Framing our Perspectives

     Powerlessness, a feeling that is of near consensus when speaking of how mental health challenges are experienced. Caregivers and those with lived experience, at any given time can feel a sense of discouragement for a variety of reasons. Wait lists, lack of services, early discharge dates, narrow treatment options and common experience of feeling unheard are just some of the discouraging realities blocking families from receiving appropriate care and eventual stability. These are merely tipping points that exceed the social, racial, cultural, religious, political challenges that families may experience on a subjective level. As expressed by one client “It feels like scaling a mountain side that continues to grow. The closer we get to the top, the higher the peak seems to be. We never summit, we just always seem to climb.”

Rather poetically, such a metaphor describes beautifully such a common issue. One that is wrought with the additional challenges as illustrated. Confronting such feelings of vulnerability places caregivers in a situation of fragility, where all fears, anxieties and uncertainties are brought to the forefront of discussion. It is an experience shared by many, understood by few and viewed as being impossible to address. Such an emotional, social and psychological challenge calls for an approach that encompasses both realism and idealism. Just as in scaling the elevations of a mountain, balance is crucial.

There is no easy way to approach mental health challenges. Despite severity, everyone experiences stress, sadness, grief and anxiety. Only when there is an unbalance; biologically, socially and emotionally, do we see the formation of disorders and progressive detriment to ones’ psyche. Such taxing factors can be discouraging and are, both personally and publicly the root of many challenges faced by families and their loved ones. These are known factors, they in many cases are absolute experiences and with that become the primary focuses that impede families. Fixating on the stressors distracts of the overall goal.

Telling our story of Living Mentally Well

With the work being done at the FAME Toronto Office, the importance of Narrative and resilience through story telling has been an effective practice for families; particularly those who have experienced trauma in the family . With that, I was asked to speak last Wednesday,at the 3rd Annual Mindfest Seminar hosted at the University of Toronto. Mindfest is a collective meeting of professionals, speakers with lived experience and community agencies providing discussion on the various aspects and treatments of mental health challenges active in Toronto. Below is a copy of the talk given: 

Discussion of mental health had changed in recent decades. Though, a great deal of stigma and discrimination still exists. Our acknowledgment of mental wellness as a component of health has been accepted. Additional to the advancements in therapies and available treatments has been inclusion of the subjective and personal experiences of those who live with mental health challenges. This inclusion within the dialogue of practice has promoted advocacy and awareness.

RBC releases it's national survey on Mental Health

Yesterday morning I was reading the Toronto Star and found an article authored by Barbara Turnbull titled "Kids, Parents are not discussing mental health concerns RBC poll finds".

Basically what the article speaks to is that children don't confide in their parents when they are experiencing issues around their own problems.  The poll also reflected that more than 50% of parents don't approach their children to talk to them about mental health.  After reading this article I sat and pondered for a while and thought to myself there was definitely something missing, both by RBC and by the author.  There is a much larger landscape here, and it is my opinion, that we can't see the forest for the proverbial trees.  Let's step back and take a look at what I'm speaking to.