My journey with mental health was not something I went out looking for, but it kept impacting my life in different ways. In 2015 when I was in 2nd year university studying Public Health, many of my friends and family were struggling and receiving diagnoses that either helped them put a name to what they were feeling, or felt like they had been labelled and stigmatized. What was common was that none of them felt that they knew exactly where to go, who to speak to, and what services were right for them.
I started Care-2-Share in 2016 because I realized that while so many organizations exist to help people get the holistic care they need for mental illness and substance use, it can be really hard to navigate to them when you are dealing with these issues yourself. I wanted to bring these organizations together and help fill the gap between the siloes in our system. I also wanted people in our community to know that they have options! Whether its medication, meditation, behavioural therapies, counselling, exercise, or something else, everyone is unique and needs different tools to manage their wellbeing.
I firmly believe that there is no health without mental health, and that mental health impacts every aspect of our lives - but it should not impact our place in the world. We are all like cells in one giant organism and we all have our own special function. I want people who are struggling to know they are not alone, and to feel like they have a home in everyone else who also struggles. My hope is that together, we can make mental health a priority and give each other and future generations the tools to recognize and support one another.