You don’t know how they’re feeling

Brandon Yip

October 10 marks the 25th anniversary of World Mental Health Day,
established by the World Federation for Mental Health (WFMH).
World Mental health Day’s ultimate goal is to increase awareness

and support for mental illness and those living with them world-
wide. According to the WMHD 2017 report, one in four adults will
experience mental health difficulties. In the workplace, 10 per cent
of employed people have taken time off for depression, an average
of 36 workdays is lost per depression episode and 50 per cent of
people with depression are untreated. Particularly, mental illness

has garnered more attention in our society than it has 20 years ago.
Celebrities and other high-profile figures such as the Rock, Prince
Harry, Jim Carrey, Mel Gibson, Nelly Furtado, Lady Gaga, Demi
Lovato and Sia have all disclosed their own battles with mental health
issues. In this country, high-profile mental health initiatives such as
the annual “Bell Let's Talk” Day have brought the issue of mental
illness to the forefront. With more and more people coming out and
sharing their stories of mental illness, it gives hope to those suffering
in silence—and assurance that they are not alone.

Nancy Keough, executive director for the Kettle Society (which
provides services since 1976 to over 3,600 individuals with 26
services, a mental health drop-in and over 200 units of supported
housing), says the importance of World Mental Health Day should not
be overlooked.

“| think it is very important to have global recognition for a serious
health issue,” Keough said in an e-mail interview with the Other
Press. “Any recognition, education and even acknowledgement is a
step in the right direction.”

Keough states that stigma regarding mental illness is still present in
our society, but steps have been made in trying to make people more
aware and become less judgmental to people with a mental illness.

“Society is taking baby steps in the right direction,” Keough said.
“Our members have identified time and time again that the stigma
around having a diagnosis of a mental illness is often worse than
dealing with the illness itself. The homeless crisis in Vancouver has
helped to bring some of the issues to the forefront. We have a long
way to go but | think education is the key.”

Sarah Hamid-Balma, mental health promotion director for the

 
  
 
 
  

Canadian Mental Health Association BC Division, also believes that
World Mental Health Day is an important day to recognize those
suffering with mental illness.

“Whether you note or notice awareness days and weeks like World
Mental Health Day (October 10) or Mental Illness Awareness Week
(October 1-7) or Mental Health Week in May, the point of all of them
is to get the media’s and public's attention and get people talking
about both good mental health and mental illnesses,” Hamid-Balma
said to the Other Press. “These are topics we simply don’t talk
openly enough about. Any time is a good time to talk about mental
health.”

Regarding stigma associated with mental illness, Hamid-Balma
believes that progress has been made, but more work needs to be
done.

“It's definitely better than a couple of decades ago. There didn't
use to be fundraisers for mental health, for one. Actors may have
disclosed a personal story, but now you'll hear from many more and
more musicians and athletes and politicians and business executives
talking about their experience or even leading a campaign to
promote awareness.”

Moreover, Hamid-Balma believes it is very important for people
experiencing mental health issues to gather together and talk openly
about what their experiences. “Well, we know that meeting people
with an experience of mental illness is the best way to eradicate
stigma,” Hamid-Balma said. “We also know that we are more likely to
seek help if we know a friend or family member got help. So, if you
have got help for a mental health problem, and it helped, consider
telling one more person. If lots of us did that, the impact would be
amazing.”

When it comes to professional sports and high-profile athletes, it
would seem on the surface that no athlete would be afflicted with
mental illness due to the perception that they are “too tough.”

A broken leg or an ACL injury is just part of the job, but illnesses
such as depression or anxiety, which is not visible on the outside,
do not seem to be given the same amount of attention as a typical
“jock” injury would. Notably, the Vancouver Canucks have played a
prominent role in mental health awareness initiatives.

The issue of mental health came to the forefront with Rick Rypien’s
story.

Rypien started his career playing four seasons with the Regina Pats of
the Western Hockey League. In 2005, he was signed by the Manitoba
Moose, who were the American Hockey League affiliate for the
Vancouver Canucks at the time. The following season, Rypien would