the green pickle

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“I often thought about if my teachers and fellow students thought I was just a slacker or that I wasn’t trying on purpose.” P2 / Myths & Facts Challenging common myths associated with mental health and setting the record straight. P4 / Stigma Helping a friend who is struggling with mental health challenges and an experience with stigma. P5 / Contest MTYC announces the winner of the “What is mental health?” contest! P6/ Resources Exploring options and services for youth seeking mental health support. Green Pickle The My Journey with Depression... It was 2009. I had just started high school and thought I was starting a new chapter of my life: independence, growing older, and spending time with my friends. I did start a new chapter, but it was one filled with depression. When my depression "started" I had no idea it was there. It started off with a few sad days. I thought it was high school stress and just overall hormones at that age. It slowly progressed to not wanting to go to school... then not wanting to even leave the safety of my bedroom. It got to the point that I didn't want to be happy anymore, I just wanted to swim in my sadness. I would tell people I was sick, and often times the depression had worn me down to the point of sickness, but I was really just at home, not wanting to leave. Some days I would prepare myself to go to school, but then I would think about having to explain why I was away for so long, and an anxiety attack would hit. I often thought about if my teachers and fellow students thought I was just a "slacker" or that I wasn't trying on purpose. My mom supported me and tried A mental health newsletter for youth CONT. ON PAGE TWO>>

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Page 1: The Green Pickle

“I often thought about if my teachers and fellow students thought I was just a slacker or that I wasn’t

trying on purpose.”

P2 / Myths & Facts

Challenging common

myths associated with

mental health and

setting the record

straight.

P4 / Stigma

Helping a friend who is

struggling with mental

health challenges and an

experience with stigma.

P5 / Contest

MTYC announces the

winner of the “What is

mental health?” contest!

P6/ Resources

Exploring options and

services for youth

seeking mental health

support.

Green Pickle The

My Journey with Depression... It was 2009. I had just started high school and

thought I was starting a new chapter of my life:

independence, growing older, and spending

time with my friends. I did start a new chapter,

but it was one filled with depression.

When my depression "started" I had

no idea it was there. It started off with

a few sad days. I thought it was high

school stress and just overall

hormones at that age. It slowly

progressed to not wanting to go to

school... then not wanting to even

leave the safety of my bedroom. It got

to the point that I didn't want to be

happy anymore, I just wanted to swim

in my sadness. I would tell people I

was sick, and often times the

depression had worn me down to the

point of sickness, but I was really just

at home, not wanting to leave.

Some days I would prepare myself to

go to school, but then I would think

about having to explain why I was

away for so long, and an anxiety

attack would hit. I often thought about

if my teachers and fellow students

thought I was just a "slacker" or that I

wasn't trying on purpose.

My mom supported me and tried

A mental health newsletter for youth

CONT. ON PAGE TWO>>

Page 2: The Green Pickle

My Journey with

Depression >> CONT. FROM PAGE ONE

talking to me about it. I remember

yelling at her once because I didn't

want to talk to anyone and that she

wouldn't understand. Depression

literally takes over your life. I often

felt like I was a failure when I was

going through depression: I blamed

myself that it was happening. I didn't

have the strength to get past it - that

made me feel weak. Weakness made

me feel like I couldn't achieve

anything - that made me feel not

good enough. Not good enough made

me feel not worth it.

Finally, I reached a stage where I just

wanted to be happy. I can't describe it

as "one day I woke up..." but one day

I decided that I did not want to live

like that anymore. I was privileged

enough to be part of an amazing

dramatic arts program that focused a

lot on journaling and self-reflection.

That's how my journey to recovery

started: self-reflection. I got to know

MYTHS FACTS

People with mental illness lack intelligence.

Intelligence has nothing to do with mental illnesses. Many people with mental disorders are brilliant, creative, and productive people.

Young people just go through ups and downs as part of puberty- it’s nothing.

Parents naturally want their children to do well, so some may brush off any difficulties as being mere growing pains. However, 1 in 10 young people will experience a mental health

People experiencing mental health problems tend to be violent or dangerous.

This is not true; in fact people who are experiencing mental health problems are statistically more likely to be a victim of violence.

It’s easy for young people to talk about their feelings.

