CORNWALL, Ontario – Over 200 walkers were registered for the 15th annual Mental Illness Awareness Walk (MIAW) on Tuesday, Oct. 2.
The walk commenced at 11:15 a.m. and ended with a barbeque lunch provided by Benson’s Charity Truck. Prior to the walk, supporters had the opportunity to learn about different community organizations that promote wellness, listen to guest speakers and take part in a photo booth at the Army Navy Air Force Unit.
According to Angele Dalessio, Mental Health Promoter with the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), the agency’s mission is to reduce the stigma associated with mental illness, instill hope and provide related services to the community.
“We have over 16 agencies represented here today,” said Dalessio. Some of the agencies included Friends of Vets, Sexual Assault Support Services (SASS) and family support programs. “Everything that relates to well-being or providing some kind of service to people that may be having difficulties…we have invited everyone to participate here today.”
Dalessio reinforced that the average age of onset of mental illness is 14, and one in five individuals are affected. For the first time, grade six students were invited to the walk this year, in hopes that early education will help them throughout middle school and high school.
“One of the biggest areas is the education piece,” said Dalessio. “So we go and do a lot of mental health promotion in the schools and we educate on eliminating some of those myths around mental illness. And this is kind of what our event is all about: encouraging our community services that deal with mental health in some capacity.”
“We want young people to know that help is available, you don’t have to struggle alone, you don’t have to suffer in silence,” she added. “That you can recover…you can live a life of wellness, despite having a diagnosis.”
Stephen Douris, a speaker for the TAMI (Talk About Mental Illness) program, speaks at companies and high schools about mental illness, depression and suicide. As a suicide attempt survivor, he finds it important to talk about coping with depression and services that are available.
“I hope to give someone some hope that there is help out there and (there is) life after depression,” said Douris.
