Stigma Magazine | Summer 2016

S

A Voice For The Voiceless.

tigma

HOW TO BE HAPPY SHELDON KENNEDY

CONNECTING THE DOTS

RICHARD LETT SHOWING NO FEAR

STIGMA MAGAZINE | 1

NEWFOUNDLAND• GRAND FALLS • SAINT JOHN • MONCTON FREDERICTON • MONTREAL • OTTAWA • THUNDER BAY BARRIE • TORONTO • PETERBOROUGH • GUELPH LONDON • CHATHAM • WINDSOR • HAMILTON STRATFORD• GODERICH • OWEN SOUND REGINA • SASKATOON • PRINCE ALBERT PRINCE GEORGE • RED DEER

EDMONTON • BROOKS CALGARY • RICHMOND

VANCOUVER

VERNON

2 | STIGMA MAGAZINE

tigma

SUMMER 2016 Stigma Magazine is one of Canada’s premier magazines addressing the needs of the 1 in 5 people who experience a mental illness or substance use problem in their lifetime. Stigma presents informative and inspiring articles that show readers not just how to deal with their mental health and addiction, but how to enjoy a healthy lifestyle.

Publisher: Luke de Leseleuc Creative Director: Julia Breese Contact: info@stigmamagazine.com www.stigmamagazine.com 778.746.7799 Published by:

CONTENTS

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5 From the Editor.....................................................7 How to Be Happy!..................................................9 Addictions and Acupuncture...............................13 From the Publisher................................................

A Game Changer: The Importance of Sport in Recovery.................

15 Richard Lett: Showing No Fear...........................18 Get out of Town: Hiking as Therapy.....................23 Sheldon Kennedy: Connecting the Dots..............27 Crafting to Relieve Stress....................................31 Into the Wild of the Mind..................................35 Putting Smiles Back on People’s Faces.............38 Dominic’s Story................................................40 When Someone You Love Is in Crisis...................42 A New Normal..................................................44 STIGMA MAGAZINE | 3

INSPIRING HOPE AND HEALTH

TAKE THE BE YOU PROMISE

WWW.BEYOUPROMISE.ORG Stigma Magazine is published by Be You Promise.Org

4 | STIGMA MAGAZINE

FROM THE

PUBLISHER S

O HERE I AM IN THE middle of summer, staring at

Life is fragile. It can be hard at times. No one said that

a blank page, wondering what the heck am I go-

living life in recovery would be easy! But if you look at the

ing to write about for this issue of Stigma. Don’t get

big picture and look in the mirror, you will see a change

me wrong, there is plenty for me to talk about! There are

in you that most people will not see. When I look into the

many issues that I would like to tackle, like why there isn’t

mirror I see the real me...the person I was always meant to

an affordable treatment centre in Victoria. Why do people

be. Happy Recovery Day, Canada!

have to go off the island to get help? Not everyone has the insurance or the money to pay for the private services that we DO have!

Luke de Leseleuc

This issue has a strong focus on the great outdoors and how hiking and recreational sporting activities can help people in recovery. Cassie does a great job of talking about happiness. So how do you find REAL happiness?

Take a look at her article and you will find that it’s not as hard as you think. By the time this issue hits the streets we will be getting closer to Canada’s national Recovery Day.

Stigma magazine and BeYouPromise.org, the publishers of Stigma magazine, will be in Vancouver on September 10 to celebrate Recovery Day. It will be a time for all of us who are in recovery to remember the daily victories that we have fought to regain our lives and our families. We’ve all fought the good fight to be where we are today. Never, ever take that lightly.

Many of us have overcome obstacles that the everyday Normie will never understand. But as brothers and sisters in recovery, we get it! We know how hard it is to change and to do a 360 turnaround with our lives.

STIGMA MAGAZINE | 5

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6 | STIGMA MAGAZINE

FROM THE

EDITOR I

’m writing this letter from my favourite place—a place

lightening for me. “We need to hear more stories of recov-

I’ve been visiting for 30 years and that always brings me

ery. There are so many people that live in good recovery

a feeling of calm and a sense of grounding. No mat-

and for some reason we never hear about those stories,”

ter what I might be going through, here on Saturna Is-

he told me. And that’s what excites me most about be-

land, B.C., I can see things more clearly, and everything

ing part of this magazine. As someone who has much to

becomes easier.

discover and understand about mental health, I’m both

If you were surrounded by gnarly arbutus trees, enjoy-

humbled and honoured to have the opportunity to work

ing the gentle lapping of waves on the rocky shore while

on Stigma magazine while Amanda Farrell-Low is on ma-

waiting for a chance orca sighting, you too would find it

ternity leave.

hard to be stressed out about a looming deadline, trou-

I’m astounded by the stories I’ve heard so far of those

ble with a partner or a child, or the woes of a friend. For

who have overcome a wide range of issues in their lives—

me, the island is an escape as much as it’s a renewal and

and continue to work hard on them every day, because

a clarifier. I always feel like I’ve worked out my problems

recovery never has with a definite ending. We need to

by the time I leave—actually putting the solutions into

hear more than just the sensationalist tales of celebrities

practice upon my return to the real world is another mat-

and their dramatic entry into rehab or their embarrassing

ter, of course, and life isn’t something that any of us ever

public display while under the influence of one intoxicant

work out completely. Nor are we meant to.

or another—we need to hear about what happens next,

This issue is all about the great outdoors and how being

and not just to the celebrity, but also the rest of us, too.

outside can benefit the mind as much as the body. Cas-

Those of us who have found our way through it and into a

sie Hooker looks at hiking as therapy (p. 23), while Marie

place where things are possible, and change, while slow

Engel takes us to visit Rite of Passage Journeys to explore

sometimes, can take us closer to becoming the person

the transformations its outdoor excursions can produce

we’ve always wanted to be. So let’s talk about it—let’s not

for youth of all ages (p. 35). We also delve into the science

push ourselves into a corner, let’s stand up and take care

of sport and addiction on p. 15: can studying the chemical

of ourselves and each other—and celebrate and recognize

balance at work when we exercise help us combat sub-

those who have found their way through and continue to

stance abuse?

become better versions of themselves every day.

Speaking of sport, this month’s story with Sheldon Kennedy, a National Hockey League player known for speaking up about sexual abuse at the hands of his trusted mentor and coach Graham James, was especially en-

Don’t forget to go outside and get moving—your body and your mind will thank you for it.

Kate Lautens STIGMA MAGAZINE | 7

Helping you get back to work GOAL IDENTIFICATION Work with an employment advisor to identify short term and long term goals in today’s labour market.

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Training such as first aid, foodsafe, early childhood educator, community support worker may be available

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VOCATIONAL ASSESSMENT Access a variety of assessments and evaluations to learn if the job you want is the right fit

CLINICAL COUNSELLING Eligible clients receive up to 10 counselling sessions by certified clinical counsellors

At InFocus we strive to maximize overall quality of life for our clients: to help them achieve independence at home, school, work and in the community.

We provide help to understand strengths and barriers, identify realistic goals and develop action plans to achieve the goals.

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Focused on Vocational Support

admin@infocusservices.com

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The Employment Program of British Columbia is funded by the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia 8 | STIGMA MAGAZINE

E B O T W HO

!

Y P P A H

By Cassie Hooker

LIFE NOT MEETING YOUR EXPECTATIONS? HERE ARE 30 MANTRAS TO REMIND YOU TO TAKE TIME TO CARE FOR YOURSELF AND BE MINDFUL OF WHAT’S MOST IMPORTANT. Get to know yourself. Don’t

4 No matter how hectic your day is,

8 Learn to pick your battles. Don’t

be afraid to spend time with your

find one moment that is yours alone.

fight unnecessary wars—they will only

thoughts.

When you are constantly on the go,

stress you out.

1

a moment to yourself can help you

2

Be patient with yourself and

keep on top of it all.

with others. After all, we are all only human.

remember that it is ok to grieve when

5

Learn to be happy with who

you are. You can start by finding one

3 It’s ok to put yourself first, sometimes. You are the best person to

9 Hurting is part of healing. Always you are feeling hurt or sad—this is a natural part of the healing process.

thing you love about yourself, and building on it.

look after your needs.

