Patrick Dion, Vice-Chair of the Mental Health Commission of Canada, was at Western University on March 5th, to present the talk: “My Journey to Understanding Mental Health.” Through this talk Dion discussed an issue close to his heart: tackling the stigma associated with mental illness. For him, the issue is personal. In 1987 while attending Western as an undergraduate, Dion’s brother, also at Western in his first year of studies, began exhibiting symptoms of what would later be diagnosed as bipolar disorder. With his brother’s permission, Dion has been sharing the story of his brother’s struggle to identify and treat his mental illness, and to rebuild his life.
One of Dion’s particular areas of interest, because of his brother, is mental health awareness for post-secondary students. The transition to adulthood can be difficult for anyone and school can add to those pressures. As Dion noted, living away from home for the first time, coupled with new pressures and expectations can create an environment of high anxiety—and can precipitate mental health issues in people predisposed to illness. His brother was eventually able to receive proper treatment and begin his recovery and has achieved personal and professional successes. But there was struggle on this path. The stigma and difficulty in getting proper care that his brother faced has stayed with Dion. “I cannot imagine a more punishing indignity” he says, of the discrimination and rejection still faced by many who live with mental illness. Now Dion champions mental health initiatives that decrease stigma and increase access to care options for Canadians.
Dion has spent the last several years working with the Mental Health Commission of Canada on various initiatives aimed at providing Canadians with better mental health care services. Some of these initiatives involve working directly with post-secondary students to change the culture around mental health and wellness. For example, Dion discussed how the Mental Health Commission has worked with students in journalism programs in a few universities, such as Memorial and Carleton. The goal is to encourage journalism students to consider the way language is used around issues of health, illness, and wellness and the ways in which language can be used to effect change. Other programs with trial initiatives include pharmacy and medical school courses. At Queen’s University a program is underway to provide mental health training to Teaching Assistants because of their work with undergraduates. And Algonquin College is piloting an online program for staff and faculty that addresses mental health concerns and is likely to be available to all post-secondary institutions free of charge.
At the conclusion of Dion’s remarks he opened the floor to an extensive question-and-answer session which allowed many audience members to address their own experiences with mental health issues and treatments as well as concerns about the issues of accessibility of care both on and off campus—as well as ongoing issues with stigma. In closing Dion referred to a quotation displayed on a poster in the talk, “If you want to go quickly, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” This quote encapsulates the message Dion presented—the journey to better mental health and wellness in our society will take the support of many dedicated individuals and groups and we are working towards that every day.
For more info on Dion's talk at Western, read a review in Western University's Gazette.