Courage To Come Back

Chosen by the Wellness Centre, I represented the organization at the local board of education. I spoke in high schools throughout Northumberland County about the stigma of mental illness. Asked to sit on the Wellness Centre hospital board, I was a client representative and soon became their Chair of Public Relations. In this position, I organized wellness expos, mental health film night (to promote mental health week) and was appointed editor of the newsletter. The board of directors later nominated me for the “Courage to Come Back” award, which was designated by the “Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Foundation” in Toronto. This award recognizes individuals who overcome mental illness and then proceed into the community to aid others experiencing the same hardships. I was later asked to speak about my journey to mental health for the Wellness Centre’s tenth anniversary picnic in Old Mill Park, Campbellford. Now I had to walk my talk. I no longer wanted to work behind the scenes anonymously.

Photo taken at the Lima airport after my 3 weeks sacred journey in Peru