10 Confront your personal issues.

Ignoring your personal problems

6 Life can be hard. Remind yourself, as often as you need, that these

now will only make them hurt more later.

hardships make you strong and resilient.

11 Remember that you are strong.

No matter what life throws at you,

7 Cultivate friendship. Humans are pack animals; whether it’s with an-

you can overcome it. You are strong and resilient.

other human or a pet, friendship is a necessary part of being happy.

12 There is no problem in the world that does not come with a way to solve it. Sometimes, you just have to look a little harder for the solution.

STIGMA MAGAZINE | 9

HEN W , H C I 19 You are alLY WH GRASP, F R E T T U R ways your own D OU EAB N K T I O L H Y G S E I I L worst enemy. You ESS AY A UST B M , Y L T HAPPIN IS ALWAYS J are always more QUIE N , D W E O U D E critical of yourself PURS L SIT HORN L T I W W A U than others.

H L YO E I F I N , A T H U B – NAT .

U O Y 20 Sometimes, you are your own UPON

25 Always be true to yourself. Being what everybody else needs you to be is exhausting and can leave you feeling empty.

26 Take time out to just breathe and collect yourself. That pressing deadline can wait a few minutes.

biggest champion. Don’t be afraid

to pat your own back for a job well

27 Listen to your inner child. Chanc-

done. You deserve it!

es are, it’s saying something you need to hear.

21 Good and bad are two sides of

13 Risks are there for the taking— use them wisely. Living life means taking risks, some of them greater than others. Which ones will you take?

14 Wisdom may not come with age, but it does come with experience.

Experience is education.

15 Toxic people will only weigh you down. Surround yourself with people who lift you up.

16 No matter what you do in life, always strive for personal greatness.

Take pride in your work and in your life as a whole.

17 Failure happens, but it’s never absolute. If you didn’t succeed, it’s not the end of the world.

18

Making mistakes is

part of being human. The important part is to learn from them.

10 | STIGMA MAGAZINE

the same coin. Without the bad stuff

28

in life, we can’t fully appreciate the

of your hardships. Focusing on the

good stuff.

negative only hinders your ability to

Count your blessings instead

be happy.

22 There is no one way to live or believe that is right above all others. At

29 Barriers are there to be con-

the end of the day, we all just want to

quered. When life puts a wall in front

be happy.

of you, get a ladder and climb over it.

23 It’s not about where you are go-

30 Even if you can’t forgive the past,

ing, but rather how you choose to

at least let go of it. The past can be

get there. Sometimes, the journey is

like an anchor that prevents you from

more important than the destina-

moving forward. Don’t let it weigh

tion.

24 Make time for those you care about. Our support networks need to be nurtured. Make time for those most important to you.

you down.

S

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12 | STIGMA MAGAZINE

&

ADDICTIONS

ACUPUNCTURE

By Bryan Hardy TCMP B.A., R.Ac.

W

HAT IS OFTEN EXPRESSED THROUGH AD-

as mainly caused by chemical hooks and moral failings

DICTION is an unstoppable, insatiable yearn-

when other factors are equally needed to be seen as indi-

ing. This constant craving shares many char-

cators like isolation and trauma.”

acteristics with a yearning for transcendence.

Chinese medicine believes that inherent in each of us

One way to view the ongoing quest to understand

is a nature that is to be fulfilled through its fullest expres-

and treat addiction is through the lens of Chinese

sion—or that we are doing our best to fulfill said nature

medicine, which is both a medical and philosoph-

and getting stuck in the process. What we get stuck in

ical system. In its most simplified terms, addic-

says a lot about what’s in us, still searching for expression.

tion would be considered an imbalance of Yin

It’s not just about the addiction; it’s about finding the

and Yang; the gathering, encompassing, cooling

clearest, truest form of expression of our nature.

water-like quality of Yin loses balance with the

Marc Lewis, author of Biology of Desire: Why Addic-

expansive, expressive, warming fire-like quality of

tion Is Not a Disease, says, “Addicts aren’t diseased and

Yang. Simply put, in the ongoing relationship be-

they don’t need medical intervention in order to change

tween the individual and substance or activity, con-

their lives. What is needed is sensitive, intelligent, social

trol is lost.

scaffolding to hold the pieces of their imagined future in

Chinese medicine allows the seemingly opposing dis-

place—while they reach toward it.”

ease models of addiction and theories of addiction dis-

Chinese medicine does not deny the disease process

order to coexist. Equal importance is placed on biolog-

that unfolds with addiction, yet it also looks to support

ical and genetic predisposition factors as well as social

the holding of the pieces of our imagined future for

and emotional ones. As Johann Hari wrote in his widely

the client to fulfill their natural expression. Whether it’s

acclaimed book Chasing the Scream: The First and Last

through a trusted relationship with a medical practition-

Days of the War on Drugs, “We still think of addiction

er and/or through powerful fellowship in programs such

STIGMA MAGAZINE | 13

as Alcoholics Anonymous, it’s clear that successful treat-

strate that the NADA protocol in addition to standard

ment is not achieved alone.

care is significantly better than standard care alone.

Although addiction is not an actual diagnosis in Chi-

The acupuncturist provides support throughout the

nese medicine, this system can greatly assist people ex-

withdrawal process. Later, support is provided to deter-

periencing addiction with both physical and non-phys-

mine what is underlying and triggering the behaviour,

ical symptoms. Acupuncture is now being utilized and

and to address such things as stress, anxiety, depres-

integrated into many treatment facilities, as it can help

sion or a history of trauma. Chronic pain, both physical

with the signs and symptoms of withdrawal.

and emotional, will undermine someone’s quality of life

According to Henry Lu’s A Complete Translation of Nei

Jing and Nan Jing, “The art of acupuncture is to unblock

and ability to make lasting change, so it needs to be addressed during treatment.

the channels and vessels, regulate Qi and Blood, manage

It’s the task of the Chinese medicine practitioner to

the flow and counter flow at their entry and exit and con-

be a conduit for nature. It’s their job to create space in

vergences.” In the 1970s, Dr. Michael Smith of New York’s

which the patient can rediscover their own innate heal-

Lincoln Hospital developed a five-point protocol that fo-

ing power. This rediscovery is of the patient’s true identity

cused on the ear alone, called the acudetox method or

in its fullest. In an open, calm, expanded state, those ex-

National Acupuncture Detoxification Association (NADA)

pressing their identity through addiction can enter into a

protocol. It can make detoxification less painful, help with

realm of possibility and embark on a life with greater de-

cravings and decrease anxiety. There are an estimated

grees of control, inner sovereignty and clearer expression

1,500 addiction programs worldwide using some form of

of their nature.

acupuncture for addictions and recent studies demon-

Bryan Hardy has practiced for 15 years and manages a private clinic with his wife. He is also on faculty at Pacific Rim College, at Cool Aid Health Centre and contracted with Island Health, offering acupuncture for addiction.

Tap into the proven power of an ancient healing system for the body and mind.

aAddictions aPain management aDepression Phone 250-382-3469 to book an appointment.

202-239 Menzies Street, Victoria, BC V8V 2G6

WWW.COPPERMOUNTAINCENTRE.COM

14 | STIGMA MAGAZINE

A GAME CHANGER THE IMPORTANCE OF SPORT IN RECOVERY

By Wayne Steer

B

ODY, MIND AND SPIRIT—THE COMPLETE PACK-

When alcoholics quit drinking, they suddenly turn off

AGE. We all benefit when we have a healthy bal-

the dopamine tap and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adre-

ance in these three aspects of our life and suffer

nal axis is thrown out of balance. The subsequent with-

when there is imbalance. Our foundation for mental and

drawal puts their body into survival mode. While the in-

spiritual wellness—and illness—is largely determined by

tense unpleasantness of withdrawal may last only a few

the state of our physical wellbeing through chemical bal-

days, their system remains sensitized for much longer.

ance and fitness.

From this state of mind, the brain interprets additional

Imbalance in brain chemistry is intricately intertwined with drug addiction; each time an addict uses a sub-

stress as an emergency and sends the recovering alcoholic looking for more alcohol.

stance, dopamine floods their system to reinforce the

To put it in simple terms, addiction and recovery both

memory of the euphoria while pushing other stimuli

arise from habits—one out of chemical dependency and

and feelings further into the background. On top of that,

the other out of a desire to eliminate that dependency.

addicts often have concurrent psychological challenges such as bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and psychosis.

