Always Improve- Even CAMH

In our quest to speak out against the recent ads the Centre for Addictions and Mental Health (CAMH) has put out for their Defeat Denial campaign, L, M, and myself have received a lot support but have also encountered people who feel these ads are not a problem (which is fine).

All advertising is interpretive. Since we all exist in our own realities that are influenced by our experiences and beliefs we all interpret advertising differently. These ads are in no way excluded.

I want to make it clear that we are not  ”bashing” CAMH. Like all services, there are good and not so good things about CAMH and that is just a fact. (And people say I have black and white thinking….)

We want to offer our ideas on how to improve this campaign and as CAMH has shown they are interested in improving. Any organization that wants to last and be progressive needs to improve and grow! Suggesting improvements does not mean that CAMH is not an effective organization.

The best way to show support to an organization or to a person is to offer suggestions for improvements! I have been getting the feeling that some have believed the criticisms are an indication of being unsupportive. Even if you’ve had a positive experience with CAMH you should not see all negative comments to mean that person or group does not like CAMH. Most importantly, just because you like an organization doesn’t mean that they’re immune to making mistakes.

The one thing that has been really bothering me about sharing with others why we don’t like these ads are the “defenders”, the individuals who focus solely on what the ads mean to say. “Well the ad is just trying to say that some people need to go to the hospital and this ad could help people reach out.” I’m fine with that being the intention but good intentions shouldn’t be a get out of jail free card. I have a lot of good intentions that come out wrong and I should be called on them.

We are approaching CAMH with a list of things we LIKE and DISLIKE about the Defeat Denial campaign ads. We hope that by giving them this feedback they can modify this campaign or use the information towards future campaigns.

We’ll see how it goes. Regardless, the point is that we tried and we spoke out!

Owning My Words

An amazing friend of mine, Flossie McKnight, has created a series of videos that talk about bigotry, mental illness, Canadian Theatre, and surviving (please watch them, they are awesome and she is the most entertaining person I know). One video in particular inspired this post and it’s her video called “Own Your Words” (see video clip).

In this clip Flossie talks about how, as a victim in physical, emotional, and psychological bullying in her high school, found herself helping to perpetuating the bullying of another girl at her school.

Her message is that we have all played roles in creating someones own personal hell. Sometimes it’s as “harmless” as allowing a rumor to spread or as dangerous as physical, emotionally or psychologically tormenting someone everyday. We need to be able to acknowledge our roles.

It can’t and shouldn’t stop at acknowledgement. We need to learn and grow from the wrongs that we have done which is Flossie’s main message. She now uses her experiences to create videos such as the one above and engage in mental health and sexual assault activism which not only helps her but also helps others.

I want to admit something….I have done wrong also (big surprise).

I have never spread rumors or physically hurt someone but I have done my part to create stigma towards those with mental health issues.

In my own desperation to feel normal I would gladly point out the people there were “more fucked up” than I was and mock them.

“At least I don’t pull out my hair.”

“At least I’ve never had to stay at the hospital.”

“They’re weird for talking to themselves, I don’t do that.”

I began to call it “my world” and I didn’t want anyone to enter it unless I thought they should. This means that if I didn’t think you had a legitimate mental illness then I would become very angry and deny that there was anything wrong with you. I had to “protect” my world when it was really just my way of trying to cope with people who had mocked me being diagnosed with a mental illness or cope with those diagnosed friends receiving help and support that I hadn’t received.

As I began to grow up and understand more about myself became who I am today I realized that I had no right to say or think what I did. Part of this recognition came with admitting that people would look at me and say, “At least I don’t do that….” much like I had and knowing that I had no right to define and judge someones experiences.

So that brings me to now. When I see people “talking to themselves” or they’re doing something else that others might find strange I just know that, that’s their thing. It’s what they do and who are we to judge them for it? I do my best to educate people on mental health and how we perpetuate stigma and how we can stop it.

I am still guilty sometimes of doing, saying or thinking things I know I shouldn’t but I use those moments as an opportunity to critically think as to why I’m doing, saying or thinking this way. I always end up discovering something helpful that pushes me further along the path of growth.