Nearly 3 in 4 young people fear the reactions of their friends when they talk about their mental health

“Spending all that time alone with your thoughts gives you a lot of insight of who you are as a person.”

the future and building a better me. I

still self-reflect. I reflect every single

day. I take a look at myself to see

what I can improve, but now it's not

because I don't feel good enough, it's

because I want to keep strong. My

journey of depression is something

that will always be a part of me. It's a

part of me that makes me the person

I am today and I am proud it.

myself. Hey, spending all that time

alone with your thoughts gives you a

lot of insight of who you are as a

person.

Day by day I started feeling better. I

started talking to new friends. I

started feeling a little bit of

happiness again. I knew I couldn't

look back at where I came from

because that progress would be

shattered. I started to look toward to

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Page 3: The Green Pickle

Helping out a friend... It can be scary when someone you love is sick. It’s hard to see

someone you love in pain and it’s confusing when someone you

know well is not acting like themselves. You may not be able to see

the illness, but it doesn’t mean that you’re powerless to help.

Be there by spending time with or hanging out with your

friend.

Give them time to just talk.

Listen without judging.

Ask them what they can do for themselves to relieve the

sadness or pain (e.g. physical activity, arts & crafts, etc.).

Find out what works for them and do it with them.

Help them find resources or professional support. Help

them make the call.

Go with them to an appointment.

Find a way to share some humour. Watch a funny movie

together. Introduce them to your favourite funny show.

Laughing 'til you cry is a great stress reliever!

Get informed: go online, take out books, join a support

group, attend community info sessions, talk to others.

For more tips like this, visit www.mindyourmind.ca

Did you know?

One in five people will

experience a mental health

problem in a given year.

As few as one in four youth

who experience a mental

health problem seek

appropriate treatment.

Up to 70% of young adults

living with mental health

issues report that symptoms

started in adolescence.

Half of all mental health

problems in adulthood begin

by age 14.

Mental health problems are

caused by a complex interplay

of genetic, biological,

personality and environmental

factors.

Only one out of five children

who need mental health

services will receive them.

Once depression is

recognized, help can make a

difference for 80% of the

people who are affected.

Stigma attached to mental

health problems is a

significant barrier to

individuals seeking help.

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Page 4: The Green Pickle

Four years is how long I hid

my anxiety and depression from the

world. Four years of feeling like my

chest was going to cave in, not wanting

to get out of bed, second-guessing

everything I said or did… Four years of

feeling like I had no voice, and no

control. I spent years thinking I was

weird, different, and alone. At times I

felt like I had things under control so I

would attempt to go out with my

friends, or get involved in something,

and like an ocean wave, anxiety or

depression would take over and

suddenly I wanted to crawl back into

my bed. It felt like there was rarely ever

a happy medium. I either felt nothing

and did nothing, or I felt everything and

still wanted to do nothing.

Why did I wait so long to talk

about my mental health?

As the years went by, and mental

health awareness became more

popular… so did the stigma. I was

afraid of the labels that came along

with anxiety and depression diagnoses,

so I was afraid to speak up. I didn’t

realise that if I spoke up I wouldn’t just

be helping myself, but I could also be

helping someone else... Someone else

who was afraid to speak up, someone

else who felt they were alone. After

four years of feeling ashamed of

something I couldn’t control, I finally

spoke up.

There’s nothing to be ashamed

of.

The more I spoke up, the more I

started to realise how common mental

Facing the

illnesses really were. Chances are,

someone you know suffers from a

mental illness. You are not alone. If

you, or someone you know suffers from

a mental illness, speak up. Talk to your

friends and family, use your voice. If

you know someone suffering from a

mental illness, something as simple as

asking “how are you” could brighten his

or her day. Every small bit helps.

Mental illness can affect anyone at any

time in their lives for many different

reasons, some for no reason at all. You

should never feel like you need to

suffer in silence, or feel like you are

alone. You have a voice, and you have

the power to end the stigma.

-Conner Garrett

Help Challenge Mental

Health Stigma

1. Educate yourself about mental

illness. Having the facts can help

you challenge the misinformation

that leads to stigma.

2. Challenge media stereotypes.

3. Be aware of words. Don't reduce

people to a diagnosis.

4. Support those with mental health

issues.

5. Share your story. If you or someone

in your family has had a mental

illness, speak up about it. Your

example could help someone else.

For more information, please visit

www.time-to-change.org

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Page 5: The Green Pickle

I NEED HELP. What are my options? COUNSELLING: One on one support with a counsellor over

an extended period of time.