“Habits play an important role in our health,” explained Dr. Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug

STIGMA MAGAZINE | 15

NOT ONLY DOES PHYSICAL ACTIVITY DECREASE ANXIETY AND STRESS, BUT IT ALSO HELPS INCREASE DOPAMINE LEVELS IN THE BRAIN THAT SUBSTANCE ABUSE HAS DIMINISHED OVER TIME. Abuse, part of the U.S. National Institute of Health, in a

For those who are not in a treatment program or a 12-

2012 News in Health article. “Understanding the biology

step group such as Alcoholics Anonymous, recovery can

of how we develop routines that may be harmful to us,

mean they have a lot of free time and not a lot of support

and how to break those routines and embrace new ones,

available to provide structure, camaraderie and support.

could help us change our lifestyles and adopt healthier behaviours.”

Exercise and sporting groups could help fill this void, according to Richard Brown, a professor of psychiatry and

The memory of the flood of dopamine and the relat-

human behaviour at Brown University and director of ad-

ed euphoria when the addict is engaging in the activity

dictions research at Butler Hospital in Providence, Rhode

are extremely vivid and powerful, making pleasure-based

Island. Brown and his colleagues began a human study

habits so much harder to break, as dopamine creates the

on exercise and alcohol abuse, with the hypothesis that

craving to do it over and over again.

physical activity would reduce the depressive symptoms

Another factor making recovery challenging is that replacing a one habit with a new one doesn’t erase the

that alcoholics often suffer and this would reduce the risk of a relapse.

original behaviour; both remain in the brain. An addict

Published in the Journal of Substance Abuse in 2014,

in recovery can take steps to strengthen the new habit

the study explored the premise that exercise provides

and suppress the original one. According to a 2010 study,

a “high” that could be important for addicts learning to

conducted in the U.K. by Phillippa Lally and published in

combat cravings. Brown asked one group of study partic-

the European Journal of Social Psychology, it takes an av-

ipants to work out once a week as a group, while anoth-

erage 66 days to form a new habit.

er group was only advised to start exercising. At a three-

To get clean, addicts often must make difficult deci-

month follow-up, the researchers found the group that

sions, like giving up their past social lives, including all

had been exercising together had fewer drinking days

their friends who use. If their life revolves around a pub,

and fewer heavy-drinking days than the group that didn’t

for instance, they may have to give up all their friends who

exercise regularly.

go there, or relocate entirely. This represents a catch-22:

A surprising outcome of the research was that partic-

addiction is a disease of isolation that sometimes necessi-

ipants said they enjoyed the regular structure that exer-

tates removing or isolating oneself from a former “support

cise provided to their lives. This kind of structure is found

group” and creates a more urgent need to find a new one.

in sports in general where there is a strong social aspect

16 | STIGMA MAGAZINE

and also requires some routine and commitment, wheth-

nix Multisport founded in 2007 in Boulder, Colorado, that

er to an opponent, a team, another participant or oneself.

promotes group exercise to recovering addicts and now

Not only does physical activity decrease anxiety and

has three locations in Colorado, as well as one in Orange

stress, but it also helps increase dopamine levels in the

County, California, and Boston, Massachusetts.

brain that substance abuse has diminished over time. In

Likewise, the November Project grew out of the per-

fact, studies show that exercise and physical activity could

ceived need to get people off their couches and engaging

help return dopamine to pre-abuse levels.

in physical activity with others in order to improve mood

Some argue that one addiction merely replaces another, except people in active addiction will cause great

and overall wellbeing. The November Project is currently active in 29 cities throughout the U.S. and Canada.

pain and devastation for family and friends. If they con-

For recovering addicts, becoming committed to a

tinue, their path will lead to jail, institutions and an early

sports group reduces isolation, improves brain chemistry

death. Addiction to exercise “leads to improved cardiovas-

and is literally a game changer and potential life saver.

cular health, better self-esteem, better self-efficacy…and

Get involved and active today.

slows cognitive decline and blunts the brain’s response

Resources

to physical and emotional stress,” according to a CNN in-

• Phoenix Multisport: www.phoenixmultisport.org

terview with psychology professor Mark Smith, who re-

• November Project: www.november-project.com

searches the effects of exercise on addiction. “It’s an apples-and-chainsaws comparison.”

In the last 10 years, a small number of large, free (no cost) fitness movements have grown in response to the social and commitment aspect of sport. Some are exclusive to people in recovery, such as Scott Strode’s Phoe-

Wayne Steer is part of the team at Fresh Start Recovery Centre, a national award-winning organization located in Calgary, Alberta, that provides housing, treatment and support for people affected by addiction. Fresh Start helps people from a wide variety of backgrounds and vocations. Visit www.freshstartrecovery.ca.

Helping one person at a time, Reverend Al and donors like you deliver proactive services to the most vulnerable members of our community.

GIVE TODAY AT

HOPELIVESHERE.CA

778.440.1471

STIGMA MAGAZINE | 17

T T E L R D

A R E A F H O C I R NG N I OW

SH F

Stor

y by

dy

le Ti

tens

Lau Kate

Da s by hoto

| P

OR RICHARD LETT, STAND-UP COMEDY CAME eas-

What

was

ily—but so did drinking and drug use. He reached

not so obvious

the breaking point in December 2009, sought treat-

was that I was

ment and has been sober ever since. Today, Lett tells his

an addict. The

story in his one-man show, “Sober But Never Clean,” which

bar

reaches out to those undergoing their own recovery—and

loved that I was

reminds us that it’s ok to be a little bit corny.

able to drink 20

How did you get your start in comedy?

I’m the youngest of four kids in a family of high-achieving individuals—I’m sort of the rogue sibling. My family sang in music festivals. I’ve been on the stage since I was six months old. I was plunked down in front of my family as they sang “Teddy Bears’ Picnic,” and I upstaged them all. That’s where I found that most of my intention, connection and love was being onstage in front of a roomful of strangers.

I got an education degree and was going to be a teacher. I fell back on acting and performing when there was no work in education. I did my first show at the Sidetrack Café in Edmonton, and that led rather rapidly to making money doing stand-up comedy. Nowadays it takes a good five years of open mics to get paid work—for me it was six months, and I was headlining in three-and-ahalf years.

18 | STIGMA MAGAZINE

managers

shots during a show.

It didn’t occur to me that alcoholism manifests itself in different ways: for me, I had no outward signs that I was drunk. I was able to consume a ton and just carry on. I was crazy internally.

I would look for hecklers I was able to take down and yell my frustration or rage. It was like a circus act, a bear on a motorcycle. It was drugs all day and booze all night. I stopped hearing the laughter—it sounded like screaming.

I was at a very dark place by the end.

I invited darkness in, and in it came. I ran out of money and booze and friends, and I went psychotic, believing gang members were after me. So I drove and drove and

STIGMA MAGAZINE | 19

drove, feeling the only safe place for

hates you.” Reality was, I was sick of

yourself a dark suit—you’re going to

me was in a moving vehicle…driving

stand-up. That guy I’d become—dis-

need that,” and it’s true, it’s astound-

all over the place, 6,000 kilometres.

missive, mean-spirited—I didn’t feel

ing how many people die from this.

like being that.

It’s an epidemic.

Exhausted, one day I pulled off the road and when I woke up I was outside the Alano Club in Mission [B.C.], where they have recovery meetings.

A woman said, “Are you here to get into the Valley?” And I had no idea what that meant. She said, “Les will be here in half an hour”—Les was an alcohol and drug counsellor. The “Valley” was Miracle Valley, a treatment centre outside Abbotsford. I’ve been sober ever since.

What did you do?

I went to a shrink, and she said, “What is it that you do?” I said I’m a headliner at Yuk-Yuks, I won a national slam poetry championship a couple years ago, I play music, I have a popular blog, I’ve written a bunch of plays. And she said, “Is there any way you could do this all at once?” And I went “Yes! I could do a one-man show.”

So you almost stumbled into rehab accidentally.

