The Green Pickle
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Transcript of The Green Pickle
“I often thought about if my teachers and fellow students thought I was just a slacker or that I wasn’t
trying on purpose.”
P2 / Myths & Facts
Challenging common
myths associated with
mental health and
setting the record
straight.
P4 / Stigma
Helping a friend who is
struggling with mental
health challenges and an
experience with stigma.
P5 / Contest
MTYC announces the
winner of the “What is
mental health?” contest!
P6/ Resources
Exploring options and
services for youth
seeking mental health
support.
Green Pickle The
My Journey with Depression... It was 2009. I had just started high school and
thought I was starting a new chapter of my life:
independence, growing older, and spending
time with my friends. I did start a new chapter,
but it was one filled with depression.
When my depression "started" I had
no idea it was there. It started off with
a few sad days. I thought it was high
school stress and just overall
hormones at that age. It slowly
progressed to not wanting to go to
school... then not wanting to even
leave the safety of my bedroom. It got
to the point that I didn't want to be
happy anymore, I just wanted to swim
in my sadness. I would tell people I
was sick, and often times the
depression had worn me down to the
point of sickness, but I was really just
at home, not wanting to leave.
Some days I would prepare myself to
go to school, but then I would think
about having to explain why I was
away for so long, and an anxiety
attack would hit. I often thought about
if my teachers and fellow students
thought I was just a "slacker" or that I
wasn't trying on purpose.
My mom supported me and tried
A mental health newsletter for youth
CONT. ON PAGE TWO>>
My Journey with
Depression >> CONT. FROM PAGE ONE
talking to me about it. I remember
yelling at her once because I didn't
want to talk to anyone and that she
wouldn't understand. Depression
literally takes over your life. I often
felt like I was a failure when I was
going through depression: I blamed
myself that it was happening. I didn't
have the strength to get past it - that
made me feel weak. Weakness made
me feel like I couldn't achieve
anything - that made me feel not
good enough. Not good enough made
me feel not worth it.
Finally, I reached a stage where I just
wanted to be happy. I can't describe it
as "one day I woke up..." but one day
I decided that I did not want to live
like that anymore. I was privileged
enough to be part of an amazing
dramatic arts program that focused a
lot on journaling and self-reflection.
That's how my journey to recovery
started: self-reflection. I got to know
MYTHS FACTS
People with mental illness lack intelligence.
Intelligence has nothing to do with mental illnesses. Many people with mental disorders are brilliant, creative, and productive people.
Young people just go through ups and downs as part of puberty- it’s nothing.
Parents naturally want their children to do well, so some may brush off any difficulties as being mere growing pains. However, 1 in 10 young people will experience a mental health
People experiencing mental health problems tend to be violent or dangerous.
This is not true; in fact people who are experiencing mental health problems are statistically more likely to be a victim of violence.
It’s easy for young people to talk about their feelings.
Nearly 3 in 4 young people fear the reactions of their friends when they talk about their mental health
“Spending all that time alone with your thoughts gives you a lot of insight of who you are as a person.”
the future and building a better me. I
still self-reflect. I reflect every single
day. I take a look at myself to see
what I can improve, but now it's not
because I don't feel good enough, it's
because I want to keep strong. My
journey of depression is something
that will always be a part of me. It's a
part of me that makes me the person
I am today and I am proud it.
myself. Hey, spending all that time
alone with your thoughts gives you a
lot of insight of who you are as a
person.
Day by day I started feeling better. I
started talking to new friends. I
started feeling a little bit of
happiness again. I knew I couldn't
look back at where I came from
because that progress would be
shattered. I started to look toward to
2
Helping out a friend... It can be scary when someone you love is sick. It’s hard to see
someone you love in pain and it’s confusing when someone you
know well is not acting like themselves. You may not be able to see
the illness, but it doesn’t mean that you’re powerless to help.
Be there by spending time with or hanging out with your
friend.
Give them time to just talk.
Listen without judging.
Ask them what they can do for themselves to relieve the
sadness or pain (e.g. physical activity, arts & crafts, etc.).
Find out what works for them and do it with them.
Help them find resources or professional support. Help
them make the call.
Go with them to an appointment.
Find a way to share some humour. Watch a funny movie
together. Introduce them to your favourite funny show.
Laughing 'til you cry is a great stress reliever!
Get informed: go online, take out books, join a support
group, attend community info sessions, talk to others.
For more tips like this, visit www.mindyourmind.ca
Did you know?
One in five people will
experience a mental health
problem in a given year.
As few as one in four youth
who experience a mental
health problem seek
appropriate treatment.
Up to 70% of young adults
living with mental health
issues report that symptoms
started in adolescence.
Half of all mental health
problems in adulthood begin
by age 14.
Mental health problems are
caused by a complex interplay
of genetic, biological,
personality and environmental
factors.
Only one out of five children
who need mental health
services will receive them.
Once depression is
recognized, help can make a
difference for 80% of the
people who are affected.
Stigma attached to mental
health problems is a
significant barrier to
individuals seeking help.
3
Four years is how long I hid
my anxiety and depression from the
world. Four years of feeling like my
chest was going to cave in, not wanting
to get out of bed, second-guessing
everything I said or did… Four years of
feeling like I had no voice, and no
control. I spent years thinking I was
weird, different, and alone. At times I
felt like I had things under control so I
would attempt to go out with my
friends, or get involved in something,
and like an ocean wave, anxiety or
depression would take over and
suddenly I wanted to crawl back into
my bed. It felt like there was rarely ever
a happy medium. I either felt nothing
and did nothing, or I felt everything and
still wanted to do nothing.
