By Jaelyn Molyneux

spring 2012 / Balance 11

Moving Forward

in addition to traditional therapies. there are now many community-based programs that emphasize life skills and look at mental health in a more holistic way.

wiebe is a co-founder of the peer options program, which focuses on social skill develop-ment through an immersion approach. the pro-gram sessions gather together a diverse group of people of mixed ages, diagnoses and stages of treatment to work on their skills and practise social networking. Just coming together with others in a room is an important step.

“depression and anxiety never get better in isolation,” says wiebe. “it is about taking away the stigma and having people come together, share their experiences, and stop blaming and shaming themselves.”

while it starts within the safety of the peer options group, the program teaches social skills that carry over into the greater com-munity, including how to communicate with others that you want to be treated as an equal and with respect. as a result, participants gain self-respect and are more empowered to pro-actively cope with their symptoms.

“the more they share with others, the more they feel their illness is not really a part of them. it is a stage or a symptom that they are going through,” says wiebe.

the peer options program looks past the diagnosis to cope with individual symptoms, which are common among many disorders, such as the symptoms typical of depression or anxiety. the idea is that living with a men-

tal illness is a learning process, an idea that fits comfortably with the integrated treat-ment approach.

in addition to learning coping skills, par-ticipants learn how they can take action and make changes to help improve their mental wellness. Just like individuals without a men-tal disorder, healthy sleep and eating patterns, exercise and having a strong support network can all be part of maintaining wellness.

“it is the dichotomy between care and control,” says wiebe. “if we can self-nurture and take care of ourselves, we maintain that control over our own wellness. when people are proactive, they are able to set short- and long-term goals. they can see themselves on a journey and are able to make plans and fol-low through.”

part of taking control is being able to navi-gate the resources available without becom-ing overwhelmed. Benjamin Maze is cMHa — calgary region’s advocacy coordinator. He answers upwards of 200 calls each month from individuals asking for guidance on every-thing from care and treatment options to workplace rights for those who think they are being discriminated against.

“i help people either understand or acquire the tools they need to self-advocate effec-tively for themselves, and i inform them of their rights,” says Maze.

with an overview of the mental health land-scape, Maze can see the larger picture. He understands that coping with stress and stay-

ing on track with treatment factor into every-thing, including learning how to approach your boss over a workplace concern, knowing how to find a therapist who fits your needs or ask-ing your doctor about a medication change.

Maze acts as a sounding board and a bit of a traffic director for people accessing the mental health system. when the idea of being proactive seems daunting, he can help by giv-ing phone numbers of programs and services that might help, as well as his professional advice on which treatment streams each per-son might want to consider. in the end, he provides the knowledge and support and it is up to each person to combine strategies and programs to create a treatment model that works for them.

providing knowledge to a person seems simple, but it marks a shift in mental health treatment that encourages patients to be pro-active, and acknowledges that they are capa-ble of having a valid opinion in their treatment. and, because people are becoming more involved in their own treatment plans, there is a move toward customized integrated treat-ment plans that may have elements of clinical and community support, as well as a greater appreciation for the effect that life skills have on our wellness.

“there is the ability for people to partici-pate more actively in their recovery process,” says wiebe. “it starts with feeling capable and understanding the holistic approach.”

With the right information and confidence, people can participate more actively in their recovery process.

By Jaelyn Molyneux

12 Balance / spring 2012

knowing More

By lynda Sea

W ithin the last five years in canada, there has been a shift toward online counselling as mainstream practice. the practicality of it is

clear to see — video-conferencing and email-ing with a professional counsellor can make a lot of sense for individuals who live in remote areas, have mobility issues or are dealing with disorders that affect their ability to attend traditional sessions. But what is truly making

these approaches commonplace is the grow-ing acceptance of computer technology in all aspects our daily lives, the convenience of seeking help on our own time and terms, and the proliferation of resources on the web.

therapists may also use online resources to augment regular sessions — keeping up with sessions when a client is away or having a cli-ent do additional work independently online.