My buddy T. J. Dawe had been bugging me to do a one-man show since

I believe the reason I’m on this planet is to be of service. And that’s not something I was born believing.

What drives me is what I think drives most people, and that’s a sense of purpose. After a show a guy came up to me and said, “My dad died last year; my dad was a funny guy and I haven’t laughed as hard since he died as I did tonight.” A guy missing his dad got to embrace his dad and his humour through me. When you stop thinking about yourself as the source of the light and start to see

I was in a shelter, then I went to

the beginning of my recovery. It was

treatment, then I lived in a recovery

five years before I took the opportu-

house, then I lived in a friend’s base-

nity to share my story as a form of

ment, then I moved to Toronto. Mark

entertainment. That led to the idea

Does inspiring others help you main-

Breslin

yourself as reflecting the light, things start to glow.

Yuk-Yuks]

of combining all of this stuff—slam

tain your own journey, sobriety and

welcomed me with open arms to

poetry, storytelling, music and stand-

mental health?

restart my career, and then about

up—to tell my recovery story, how

Certainly that’s where the fellow-

four-and-a-half years into sobriety,

I got into stand-up, how it almost

ship began, one addict and alco-

he said to me, “What’s going on? You

killed me, how I do it sober now. This

holic helping the other addict and

look like shit, you suck and everyone

little venue called Corduroy in Van-

alcoholic. The world is trying to tell

couver gave me their stage to do

us we need a better car, a better girl,

whatever I wanted. So I put togeth-

a better job, a better apartment, a

er “Sober But Never Clean.” I’ve been

better pair of shoes to make us feel

doing it in the Yuk-Yuks clubs and at

better. But we know they’ve done

treatment centres.

the research: when people are help-

[co-founder

of

I thought when I said I was going to do a show about recovery that there

happiest.

would be two people there: my spon-

For me, to be able to do my job as a

sor and my mom. But 2,000 people

stand-up comedian, that’s where the

have seen it now.

real reward lies. You can roll your eyes

What inspired you to become such an advocate for recovery?

Some of the guys who I went to Kinghaven [treatment centre] with, they died. And I’ve got friends who say, “When you get to recovery, get

20 | STIGMA MAGAZINE

ing other people, that’s when they’re

and say, well, how corny is that? Well, recovery is corny, love is corny, being hopeful and helpful is corny as hell.

And I’m willing to be corny, because corny is better than dead.

What do you think makes comedy,

afraid”—that is about having faith

Richard Lett will be the opening

mental health issues and addictions

about what’s going on. Follow the

act for the BeYouPromise.org aware-

go together?

process. That’s why my message is

ness/fundraising concert on Octo-

I once said to a woman outside of

the love that you seek is of yourself,

ber 1 at Alix Goolden Hall in Victoria.

a meeting, “I’m not sure if I was an

and your gifts as an artist were not as

Prism is the headliner. Tickets: $25 in

alcoholic so I became a comedian,

a result of your drinking and using,

advance; $30 at the door. He will also

or if I was a comedian so I became

they were in spite of it. You can be

be at the Vancouver Fringe Festival in

an alcoholic.” And she said, “Maybe

exactly who you are, you can do it

September. *This interview has been

those worlds run parallel. I’m a wait-

sober, you can do it clean.

condensed and edited.

ress and everybody I work with is an alcoholic.” And the guy beside her said, “I’m a hairdresser and they’re all drug addicts!” More to the point, it’s not about alcohol, it’s not about drugs. It’s like trying to blame a deck of cards for a gambling addiction.

Performing gives us a high—an overamount of dopamine and adrenaline when we’re up onstage. You see that a lot in performers; they get the high from the show, and they want to keep that high going either consciously or unconsciously, so that’s why they go to drugs or drink after the show. And after a while it stops being about the show entirely; it’s just about the drugs and the drinking after the show. And there’s no gig big enough, no laugh loud enough.

When I’m working with other addicts, there’s two sentences that will keep you going through anything, and get you past that temptation to relapse: “Everything is ok. Don’t be afraid.”

“Everything is ok” is gratitude. Our brain wants us to lose 10 pounds, be two inches taller or whatever, but we have to accept, things are actually just fine. I mean, I’m sitting here in Toronto, I make my living telling jokes and writing poems. What was it that I was complaining about again?

And the other thing is: “Don’t be

STIGMA MAGAZINE | 21

22 | STIGMA MAGAZINE

Get out of town

Hiking as therapy

By Cassie Hooker

W

E ALL KNOW THAT EXERCISE is one of the best ways to keep the body in good shape—the entire fitness industry is built around this concept. What’s not as well known is that getting regular exercise is also good for the mind. Although the average Joe at the gym or on the sports field has long been able to say that exercise, while exhausting, nevertheless leaves them with a better mood, the link between regular physical activity and psychological wellbeing is only just beginning to be studied.

“Exercise is something that psychologists have been slow to attend to,” says Michael Otto, PhD, a professor of psychology at Boston University. “People know that exercise helps physical outcomes. There is much less awareness of mental health outcomes.”

While the link between exercise and mental health is known, what remains to be determined is the finer details; that is, the mechanism behind the mental boost that exercise provides. One theory is that exercise affects our mood by increasing serotonin levels— it boosts the neurotransmitters that are responsible for our feelings of wellbeing. Another theory behind its mood-revving power points to its ability to help regulate sleep patterns. The premise behind this theory is that proper rest acts as a buffer against stress. Yet

another theory offers a more psychological explanation: exercise may help alleviate depression by giving us a meaningful activity that comes with a feeling of accomplishment.

While the link between exercise and psychological or emotional wellness is a growing field of study, one particular area of note is the relationship between nature, exercise and psychology. The medical arena has been slow to catch on but, for avid hikers everywhere, that relationship is obvious. Although the benefits we might feel from hiking may partly be a result of being away from technology for a few hours, being able to both interact with nature and get some exercise at the same time has a way of boosting the psychological and emotional effects that these activities provide separately.

Not yet sold on the therapeutic benefits of hiking?

A new study conducted by the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America offers quantifiable evidence. Published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Science, the study had two groups of participants walk for 90 minutes; one group was placed in a grassy area dotted with trees and shrubs, and the other was placed in an urban setting. In addition, the researchers conducted heart and respiration

STIGMA MAGAZINE | 23

measurements, brain scans and participant question- a licensed therapist or done as a solitary or group acnaires before and after the activity. tivity, hiking can enable people suffering from depresThe results of the study showed that, while there was sion to calm their minds and thus open themselves little difference in physiological conditions after the more to the possibility of healing. activity, there were marked differences For Heather Stone, an avid hiker in in the brain scans. In effect, neural Victoria, B.C., hiking is a necessity in activity in the subgenual prefrontal her busy life. “Hiking is a forever cortex (the area active when an inpsychologically, biologically and dividual’s thoughts are focused on Research shows that hiking spiritually fascinating necessity in has potential as a therapeunegative emotions) was shown to tic device for people suffer- my life—being in nature, specifibe decreased in those participants ing from depression, by al- cally,” she says. “Yes, I feel relaxed who were placed in the natural lowing them to connect with in nature, but it’s more than that…I setting, versus those placed in the themselves in a way that is find myself having an easy time non-threatening and can acurban setting. smiling, feeling light hearted and “This finding is exciting because it tually bring about a feeling willing to forgive, forget and let of peace and well-being. demonstrates the impact of nature go.” experience on an aspect of emoKayla Jackson, of Norwich, Contion regulation—something that necticut, agrees. For her, hiking is may help explain how nature makes not simply a way of relaxing, but also us feel better,” says Gregory Bratman, the a way of relieving stress. “Being out in nature away study’s lead author and a graduate student in the Em- from all of the noise of the cities and crowds just, mett Interdisciplinary Program in Environment and well…everything washes away. It’s like I don’t have Resources at Stanford University. a care in the world. Time stops, and all there is, is me The benefits of hiking don’t just stop at a simple and nature.” boost in your mood, however. Research shows that It could be said that hiking allows us an unfettered hiking has potential as a therapeutic device for people place to not only explore the path beneath our feet, but suffering from depression, by allowing them to con- also the path between our heart and mind. As writer nect with themselves in a way that is non-threatening and naturalist Joseph Wood Krutch once said: “The and can actually bring about a feeling of peace and wilderness and the idea of wilderness is one of the well-being. Whether it is conducted in the presence of permanent homes of the human spirit.”

