By April Lewis
Hello and welcome to the Mental Health Hot Line.
If you are obsessive-compulsive, press 1 repeatedly.
If you’re schizophrenic, listen carefully and a small voice will tell you which number to press.
If you are depressed, it doesn’t matter which number you press as no one will answer you.
October 2 – 8, 2011 is Mental Health Awareness Week in Canada.
This is an annual national public education campaign designed to raise awareness and
open the eyes of Canadians to the reality of mental illness.
Why do we even need a Mental Illness Awareness week you might ask?
One out of five Canadians is affected by mental illness.
For too long, Canadians with mental illnesses have been in the shadows. Too few Canadians
know about the burden of mental illness on our society and too few sufferers and their families
seek help when they need it.
Some do reach out though but their story is a tragic one. One such person is local, successful
businessman, Gord Bylo, who has experienced the stigma of mental illness first-hand. For the
past ten years, he and his family have lived with the nightmare of having a son with
schizophrenia and addiction issues or what is known as a concurrent disorder.
Frustrated by his journey to help his son, Gord is motivated to tell his story in his desire to help
erase the stigma of mental health and addictions.
“People need to know they are not alone – our society would be a much better place
if we judged ourselves based on how we treat our most vulnerable. Our citizens with mental
health issues and addictions need to be respected and cared for. We must break down the
stigma” says Gord.
With this goal in mind, Gord has collaborated with JOY TV (part of ZoomerMedia) to create a 26
episode television series called “State of Mind.”
As a former healthcare Manager of Addictions, I was approached to help produce this series.
Our first thirteen episodes which will be taped October 11 – 14th inclusive will cover not only
Gord’s moving story but other timely and relevant topics.
We have some amazing guests who will appear in studio including medical experts and
professionals in the field of addictions and behavioural psychology.
One of our episodes will feature the story of a teenage alcoholic. At the opposite end of the
spectrum we have a wealthy senior who was a “closet” drinker and has now been sober for
twenty-five years. Both of these people have turned their lives around and will share their
stories.
A model and performer whose life was marred by an eating disorder.
A “perfect” young married woman who will speak openly about her depression and who now
“blogs” about it.
A man addicted to technology who went “offline” for a year and wrote a book about
his experience.
Real people with real stories.
Mental illness doesn’t just affect the people living in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.
It affects everyone from all walks of life and from every socioeconomic strata of society. That
means you and me, our family, our friends, our colleagues and our neighbours.
I invite you to be a part of the audience on October 11 – 14th inclusive as we tape our show
“State of Mind” live in our JOY TV studios at #204 – 5668 – 192nd Ave., in Surrey. Please contact
me for more information at [email protected] or 604-536-8717.
Because mental illness is no laughing matter.