Why did I wait so long to talk
about my mental health?
As the years went by, and mental
health awareness became more
popular… so did the stigma. I was
afraid of the labels that came along
with anxiety and depression diagnoses,
so I was afraid to speak up. I didn’t
realise that if I spoke up I wouldn’t just
be helping myself, but I could also be
helping someone else... Someone else
who was afraid to speak up, someone
else who felt they were alone. After
four years of feeling ashamed of
something I couldn’t control, I finally
spoke up.
There’s nothing to be ashamed
of.
The more I spoke up, the more I
started to realise how common mental
Facing the
illnesses really were. Chances are,
someone you know suffers from a
mental illness. You are not alone. If
you, or someone you know suffers from
a mental illness, speak up. Talk to your
friends and family, use your voice. If
you know someone suffering from a
mental illness, something as simple as
asking “how are you” could brighten his
or her day. Every small bit helps.
Mental illness can affect anyone at any
time in their lives for many different
reasons, some for no reason at all. You
should never feel like you need to
suffer in silence, or feel like you are
alone. You have a voice, and you have
the power to end the stigma.
-Conner Garrett
Help Challenge Mental
Health Stigma
1. Educate yourself about mental
illness. Having the facts can help
you challenge the misinformation
that leads to stigma.
2. Challenge media stereotypes.
3. Be aware of words. Don't reduce
people to a diagnosis.
4. Support those with mental health
issues.
5. Share your story. If you or someone
in your family has had a mental
illness, speak up about it. Your
example could help someone else.
For more information, please visit
www.time-to-change.org
4
I NEED HELP. What are my options? COUNSELLING: One on one support with a counsellor over
an extended period of time.
WALK-IN CLINICS: Walk-in counselling session (typically 1hour) and possible referral.
SUPPORT GROUPS: Facilitated group support for individuals with shared experiences. Groups are conducted n person or on an online forum.
PEER SUPPORT: Peer support offers a unique platform where individuals with shared lived experiences provide support to one another.
SUPPORT LINE: Free, confidential, emotional support provided by volunteers or trained counsellors.
What is Mental Health?
Watch the film: www.vimeo.com/spencerjulien/scatteredshowers
5
Everyone is different when it comes to how, when and in what way they would like to
receive help. It is important to keep an open mind and choose the option that you feel best
suits you!
If you or someone you love is in a crisis situation and requires urgent help, please call 911 or go to your nearest hospital.
COUNSELLING
DELISLE YOUTH SERVICES
40 Orchard View Blvd.
T: 416-482-0081
W: www.delisleyouth.org
Ages 13-21 years
CENTRAL TORONTO YOUTH SERVIES
65 Wellesley St East
T: 416-924-2100
W: www.ctys.org
Ages 12-18years
YOUTHLINK 747 Warden Ave
T: 416-973-1773
W: www.youthlink.ca
Ages 12-21years
Hours: Wednesdays 12-8pm
OOLAGEN
65 Wellesley St. East,
T: 416-395-0660
W: www.oolagen.org
Ages 18 and under
Hours: Mon & Thurs 2-6pm, Tues 10am-2pm,
Wed 12-8pm, Fri 9am-2pm
SUPPORT GROUPS
MDAO 36 Eglinton Avenue West
T: 416-486-8046
W: www.mooddisorders.ca
SHEENAS PLACE 87 Spadina Road
T: 416-927-8900
W: www.sheenasplace.org
DC ONTX W: www.torontodistressce
ntre.com/ontx
Hours: 2pm-2am
*ONLINE*
YOUNG ONES (PEER) T: 416 694-3754
W: www.youngones.ca
*ONLINE*
SUPPORT LINES 24/7
DISTRESS CENTRE T: 416-408-4357
GOOD TO TALK T: 1-866-925-5454
CMHA T: 1-866-531-2600
PLEASE NOTE!
Where can I get help?
6
How much do you know about mental health?
Across: 1. Failure to get treatment for mental illness can
hurt these between people
2. Conscious refusal to take something seriously
3. The way you sense or view something
4. Feeling good about oneself
5. #Campaign by a media company in Canada to
raise awareness about mental health
6. Acting in accordance to one’s values; adhering to
moral and ethical principles
Down:
1. Ability to recover; bounce back; buoyancy
2. Favorable impression of oneself; self-respect
3. Distress or uneasiness of the mind
4. Irrational or unreasonable fear of something
5. Affect disorder involving long-lasting, intense
sadness
6. Negative attitudes about people with mental
health problems
7. A strategy known to increase endorphins and
improve mood
8. Stand with; uphold; assist or provide for
Across: 1. Relationships, 2. Denial, 3. Perception, 4. Confident, 5. Bellletstalk, 6. Integrity. Down: 1. Resilience, 2. Self-esteem, 3. Anxiety, 4. Phobia, 5. Depression, 6. Stigma, 7. Exercise, 8. Support.
7
ABOUT US
The Midtown Toronto Youth Council (MTYC) is an initiative of
People & Organizations in North Toronto (POINT). It is the
mission of the MTYC to motivate young people to take a
proactive role in their community. Through identifying priority
areas for improvement, the unmet needs of youth and the gaps in
services serving youth, MTYC will ensure that the voice of young
people in Midtown Toronto is heard. In achieving this, council
members will develop stronger bonds with each other, service
agencies and other stakeholders of the community. MTYC will
further unite the community of North Toronto by strengthening
connections to the vast potential of its youth. For more
information about MTYC, please email [email protected].
200 Eglinton Ave. West
Toronto, ON, M4R1A7
P: 416-487-2390
W: www.pointinc.org
POINT.NorthToronto
POINT_Toronto