24 | STIGMA MAGAZINE

STIGMA MAGAZINE | 25

26 | STIGMA MAGAZINE

SHELDON KENNEDY

CONNECTING THE DOTS

By Kate Lautens

F

ORMER NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE WINGER

the time, so I knew I needed to tell somebody what hap-

SHELDON Kennedy may be best known for speak-

pened. I was so scared of nobody believing me. It was the

ing up about the sexual abuse he endured as a

exact opposite—people did believe me.

young hockey player at the hands of his coach Graham James and the addictions and depression that followed, but his passionate advocacy for those facing similar situations merits equal recognition. After all, the journey doesn’t end after disclosure—it’s only the beginning of a lifelong process involving every aspect of mental health.

We need more stories of good recovery, he says—so this Order of Canada recipient starts that conversation.

I thought that if I told my story, I’m good, but it was just the start of the journey of healing.

If you were to write an afterward for your book, now 10 years later, what would it say?

“Why couldn’t you just say something?” That’s the biggest thing that people who picked up the newspaper and read Sheldon’s story asked. That’s the biggest question that a loving parent asks themselves, the biggest ques-

Your book, released in 2006, was called Why I Didn’t Say

tion that the victim stuck in it asks themselves. When I

Anything. What was the turning point that made you

look at that book now, it’s pretty bang on with the way

decide to finally speak out?

that I feel today. Nothing’s really changed, other than that

In 1994 I got traded from the Detroit Red Wings to the

it’s about progress rather than perfection. It’s about ac-

Calgary Flames. Graham James was coaching the Calgary

ceptance and taking time to put recovery and your men-

Hitmen junior team at the time. He’d been kicked out

tal wellbeing number one in your life.

of Swift Current [where he had coached me previously]

If I don’t have that as number one in my life, then I don’t

and given the team in Calgary. My life was spiraling out

have anything else. That means that I need to pay atten-

of control because I thought when I left Swift Current,

tion, do the work in front of me every day, be accounta-

if I physically get away from Graham, then my life’s go-

ble, show up for others and make sure that my motives

ing to be good, but little did I know that the impact had

are always checked and I’m showing up for the right rea-

been done. My wife was pregnant with our daughter at

sons. Those are the things I learned as I got sober. Make

STIGMA MAGAZINE | 27

your bed in the morning. Show up for work on time. Be at

I can be honest about my feelings

meetings on time. Little things like that. When a person

in a safe place, that treadmill stops.

has been in that ugly place and found their way out of

When we’re not honest about it, it

it, those all add up to being successful. We need to hear

just keeps picking up steam. If these

more stories of recovery. There are so many people that

things are popping up in my head,

live in good recovery and for some reason we never hear

if I’m honest about it, they somehow

those stories. We need to hear about how people got out

go away. I don’t know why that works,

of it.

but it does. Honesty is key; honesty with

How does your organization, Respect Group, effect change in the hockey community and beyond?

self and honesty with others. I try to wake up every day with a clean slate.

We do all the abuse, bullying, harassment, discrimina-

Since you first spoke out against Graham James, what

tion and neglect training for Hockey Canada—it’s man-

do you think has changed the most regarding the stig-

datory for every coach, manager and, in a lot of places,

ma of child abuse?

parents. We try to give the tools to empower the bystand-

We can’t disconnect child abuse, mental health, ad-

ers to understand if kids are coming through our doors

diction—all this stuff’s connected. When we started these

that are growing up in violent homes or homes filled

conversations, roughly 20 years ago, there were no con-

with addiction and mental health issues. We may be the

versations around mental health. It was mental illness.

only trusted adult in these kids’ lives. If we don’t have the

Over 80 per cent of mental health issues in this country

tools to know what to do and ask questions if we suspect

are made from adverse childhood experiences. But yet

something, then we’re not doing these kids justice. That’s

there was such a disconnect. And nobody even talked

what we try to do: empower the bystander and give peo-

about it. People talked about child abuse in a silo, ad-

ple the tools to understand and make the right call.

diction in a silo, mental health in a silo, sexual abuse in

You advocate for ongoing support after disclosure, so how do you continue to take care of your own mental health and wellbeing?

I was the keynote at the Canadian Psychiatric Association [in 2014] when they announced that exercise is the best medicine for depression and mental health, so I make sure that exercise is a critical part of my daily routine. I’m heavily involved in the 12-step programs. I hang around with people that are in good recovery. I keep it simple. I was trying to get sober for a lot of years and I just complicated

it.

I’m not looking

derstanding the impact of trauma and the connections that come with it. When you connect the dots and paint the picture, most of the stuff, if not all of it, fits together.

There’s a piece that’s a connector.

I’ve been to many meetings: you get rid of craving the drugs and alcohol within the first few months, and then the rest of it’s all about living your childhood, one way or the other. The biggest thing that’s changed is that we’re actually looking at these issues as a health issue; this isn’t just a justice issue and a societal issue. Seventy-two per cent of people in treatment centres disclose child abuse.

People who are abused are 26 times more likely to experience youth homelessness, and are at a 30 per cent higher risk of high school dropout. When you connect the dots to that stuff and look at the numbers, it’s staggering.

somebody

What message would you like to share with victims

to take away my

of child abuse or mental health issues who might be

pain, but when

afraid to come forward?

for

28 | STIGMA MAGAZINE

a silo. It was just crazy. Where we’re at today is really un-

If we disclose our stories, it’s just a start.

That gives us permission to start to work.

Once we get to that place, we can make sure that it’s not an end point. We were hurt as kids, and that’s left us with lifelong

Get answers to your questions no questions asked…

scars. We know what those scars are now, the impacts on the developing brain. This is about being in a place of wellbeing every day, and that’s going to take work.

To me, I have to pay attention the hand I was dealt, and how I was hurt as a kid. I’ve had to accept the

Free • confidential

1-800-665-2437

fact that there are certain things that I can continually get better at and I need to pay attention to it and work hard at it every day. It’s not about fixing it and one day it’s going to be healed. It’s about acceptance and getting to the place of making it part of your daily structure.

How can people support those going through these situations?

Learn to listen. We cannot take away people’s pain; we can’t do the work for them. But what we can do is guide them and put them in front of people where they can get the help. And they need to do the work.

That’s the biggest thing. Sometimes we want to reach out and want to fix. It’s all about learning to listen. People have to stumble through this stuff, and it’s hard to watch. The stumbling is part of healing and getting to the place where they’re willing to do the work.

What brings you the most joy in your life?

Being able to show up for my daughter and be in healthy relationships with my daughter, with my partner Shannon, with work—those were things I was always scared of and were always so chaotic. That gives me the most joy because it brings a lot of peace into my life.

*This interview has been condensed and edited.

hep c • aids • hiv • prevention • testing • treatment STIGMA MAGAZINE | 29

30 | STIGMA MAGAZINE

CRAFTING TO

RELIEVE STRESS

By Cassie Hooker

E

VERYONE RESPONDS TO STRESS DIFFER-

deadlines) and negative stressors (such as divorce),

ENTLY—THERE’S

there are also both positive and negative methods

NO

one-size-fits-all

ap-

proach to coping with it. The simple truth is

of coping.

that some of us handle stress better than others.

Negative methods of “coping,” such as smoking

What’s important is how we choose to deal with

or using drugs, are, at best, temporary fixes that

what is dished out to us. One way that many peo-

might make you feel good in the moment, but can

ple are choosing to cope with their problems is by

have profoundly negative consequences for your

crafting.

health. As with many things in life, the key to coping with your stress load is the proper management

STRESS BASICS Stress is a fact of our daily lives; it is an emotional reaction to the various stimuli we encounter, which can be something as relatively simple as an impending deadline at school or work to the dissolution of a marriage or even the death of a loved one. Just as there are positive stressors (such as

of it. In essence, the purpose of stress management is to take control of your life—both your thoughts and feelings—and how you deal with the problems that life gives you using healthier, more productive means of coping, like regular exercise or talking it out with a friend. What’s important to remember is that you are 100 per cent in control of how you choose to deal with your stressors.

