SASKATOON – One in five Canadians will suffer from a mental illness at some point in their lives, according to the Canadian Mental Health Association. On Monday, a group of organizations in Saskatoon launched a campaign to end the stigma around mental illness and addictions.
The campaign, called “break the barrier,” encourages people to break their silence and share their stories.
“I know, having been there, it’s hard,” said Allan Zabraczki. “I’m not going to minimize that.”
“What’s going to make it harder for you if you have a mental illness is to being afraid to reach out.”
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Organizers say the campaign is not only about fighting the stigma behind mental illness and addiction, but also about embracing recovery as well.
Materi said more media exposure will help encourage people to share their own stories.
“We know that stigma is often a road barrier to recovery,” Materi said.
The team has created a website so people can ask for help anonymously. Saskatchewan addictions awareness week takes place Nov. 16-20.
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