{"id":130733,"date":"2023-01-25T13:33:35","date_gmt":"2023-01-25T18:33:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/doppleronline.ca\/rwddev\/?p=130733"},"modified":"2023-01-26T11:04:21","modified_gmt":"2023-01-26T16:04:21","slug":"community-members-gather-to-combat-mental-health-stigma","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/doppleronline.ca\/huntsville\/community-members-gather-to-combat-mental-health-stigma\/","title":{"rendered":"Community members gather to combat mental health stigma"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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Community members heeded Councillor Scott Morrison’s call to bring attention to mental health and the organizations that work toward mental health initiatives and breaking the stigma around the subject.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Morrison told those who gathered at Civic Square, including young community members, that he has struggled with mental health. “I promise you one thing: The reason we’re doing this, the reason we’re all here, is for you guys… Everyone knows that Muskoka talks about our natural resources being our most important asset\u2014that’s not totally untrue, but I tend to disagree. You guys are our most important asset,” he told the young people whose teachers had brought them to the gathering. “The decisions we make and the things we do and all the stuff that Jody (Mind-Aid Muskoka<\/strong><\/a>) and Shari (Coco Bear Fundraiser<\/strong><\/a>) and all these guys are doing, is to make sure that you have the best opportunity to be your true and best self, and we’ll never stop doing that.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Morrison said many people struggle with mental health through no fault of their own. He gave his own lived experience and said he had a thriving career and great support from family and friends and yet he would wake up some days and not want to get out of bed. He said he was able to get the help he needed and feels much better for it. Morrison those present to reach out for help and help others who may need it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jody North, with Mind-Aid Muskoka, said talking is where it starts “but then we’ve got to reach out… please know that that step is the step to feeling better, to getting back to your best self.” <\/p>\n\n\n\n

North said people need to think of mental illness in the same way as they do physical illness. “There will be times in your life where you’re going to feel like crap and hopefully you’ve got people around you that can help you pull out of those situations and feel better again but if you find that that keeps going… that’s when it’s time to act. To reach out. To ask somebody you trust to help you find the help you need.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mind-Aid is a system navigator for your people – 29 and under – to help them find the help they need to feel better again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Parry Sound-Muskoka MP was also present at the meeting along with MP Graydon Smith, Muskoka Mental Health Network and YMCA’s<\/strong><\/a> Saleem Hall, Huntsville Mayor Nancy Alcock, councillors, Huntsville OPP detachment representatives and Commander John-Paul Graham, Town of Huntsville representatives including Brenda Jones and Lisa Spolnik as well as various other community organization members.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Aitchison also spoke briefly saying that needing help is nothing to be ashamed of. “You all have friends. Be close to them. Take care of each other and support each other always. It’s important to do,” he told the students who were present.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Smith said communication around mental health has never been better. “The resources around mental health need to catch up,” he said, adding that he’s glad organizations like Mind-Aid are there to help and taking steps forward. He said he’s also glad that the Province has announced more funding for youth mental health and that a dedicated Minister has been appointed for issues of mental health and addiction, which no provincial government had had before, “because we take this seriously.”<\/p>\n\n\n

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MPP Gaydon Smith talks about his own struggles with mental health<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

Smith shared with those gathered that he has also struggled with mental health. His voice was shaky as he talked about having a mental health crisis twice in his life “where I was not myself.” Smith said he was grateful for the help and support that helped him get back to being himself and said he would advocate for anyone who needs help. “So let’s keep talking. Let’s keep finding those solutions.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Alcock thanked Morrison for shining a brighter light on the issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Morrison ended the conversation about mental health in the community by thanking those who had helped him organize the gathering, and asked people to keep talking about the issue, treating mental and physical health as one, and supporting organizations that work on mental health initiatives. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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