NEGATIVE

POSITIVE

Smoking

Taking time out for yourself daily

Excessive drinking

Exercising regularly

Using drugs

Talking to someone

Binge eating

Spending time in nature

STIGMA MAGAZINE | 31

Get answers to your questions no questions asked…

A RISE IN CRAFTING In the past, there was a sort of stigma attached to arts and crafts, in that it seemed to fall into the realm of pasttimes for schoolchildren, stay-at-home parents or little old ladies. With the growing popularity of knitting, scrapbooking, jewellery-making and sewing, arts and crafts is beginning to encompass a wider audience as people realize that making things is a positive way to combat the daily stresses of life.

Free • confidential

1-800-665-2437

A shift appears to be happening amongst younger generations: in a survey commissioned by the UK TV channel Hochanda, 52 per cent of men and women in the United Kingdom between the ages of 18 and 34 said they opt to devote an hour each day working on their favourite craft instead of spending that time watching TV or browsing on the internet.

With regard to their motivation, 39 per cent of those polled indicated that a stressful experience encouraged them to take up crafting as a way of coping by allowing them to channel their energy into something productive.

While they did not presently indulge in crafts, 47% per cent stated that they would consider taking it up as a way to unwind.

CRAFTING 101 Not sure what craft to pick? Your craft can be as simple as colouring in one of those popular adult colouring books, or as complicated as building furniture; stress management via crafting is not so much about what you choose to make as it is about you taking time out of your day to do something you enjoy.

“The benefits of crafting are endless; not only is it fun and therapeutic, it can also really help boost productivity,” says Paul Wright, founder and CEO of Hochanda.

Aside from allowing you to do something enjoyable for a while, there are a few solid benefits to taking up crafting as a hobby: • Endless crafts to choose from: There is literally something for everyone.

• Regular time for yourself: Whether you pick colouring, woodworking, needlework, painting,

hep c • aids • hiv • prevention • testing • treatment

sculpting, sewing, cooking, gardening or whatever, choosing a craft that you find enjoyable means that

32 | STIGMA MAGAZINE

you will be more likely to practise it regularly. Thus,

Andrea Edwards, of Andrea Edwards Photography in St.

John’s, Newfoundland, says that she took up crafting as a

you get a form of daily meditation that you might

not be able to find in your busy life otherwise.

• A sense of achievement: Successfully completing a project gives you a feeling of accomplishment that regular meditation doesn’t give you—positive reinforcement that further helps bolster you against stress.

DELVING DEEPER The key to understanding how crafting works as a stress reliever actually has very little to do with what’s being

way of managing her stress levels. “I’ve been crafting with my friend for stress relief and therapy for a while now. We do furniture restoration and various Pinterest projects,” she says. “It takes the edge off; [it] gives you an outlet and something nice at the end.”

These days, schoolchildren and businesspeople alike can be found taking time out of their daily lives to knit a hat or scrapbook a photo album, and for good reason: not only do they get the benefit of relieving stress while working on their project, but they also end up with something handmade that they can be proud of.

made. In fact, it has to do with the state of mind you

For further information on how to manage stress, please

achieve while you working on a project. Essentially, when

visit: http://psychcentral.com/blog/archives/2011/07/11/10-

you are 100 per cent focused on your task, you may “zone

practical-ways-to-handle-stress/

out”—that is, you achieve a form of meditative state, without actually meditating.

For further information on how crafting can relieve stress, please visit: https://prezi.com/sijrpadrf9xo/ stress-management-technique-crafting-and-art-therapy/

STIGMA MAGAZINE | 33

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INTO THE WILD OF THE MIND RITE OF PASSAGE JOURNEYS RECONNECTS US WITH NATURE—AND OURSELVES

Marie Engel

J

UST OUTSIDE SEATTLE, ACROSS THE water from the iconic mountain peaks and rolling forests of Olympic National Park, is the small city of Bothell, home to the program basecamp for Rite of Passage Journeys, which takes youth and people of all ages backpacking through some of the most beautiful places in the Pacific Northwest.

For the past 30 years, this mentoring program has used experiential learning to guide participants through self-discovery and connection-building with others and the natural world around them.

“Lots of people think of sweat lodges and stuff when we say ‘rite of passage,’ but what we offer is really a trans-cultural experience,” explains Cameron Withey, who has been work-

ing with the company for six years and leading journeys for five of those. Throughout history, many cultures have celebrated the transition between childhood and adulthood by spending time in the natural world. Rite of Passage Journeys offers a contemporary interpretation of this centuries-long tradition. While it used to be a celebrated event, it is now rare that youth receive any special rite as they move from the role of being shaped by their community, to being one that shapes it.

“It’s mostly backpacking. We spend a week hiking and camping overnight in the mountains, forests and beaches of the Olympic Park,” Withey explains. “There’s campfire sharing and nights of seclusion where the kids spend the whole

STIGMA MAGAZINE | 35

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RiteofPassageJourneys.org 36 | STIGMA MAGAZINE

night by themselves. They set up, get bored and eventually they have time to really think about where they are with no distractions.”

This is an integral part of Rite of Passage Journeys and it’s produced some of their most dramatic results. Withey recounts one of his own most satisfying experiences with one young man.

“He was very quiet when we started out,” he says. “He didn’t seem to talk or connect much with the other kids. Then we had one of our nights of seclusion, all of them spread out on the beach for a night. When we shared around our campfire the next night, he really broke through. He talked about his family and his need to protect, to provide. He really came out of his shell and connected.”

Rite of Passage Journeys creates many connections: participants connect with each other, with themselves and with the natural world to become more complete people who are ready to connect with their communities and help grow them in meaningful ways.

“The natural world helps us become more whole,” Withey says.

“It connects with our masculine selves: we act out instinctively to conquer and overcome the obstacles it puts before us. But it also connects with the feminine when we see aspects of our inner selves reflected and connect with them.”

The concepts of wholeness and community are integral: Withey explains that the founders of Rite of Passage Journeys knew the importance of these rituals when they began the program back in 1968 after travelling the world and observing the importance of ritual and rite in building strong communities.

“They saw firsthand that strong ties to tradition and ritual produced strong communities, and they wanted to bring that back to our modern lives here.”

When asked what misconceptions his organization has to deal with, he’s quick on the draw. “There’s a conception that we deal with troubled or at risk youths exclusively, and we do get kids with ADHD, depression or anxiety and lots of kids from families with absent parents. But our focus is all youths—this is a program that all kids from all cultures can benefit from, that all people can benefit from, really.�

It’s true that all people, not just the youths that go through this program, can benefit from the work that Withey and his team does in Olympic Park.

Strong, healthy kids beget strong, healthy communities, and with a culture of technology and distraction all around us, where great importance is given to the latest shiny piece of technology and less and less is given to the great natural beauty that surrounds us, a week to get away and experience the world is becoming more valuable all the time. Even when we get out into the wild, we often see it through the lens of a camera or through a slick new

geocaching app. Not so for the Rite of Passage journey. “There are no cellphones, no distractions,� Withey says. “The kids get bored, but that’s good for them. Eventually they get bored enough to start to really think.�

These rare experiences form the key to the role that Rite of Passage Journeys has chosen with the young people they

care for. They separate youth from the noise and distraction of the world to offer them a lost tradition with the hope that it will help them be healthy people who will in turn help to form healthy communities. “When we have strong traditions, Withey says, “we create strong communities.�

Learn about Rite of Passage Journeys at www.riteofpassagejourneys.org.

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PUTTING

SMILES

BACK ON PEOPLE’S FACES

By Ian McPhee

W

HEN INFOCUS REHABILITATION SERVICES LTD WAS incorporated in Vic-

toria, B.C., in 2008, co-owners Leonard

and Bev Regan established a niche in providing support for people with traumatic brain injuries

(TBI) to reintegrate into the community. Quickly, however, that plan changed and grew; today, the company has expanded both its focus and its client base. Starting with about 20 clients, it has grown to serve over 400 with a broad range of disabling conditions.

“There are many different types of brain injury, and many new assessment techniques and treatments,” Leonard explains. “We constantly discover more.” Leonard has worked in this field for over 35 years, following his own TBI in 1979.

