Episode #17 - Mental Health Awareness Week
In the spirit of Mental Health Week (an annual national event that takes place during the first week in May to encourage people from all walks of life to learn, talk, reflect & engage with others on all issues relating to mental health) Christine Hillis, a social worker at the Canadian Mental Health Association, Ontario came onto the podcast to discuss what mental disorders are, the damaging effects of negative stigmas & ways to approach this sensitive topic.
"Respecting the Process to me has a lot to do with self awareness & understanding that for me there is no end point. I understand that where I'm at right now -I'm at a great point in my life - & there is no end point where I am going to feel 100% cured. For me it's that every day management, waking up, checking in with myself, seeing how I am doing & figuring out my life in accordance with my mental health disorder. Understanding that it will always be a part of my life, but the things that I do in order to help work with it actually give me really good mental health. The process for me is understanding that I need to be aware of how I'm doing & alter what I'm doing in terms of how I am feeling. Making sure that I am taking care of myself & doing my own set of coping strategies.
Christine 'Red Dynamite' Hillis, Social Worker