Robbie is proud to bring his 31 years of live mental health experience to his role as Peer Support Worker and says that his work gives him a “sense of purpose.” But most of all, he’s glad to get to share art with others and experience the “magic” that happens in Art Group.
“For most of my life, I struggled with what I called ‘the darkness,’” shared former ICMHA program participant Amy. As a young teen, Amy grappled with the early onset of bipolar disorder, which first appeared as depression. This led to Amy self-medicating with drugs and alcohol. “Traumatic things happened in my developmental years,” said Amy. “My life was a mess by the time I entered psychiatry at age 15. I was in the midst of a heavy struggle with self-harm, suicidal ideation, psychosis, and substance misuse. I was experiencing homelessness. I didn’t know how to cope.”
Finding the right support when you’re living with a mental health condition is essential. For Caroline, getting connected to the Seniors Support Network at ICMHA was a first step towards the support she needed at this stage of life.
“The staff at ICMHA are very supportive and non-judging. I like that the staff always bring me a cup of coffee. I haven’t had anyone be that kind to me in a long time. It’s better and different than Independent living,” Caroline shared.
The Seniors Support Network plays an important role in supporting seniors’ like Caroline with their mental health. The program focuses on what people can do (not what they can’t do) helping them find connection and purpose in their later stages of life.
Caroline wasn’t sure what to expect when she first started attending Senior Support Network’s weekly meetings. Soon enough she discovered that it was more than just conversation. Each week participants have group discussions, chair exercises, and crafts. “The crafts were surprising to me but it’s fun because I don’t usually do crafts. It takes my mind to another place and it’s relaxing,” said Caroline.
Most importantly, Caroline has found that the Seniors Support Network is a place to feel seen and understood. “My own family has had a lot of trouble accepting my mental health conditions,” she said. All too often this is a reality many people living with mental health conditions face, but with groups like the Seniors Support Network people can find meaningful connection and community.
“It’s a relaxing fellowship. It’s a good place to go and be with seniors like me, and to access other resources. It’s a place to be active about your mental health,” shared Caroline.
Lorraine, a former ICMHA program participant, suspects that she’d been dealing with depression and anxiety for most of her life. “There were times when I cried uncontrollably for no reason or couldn’t face getting out of bed. The fear I felt, the panic, that would come out of nowhere.” On top of dealing with depression and anxiety, Lorraine’s symptoms were misunderstood and stigmatized. “I was called lazy, stuck-up, a loser.”