Along with Bev, their plan was to serve the needs of people with acquired brain injury. InFocus now provides community support, clinical counselling and employ-

38 | STIGMA MAGAZINE

ment coaching to a wide range of Vancouver Islanders:

ter’s degree in counselling psychology. During her time

those with acquired brain injury; those with physical,

at the University of Victoria, she was introduced to Citi-

psychological, acquired and developmental disabilities;

zen’s Counselling Centre—a Victoria non-profit dedicated

and those struggling to find employment as a result of a

to providing counselling services for those who cannot

disabling condition.

afford it. After about 600 hours of volunteer work, she

“My experience gave me a lot of compassion for people. If you looked at my personality profile prior to my

became volunteer coordinator, and eventually, a member of their board of directors.

injury I was not the most compassionate guy,” Leonard

She experienced a repetitive strain injury in 2009 from

says. He has become a master of supporting people re-

too much keyboarding and use of the computer mouse.

covering from brain injuries.

As a result, she left her position and went on to bring her

He has a wealth of experience working directly with

own expertise to InFocus as a vocational counsellor.

clients as well as attending and speaking at brain injury

“I believe very strongly that there is nothing but chance

conferences around the globe. His work includes advo-

or circumstance that separates us from the people we

cacy on behalf of those marginalized for better access

serve,” she says. “In having had experience on the other

to medical services, housing and community resources.

side of the desk, I understand how complex it is. How

“The universe is not fixed; the more we know, the more

complex the task of helping can be.”

we can change things,” he says. Philosophy, spirit and

InFocus recently upgraded to a much bigger office

humour underscore his advocacy. This is the ground-

space, where they now offer regularly scheduled work-

work upon which the InFocus team is built.

shops and access to computers, printers and job post-

Today, the staff prides itself on swift responses to peo-

ings. There is space for employment counselling ser-

ple in times of crisis, meeting them where they are—be

vices, vocational assessments and placement services.

it a hospital, a police station, or anywhere else. Next, the

One workshop, Ability Management for Employment

community support team works with the client to devel-

Readiness, examines real-world examples of people with

op a strategy for wellbeing and stability. This often be-

(dis)abilities, unseen or otherwise, thriving in the com-

gins with life’s basics—ensuring there is a roof overhead

munity and the workplace. It is available to just about

and food in the fridge, and that the client is receiving all

anyone and is a great opportunity for people to learn

benefits available.

about themselves and the different environments they

InFocus also understands how “stability” and “maxi-

are strongest in. InFocus also offers a seven-week series,

mum independence” may mean different things to dif-

Discovering Your Potential, aimed at helping people de-

ferent people; some people may benefit from clinical

velop career and life plans uniquely suited to their skills,

counselling, another group may require the help of a vo-

abilities and personality.

cational specialist to find sustainable work, and a further

“When someone has an injury—physical, mental or any-

group may require the assistance of a support worker to

where in between—they often experience a sense of grief

be active in the community. And there are many who re-

or loss at what their life used to be,” Bev says. “I love the

quire a unique combination of all three. InFocus works

opportunity to be with clients as they experience change

closely with clients and their care teams to identify

and get a sense of hope back in their life.”

needs and the best ways to go about addressing them. If

With a client base about 20 times what it started with,

there is a service they cannot provide, they find a person,

InFocus now requires a full team that includes certified

company or organization that can.

rehabilitation counsellors, registered rehab professionals, employment specialists and social workers. Today,

BEYOND ACQUIRED BRAIN INJURY On the other side of the company, Bev leads the clinical counselling and vocational services teams. Following a career shift in 1998, Bev returned to complete a mas-

the small startup employs 25 people—and they are busy.

The kind of busy that comes from a persistent desire to make communities stronger. The kind of busy that puts smiles on faces and meaning in people’s lives.

STIGMA MAGAZINE | 39

A n drew ’s C o r n e r

By Cassie Hooker

T

HERE IS A CHILDREN’S STORY ABOUT a little train

can’t say these words. Then again, he doesn’t have to—

engine. It’s a story about the power of persever-

his brilliant smile and strident cry say more than words

ance and positive thinking. We all know it. It’s a sto-

ever could. They are proof in themselves of how far he has

ry about pushing beyond one’s limits, and it begins with

come over his personal mountain in his three short years.

the words:

Dominic was born with Prader-Willi Syndrome, a

“Chug, chug, chug. Puff, puff, puff. Ding-dong, ding-

rare condition that affects 1 in 15,000. As a newborn

dong. The little train rumbled over the tracks. She was

baby, he was floppy and silent, lacking the muscle tone

a happy little train for she had such a jolly load to carry.”

to even move his arms and legs, let alone cry or feed. He

The words “I think I can,” from The Little Engine That

spent the first year of his life being fed through a tube

Could by Watty Piper, are a mantra of positive thinking for

inserted directly into his stomach, and much of that year

every generation, a song to be sung when one’s will is low.

was spent living at the hospital with his mom, Stephanie.

Being largely non-verbal, three-year-old Dominic Orr

Although many babies can hold their head up by three

40 | STIGMA MAGAZINE

months, and walk by the age of one year, Dominic

town Victoria for a few moments to

was only able to hold his head up on his own at

enjoy his favourite thing in the world:

one year old, and—although he is getting close—

watching the city buses roll by. The

he has yet to walk unassisted.

The magnitude of the task involved in raising

two are a regular fixture at the bus stop in front of City Hall, and are even known by a few

a child with Prader-Willi Syndrome is something

of the drivers that pass by there on their routes. Although

that Stephanie has come to know quite well.

Dominic never gets on the bus, each time one passes, he

“Every aspect of his life needs my attention,” she

explodes with happiness; a smile that is pure sunshine

says. Dominic’s condition means that he will face

spreads from one side of his face to the other, and his lit-

a lifetime of physical and mental challenges, but

tle hands clutch the air as if all he wants to do is give that

when Stephanie speaks of the obstacles they

bus a big hug. For Stephanie, watching her son react this

have already overcome together through ongoing phys-

way is nothing short of a sweet victory.

ical therapy and patient teaching, it is not without great

It’s a victory that has come after a lot of hardship, know-

pride in her son’s accomplishments. “Holding his head

ing that there is still more to come. Stephanie doesn’t let

up, being able to eat and drink orally, laughing, crying,

her son’s condition get in the way of pushing him to do

communicating, crawling, helping to dress himself, play-

the very best he can, however. The baby who lay in her

ing, using his hands…eye surgery so that he can see prop-

arms, incapable of movement or sound, is now the little

erly. It’s all a bit late, but he’s doing it!”

boy who nearly launches himself out of his stroller and

Prader-Willi Syndrome is characterized by low mus-

squeals in sheer joy whenever a bus passes. Though he

cle tone, developmental delay, intellectual disability and

cannot say the words “I think I can,” the attitude of the

sensory sensitivity. In addition, people with this condition

little blue engine that climbed over a mountain is in his

never experience the sensation of being full, meaning

every action, and in every milestone he overcomes.

that they are constantly hungry. Dominic literally always feels hungry, so Stephanie must be diligent in making sure that his daily diet never exceeds 800 calories, helping to control his weight since he can’t burn it all off with activity like other children. Combined with daily physical therapy and the numerous medical appointments that they attend, this means this little boy crams more into his day than most adults could manage.

Still, at some point each day, Stephanie manages to put Dominic in his stroller and wheel him into down-

STIGMA MAGAZINE | 41

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU OR

SOMEONE YOU LOVE IS IN

CRISIS

By Susan Evans

B

ARBARA* HAD KNOWN HER ADULT DAUGHTER,

After months of escalating issues, the crisis moment

in her early 20s, was in trouble for some time. “I

happened around the holidays. “There were a lot of signs

knew she was self-harming, that she was drinking

pointing to a downward spiral and we really believed she

too much and was out of control,” she says. “We tried to

was suicidal,” says Barbara. “We didn’t know what to do, so

talk to her about it, to get her to see a doctor, but as [she

at the darkest moment we called the 24-Hour Vancouver

is] an adult, we couldn’t force her to do anything.”

Island Crisis Line.”