“we’re just seeing the beginning of it,” says dr. Heather Hadjistavropoulos, professor and director of clinical training in the university of

regina’s psychology department. in addition to video-conferencing and traditional chat rooms, there are websites that are moving away from being just text-based to incorpo-rating more video and audio elements. there are some that even offer patients virtual envi-ronments they can log into. as the technol-ogy changes and gets more sophisticated, the range of online options is becoming more diverse, and users, both the counsellors and the clients, are finding new ways to use the technology to meet their needs.

frontierthe new

online counselling and new technologies are changing the very nature of therapy.

spring 2012 / Balance 13

knowing More

according to dr. Hadjistavropoulos, people are more likely to seek help if they’ve read about it beforehand.

“lots of people have a stigma about men-tal health so they feel this is more confiden-tial,” she adds. some people may choose to enhance their traditional treatment using skype — a video conferencing software — or by having email counselling sessions.

tuning out

even with all the clear benefits of online ther-apy methods, dr. Hadjistavropoulos cautions about a number of areas where technology’s effect on therapy has its setbacks.

access to more information could poten-tially encourage a patient to self-diagnose incorrectly. worse, the wrong information may cause them to hesitate about seeking professional help.

in most cases, online counselling is a sup-plement to face-to-face meetings. But when the interaction is only facilitated through the web, there aren’t any non-verbal cues and indicators in the person’s appearance — all of which can help a therapist when working with a patient.

in person, miscommunications can be resolved quickly, but it becomes harder to be clear in an email. there also may be a delay in response from when a client sends an email to

when the counsellor sees it. in extreme cases, this can be quite dangerous. “if they become suicidal, you’re not right there to act,” explains dr. Hadjistavropoulos.

this online shift in therapy includes an expectation of computer access, which isn’t always applicable to everyone. other con-cerns involve language barriers, especially when the patient is someone whose first language isn’t english. Most of all, there are questions about security and privacy of information. Hacking is always a concern so it’s important to scrutinize how secure your online therapy forum is.

so how can you know if online therapy is right for you? dr. Hadjistavropoulos is quick to point out that this online approach is not for everyone. “you need to be in the mild to moderate and lower risk [category], have computer skills, read and write well, and have access to a computer,” she says.

while there are obvious shortcomings, the reality is that cyber-counselling is such a new frontier that it is possible today’s limitations will become less of a concern in the very near future. services can be adapted and intensi-fied for those who are tech-savvy, as well as kept straightforward and simple for those who are less comfortable online. what we do know is that online counselling isn’t going to make face-to-face therapy non-existent, but it might just make it better.

Online technology is changing the way traditional therapy works, but not replacing face-to-face sessions altogether.

By lynda Sea

Dr. Hadjistavropoulos says there are a few steps to keep in mind when you’re looking to start online counselling. When looking at a site, things you should be looking for are the qualifications of the person providing counselling. Make sure you’re seeing someone who is registered. They should be asking questions about you and

your background, getting a full picture of who you are and what you are dealing with. Pay attention to how thoroughly they assess your situation. And always ask how your personal information and exchanges are kept secure.

Protect yourself online

like all evolutions in care, it is important to discuss not only the real benefits of online-based therapy and resources, but also the shortcomings.

plugging in

“right now, the number of people who have depression and anxiety who get treatment is so low,” says dr. Hadjistavropoulos, who developed onlinetherapyuser.ca, a service that delivers therapist-assisted internet cognitive behaviour therapy to residents in saskatch-ewan who are suffering from depression, anxi-ety and panic.

when it comes to mental health services in canada, severe cases typically get better care. But for the majority of people who have mild to moderate disorders, it is increasingly difficult to see a psychologist — in addition to waiting lists, the service may not be covered, or if there is financial assistance, it may only cover a limited number of sessions.