WALK-IN CLINICS: Walk-in counselling session (typically 1hour) and possible referral.

SUPPORT GROUPS: Facilitated group support for individuals with shared experiences. Groups are conducted n person or on an online forum.

PEER SUPPORT: Peer support offers a unique platform where individuals with shared lived experiences provide support to one another.

SUPPORT LINE: Free, confidential, emotional support provided by volunteers or trained counsellors.

What is Mental Health?

Watch the film: www.vimeo.com/spencerjulien/scatteredshowers

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Page 6: The Green Pickle

Everyone is different when it comes to how, when and in what way they would like to

receive help. It is important to keep an open mind and choose the option that you feel best

suits you!

If you or someone you love is in a crisis situation and requires urgent help, please call 911 or go to your nearest hospital.

COUNSELLING

DELISLE YOUTH SERVICES

40 Orchard View Blvd.

T: 416-482-0081

E: [email protected]

W: www.delisleyouth.org

Ages 13-21 years

CENTRAL TORONTO YOUTH SERVIES

65 Wellesley St East

T: 416-924-2100

E: [email protected]

W: www.ctys.org

Ages 12-18years

YOUTHLINK 747 Warden Ave

T: 416-973-1773

E: [email protected]

W: www.youthlink.ca

Ages 12-21years

Hours: Wednesdays 12-8pm

OOLAGEN

65 Wellesley St. East,

T: 416-395-0660

E: [email protected]

W: www.oolagen.org

Ages 18 and under

Hours: Mon & Thurs 2-6pm, Tues 10am-2pm,

Wed 12-8pm, Fri 9am-2pm

SUPPORT GROUPS

MDAO 36 Eglinton Avenue West

T: 416-486-8046

E: [email protected]

W: www.mooddisorders.ca

SHEENAS PLACE 87 Spadina Road

T: 416-927-8900

E: [email protected]

W: www.sheenasplace.org

DC ONTX W: www.torontodistressce

ntre.com/ontx

Hours: 2pm-2am

*ONLINE*

YOUNG ONES (PEER) T: 416 694-3754

W: www.youngones.ca

E: [email protected]

*ONLINE*

SUPPORT LINES 24/7

DISTRESS CENTRE T: 416-408-4357

GOOD TO TALK T: 1-866-925-5454

CMHA T: 1-866-531-2600

PLEASE NOTE!

Where can I get help?

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Page 7: The Green Pickle

How much do you know about mental health?

Across: 1. Failure to get treatment for mental illness can

hurt these between people

2. Conscious refusal to take something seriously

3. The way you sense or view something

4. Feeling good about oneself

5. #Campaign by a media company in Canada to

raise awareness about mental health

6. Acting in accordance to one’s values; adhering to

moral and ethical principles

Down:

1. Ability to recover; bounce back; buoyancy

2. Favorable impression of oneself; self-respect

3. Distress or uneasiness of the mind

4. Irrational or unreasonable fear of something

5. Affect disorder involving long-lasting, intense

sadness

6. Negative attitudes about people with mental

health problems

7. A strategy known to increase endorphins and

improve mood

8. Stand with; uphold; assist or provide for

Across: 1. Relationships, 2. Denial, 3. Perception, 4. Confident, 5. Bellletstalk, 6. Integrity. Down: 1. Resilience, 2. Self-esteem, 3. Anxiety, 4. Phobia, 5. Depression, 6. Stigma, 7. Exercise, 8. Support.

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Page 8: The Green Pickle

ABOUT US

The Midtown Toronto Youth Council (MTYC) is an initiative of

People & Organizations in North Toronto (POINT). It is the

mission of the MTYC to motivate young people to take a

proactive role in their community. Through identifying priority

areas for improvement, the unmet needs of youth and the gaps in

services serving youth, MTYC will ensure that the voice of young

people in Midtown Toronto is heard. In achieving this, council

members will develop stronger bonds with each other, service

agencies and other stakeholders of the community. MTYC will

further unite the community of North Toronto by strengthening

connections to the vast potential of its youth. For more

information about MTYC, please email [email protected].

200 Eglinton Ave. West

Toronto, ON, M4R1A7

P: 416-487-2390

E: [email protected]

W: www.pointinc.org

POINT.NorthToronto

POINT_Toronto