Barbara reached out to the community for advice,

Barbara says after speaking with the crisis line, she be-

speaking with her family doctor, the Umbrella Society

came calmer. They connected her with someone from Is-

and other professionals, but she soon realized that there

land Health’s Mental Health and Substance Use Integrat-

was nothing she could do for her daughter. No longer a

ed Mobile Crisis Response Team (IMCRT) and moved her

child, her daughter had to seek help on her own.

onto some next steps. “I got a call from a counsellor and

“You get to a place where you have to let go,” says Bar-

shared my concerns. They suggested I put my daughter

bara. “It’s terrible to watch your child in pain and not be

on the phone; she resisted at first but eventually spoke

able to help.”

with the counsellor, who determined there was no im-

42 | STIGMA MAGAZINE

mediate risk,” Barbara says. “It was a relief, at least for the

er, we need to remember that every person has the right

time being.”

to make decisions for their own care,” says Anderson.

Dr. Murray Anderson is the acting coordinator for Island

Individuals in crisis can also find IMCRT through their

Health’s Adult Mental Health and Substance Use Services.

family doctor or a walk-in clinic; physicians there can

“Calling the crisis line in an emergency or critical situation

refer them to IMCRT, who can then do a further risk as-

is the right thing to do,” says Anderson. “They are available

sessment and may refer them to one of Island Health’s

24-7 and can connect people with the emergency help

services like USTAT (Urgent Short-Term Assessment and

they need.”

Treatment) or an out-patient facility.

IMCRT is part of that help. They serve individuals and

“We also want people to know that there are wonderful

families who are experiencing immediate concerns relat-

resources in the community that provide services to help

ed to mental health and addiction issues. The team in-

people before they reach an emergency situation,” says

cludes professionals with backgrounds in nursing, law en-

Anderson. “You can talk to your doctor about referrals; you

forcement, social work, psychology and child/youth care.

can also reach out for counselling or substance use sup-

“We provide service to people of all ages experiencing

port in the community. But when a crisis emerges, the

urgent or emerging mental health problems, often with

best place to start is by calling the crisis line.”

related addictions issues,” says Anderson. “Issues range

Barbara is trying to help by finding out about the re-

from acute depression, severe anxiety and post-traumatic

sources available and sharing that information with her

stress to psychosis, mania, and suicide risk.”

daughter. “As an adult, she is free to choose. I’m trying to

The team works together to ensure the individual stays

help by letting her know what’s out there for her when

safe. If a family member calls, consent from the individual

she’s ready,” says Barbara. “My journey here is not finished,

is required in order to move forward. If that isn’t available,

and neither is hers.

IMCRT can consult with the family but won’t be able to directly offer care for the individual.

“At IMCRT, we are connected with emergency mental

“One thing the counsellor said that really stayed with me was that talking to my child about this wasn’t going to make it worse,” says Barbara. “She needs to know that

health services available, and when we get involved our

I’m there for her, and that I care.”

triage team can evaluate what needs to be done. Howev-

*Name changed for privacy.

ISLAND HEALTH CRISIS RESPONSE AND EMERGENCY MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES Anywhere on Vancouver Island, call the 24-hour Vancouver Island Crisis Line at 1-888-494-3888 Additional services are listed below by region. Services may include 24-hour crisis lines, mobile crisis outreach, critical incident stress management, walk-in crisis counselling and emergency room psychiatric consultation.

Visit www.viha.ca/mhas/services/crisis.htm for contact numbers and additional information.

Victoria/Southern Gulf Islands: Integrated Mobile Crisis Response Team/Psychiatric Emergency Services Cowichan Valley: Crisis Response Team

Port Alberni: Community Response Team Comox Valley: Crisis Intervention at St. Joseph’s General Hospital Campbell River: Crisis Intervention at Campbell

Nanaimo: Access/Crisis Services

River & District General Hospital

Oceanside: Crisis Response

Mt. Waddington: Walk-in to main office

STIGMA MAGAZINE | 43

44 | STIGMA MAGAZINE

A NEW NORMAL PLEA COMMUNITY SERVICES AND THE REVOLUTION OF THE FAMILY CAREGIVER MODEL

By Marie Engel

M

UCH LIKE THE PROGRAM SHE HELPED to build,

to youth were in group homes and juvenile centres, or

Ann Alexander doesn’t come across as flashy

in-home options.

and she isn’t loud, but hearing her talk with such

PLEA’s non-medical detox takes place in the home of

love and pride about the young people entrusted to her

one of their committed family caregivers; it is voluntary

care and explain how PLEA Community Services has pro-

and most of their patients come to them through word

gressed, you know one thing about the program and the

of mouth. “We get all kinds,” Alexander says. “Sometimes

woman advocating for it: they work hard.

kids who have used not an hour before they come in.

When PLEA Community Services opened in Vancouver

We take them all.”

in the 1980s, it was the first of its kind in British Colum-

After a full medical examination to determine any risk

bia. At its heart, “it is the family caregiver model that gives

factors, the process is truly a non-medical one. Partici-

PLEA its unique shape,” says Alexander, who has been its

pants are not even provided drugs like ibuprofen to dull

program director since 1984. PLEA quietly reintegrates

the pain. If it sounds cruel and impossible, well, that’s just

young people into the community by placing them in

one of the misunderstandings of their organization that

caring homes and has grown to include non-medical

PLEA deals with every day.

detox, residential treatment and supported recovery.

“Most people think it can’t be done non-medically, that

However, at the heart of it all is still this simple structure

it’s too punishing, But kids are resilient; they can move

of the caregiver family that is there to normalize the lives

through it and they have the support of the family,” Al-

of young people, many of whom have never known what

exander says. “It’s a misconception that everyone needs

that normal feels like.

drugs to detox.”

“In 1984, the local health authority approached us about

When asked what other misconceptions her organi-

doing youth detox,” Alexander recounts. “They wanted to

zation faces, Alexander is very blunt: “It’s not free. People

try something different. At that time detox options open

think that because it happens in the home, it’s cheap or

STIGMA MAGAZINE | 45

free, and it’s true that it would be more expensive for us to rent space, buy furniture and everything.

But it costs money to build a support system for all these kids and families, and that support is greatly needed.”

The full PLEA experience starts with the detox, but after drying out, the youth still needs somewhere to go. “No one goes back on the street,” Alexander says firmly. Many kids stay with their caregiver families as part of PLEA’s residential treatment program. As a part of PLEA’s mission to reintegrate youth into the community, youth attend school during the morning and receive treatment in the afternoon, usually individual or group therapy. During the evening they know they have a home to go back to, and they join their caregiver family for normal after-school activities—they get to be normal kids as they finish the process. PLEA is also working on crafting options for those youth who are moving into adulthood. One option would see apartments being made available for older youth to begin the process of living semi-independently to complete their transition into clean, self-sufficient adults.

From their start as a simple reintegration initiative, PLEA built all these programs themselves from the ground up. “If something isn’t there we create it” Alexander says with a laugh. They have built what was at the time an unheard of model of detox here in B.C. and are making it work.

PLEA’s goal is that a youth has the stability of one family that carries them from their lowest point to their highest success.

Alexander and the staff at PLEA pass down one particular piece of wisdom to every youth under their care—the true key to their success, beyond the intricacies of the caregiver model and the wealth of resources. You can hear the smile in her voice as she says it. “When they’re with us,” she says, “they’ll have a good life.”

PLEA is currently in need of caregiver families in the Lower Mainland. For details or to apply, contact them at www.giveakidahome.ca or call 604-708-2628.

46 | STIGMA MAGAZINE

Love for one more?

We’re looking for families with love for one more...

If you can open your home and your heart to a youth in need, we want to hear from you. Join us and become part of a community that, just like you, wants to change someone’s life and make a difference.

We recruit families from across the Lower Mainland.

We are in vital need of families living in Vancouver, Burnaby, Coquitlam and Surrey.

For more information visit our website or call:

give a kid a home.ca (604) 708-2628

STIGMA MAGAZINE | 47

saturday october 1 Alix Goolden Hall

a beyoupromise.org fundraiser

openinG Act: comediAn ricHArd Glen lett All funds raised go directly to support our preventative educational outreach programs.

$25 in advance $30 at the door doors open

show starts

6:30 pm 7:00 pm For more information or to purchase tickets, go to beyoupromise.org

48 | STIGMA MAGAZINE