“[using online resources], we get services to people who are suffering and are having a lot of disability and distress who aren’t getting help,” says dr. Hadjistavropoulos.

the wealth of information on mental health that people can look for answers online any-time. they can engage in peer support chat groups in addition to having reading material at their fingertips. this is significant because,

14 Balance / spring 2012

real people

W hen i was growing up, my family fought a lot. at its best, my family was dysfunctional; at its worst, it was abusive. i was 13 when i was diag-

nosed with depression. at the time, i had no idea what that meant. Mental illness and mental health weren’t things that were discussed in my family or my culture.

at first, i was smoking pot a couple of times every two weeks. it eventually escalated to me being high from the time i woke up to the time i went to sleep. i began using other drugs, mainly prescription painkillers. and at about age 15, i began self-harming. i was in the emergency room constantly.

i went through a really rough time when i was controlled by my own disorder, by the paranoia, obsessive compulsive disorder and hypochondria, and i couldn’t function.

school. now, i've been accepted to the social work program at Mount royal university. i start in the fall.

i have a purpose in life now. i hope to be able to encourage other people not to give up on themselves. it’s a full-time job to retrain yourself to act, think and behave differently. it takes time, but everyone is worth the time and effort it takes to truly live life and not just survive each day. even when things are seem-ingly hopeless, there are ways out.

as told to lynda Sea

it wasn’t until i was 20 that i actually sought help. i was at my low-est, my breaking point. i was agoraphobic and i couldn’t leave my house for about seven months. i said, "i’m going to make a choice here. this is either going to be the end of my life, or i do something." i didn’t want to give up and i kept telling myself, "tomorrow will be better." while it wasn’t necessarily true, it helped me to hold on until it was.

when i was 22, i was referred to cMHa for the peer options program. i started volunteer-ing at the art of Friendship as a peer mentor. i started feeling like i could do something in my life that didn’t just revolve around being sick, doctors’ appointments and therapy. i can do things for other people. that’s when i seriously started thinking about finishing high

Building on her own experiences with drug addiction and mental disorders, dheny rivas, 24, is giving back and helping others cope.

Everyone is worth the time and effort it takes to truly live life and not just survive each day.

of herselfGiving

See, Hear, Speak No Stigma

This contest is brought to you by Canadian Mental Health Association - Calgary Region in partnership with Mount Royal University Peer Health Education. For more information visit www.gotabrain.ca or mtroyal.ca/healthed/events

Congratulations to the winner of the In Sight, In Mind Contest!About the contestMount Royal University students submitted these works of art in a contest to raise awareness around mental health issues. Visitors to www.gotabrain.ca voted on their favourites and this was one winner. Congratulations!

About this pieceThis piece portrays both the individual experience of mental illness as well as the negative societal attitudes associated with this issue. The frame consists of myths, enclosing all those with a mental illness into a group based on the misperceptions of society. The individual depicted is constrained by the hands of oppression, which represent the misperceptions of others. The ability to speak out, to be heard, and to be seen as a person beyond one’s illness is lost. The hands too represent a yearning for knowledge surrounding these illnesses, as well as a desire for understanding.

Holding On

This contest is brought to you by Canadian Mental Health Association - Calgary Region in partnership with Mount Royal University Peer Health Education. For more information visit www.gotabrain.ca or mtroyal.ca/healthed/events

Congratulations to the winner of the In Sight, In Mind Contest!About the contestMount Royal University students submitted these works of art in a contest to raise awareness around mental health issues. Visitors to www.gotabrain.ca voted on their favourites and this was one winner. Congratulations!

About this pieceThe most amazing thing that has ever happened to me, was the helping hand of another concerned with my welfare at a time when I myself could have cared less about my life. I have been fighting depression since I was born. The only thing worse than struggling with never end-ing sadness is hearing the labels some people use to describe me or someone else with mental illness.

Aberrant. Odd. Peculiar. Strange. Deviant. Malformed.

We are people. We have responsibilities and obligations just like everyone else. All we ask is for a bit of patience when we are engaged in the search for our inner balance. Isn’t that what every human seeks?