Healthy Minds Canada is looking for your stories!

Wednesday, 13 June 2012

 Healthy Minds Canada is aiming to dispel the stigma around mental illness by working on a campaign that encompasses stories, in letter format, from the perspective of individuals who have personally suffered from mental illness, in addition to their families, friends and health care workers.  We would be most appreciative if you would consider joining Healthy Minds in this project to advance understanding of what it means to live with mental illness or to support someone who suffers from mental illness.

We are seeking letters from people who have struggled with mental illness, addressed to a family member, friend or health care worker. Subsequently, we are looking for letters from a family member, friend or health care worker to a person whom they have helped with their mental illness battle.  If you and members of your group would kindly consider this offer and explore it with the people in your life who have been affected by mental illness, we would be so greatly appreciative.  For further information, please see below.

Your letters will be incorporated into an online anti-stigma tool developed to break down stigma among parents, family members, educators and friends, in order to improve chances of early identification and interventions of mental health issues.

Your assistance is of immense importance and value to us at Healthy Minds Canada and the one in five Canadians affected by mental illness.

Letters may be a minimum of 250 words in length and may include any of the following material as lead topics regarding your journey with mental illness:

-When and how you knew there was an issue?

-What led you to seek help?

-What were you/they like as a child?

-When did you first notice something was different?

-When did you notice a change in family or social dynamic?

-Which moment stands out in your mind as the major turning point?

-What was the step that ultimately led to your path to recovery and wellness?

-How did you feel about seeking help?

-How did you feel after finding the appropriate help?

-Who were the most helpful people along your journey?

-What were the major obstacles you encountered in this process and how did you overcome them?

-What was the most helpful resource you found along the way?

-Is there anything you would have done differently?

-What does wellness and illness look like for you?

-If you helped in the life of another, how did you do so?

-How are you affected by stigma?

-What advice would you give to another struggling with mental illness or aiming to support a person suffering from a mental illness?

-What is the most courageous/memorable moment throughout you and your family’s experience?

For more information you can contact:
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http://www.healthymindscanada.ca/
http://www.facebook.com/#!/healthymindscanada
https://twitter.com/#!/Healthy_Minds

ABOUT HEALTHY MINDS CANADA

Healthy Minds Canada (formerly the Canadian Psychiatric Research Foundation) aims to de-stigmatize mental illness, to find cures and better treatments for mental illness and addiction and to promote mental health. Healthy Minds’ efforts are concentrated through the funding of long-term research, in the areas of mental health and addiction, which will help to change the landscape of mental illness to that of wellness.  The mission of Healthy Minds is to improve the well being of Canadians by funding mental health and addiction research to build healthier lives.

Healthy Minds Canada is a National Charity founded in 1980, raising and distributing funds for mental health and addiction research and translating the knowledge gained into publicly accessible resources.

Healthy Minds Canada truly believes that together we can transform the grounds of mental illness to that of wellness and work to eliminate the presence of stigma, with your generous support.