Panel members Ron Mustafaa, Ayeesha Jabbar, and Alicia Raimundo. Photography by Emily Doyle.
The Schizophrenia Society of Ontario (SSO) is encouraging young people across the province to Sound Off (verb: to release one’s feelings or thoughts through personal expression) about their experiences with mental illness. This initiative was launched with an exuberant event on Wednesday at University of Toronto’s Hart House. With funding from the Ontario Trillium Foundation and guidance from the SSO Youth Advisory Council, Sound Off hopes to change the way our communities and healthcare systems respond to mental illness.
Our society continues to shy away from talking about mental illness even though so many of us are affected by it, directly or indirectly. One in five Ontarians will tackle a mental health problem in their lifetime. Even if you are not personally suffering from a mental illness, it is exceedingly likely that someone you know is, has, or will. 70% of these problems begin during childhood or adolescence, which means that a lot of young people are grappling with scary and life-altering feelings. Unfortunately, these young people might not be able to find a welcoming environment in which to discuss their feelings and seek help. Although the stigma against mental illness in our society can seem exaggerated, the statistics don’t lie. Only 50% of Canadians would feel comfortable telling friends or coworkers about a family member with a mental illness. Understandably so, as only 42% of Canadians say they would socialize with a friend struggling with a mental illness. 27% of Canadians even say they would be fearful around someone who has a mental illness.
Troy Sexton takes a question from an audience member. Photography by Emily Doyle.
By hearing directly from young people, Sound Off will gather information about what is and what isn’t working in efforts to provide support to those suffering from mental illness. With that information, attitudes and policies can be adapted to better care for those affected by mental health problems.
Wednesday’s event explored the complexity of mental illness through both dialogue and performance. The host, stomp performer and percussionist Troy Sexton, moderated a panel discussion featuring SSO Youth Advisory Council members Ayeesha Jabbar and Alicia Raimundo, as well as actor Ron Mustafaa and Toronto Youth Cabinet member Trevain Britton. The participants voiced several concerns during the discussion, most prominently the issue of communicating feelings of mental instability. Both Ron Mustafaa and Alicia Raimundo described the difficulties they experienced in trying to explain their mental health problems to family members. We can work to eliminate this discomfort in talking about mental health difficulties by increasing awareness, sharing experiences, and simply listening.
The people behind Sound Off aim to give this process a jump-start by gathering information from as many young people in Ontario as possible. Sound Off’s process begins with an online survey asking participants to share their experiences with mental illness. This part of the program has already produced some illuminating information indicating that there is much work to be done. So far, the data on their website shows that 47% of Ontario youth who responded to the survey say their schools are working to support their mental health. The media and community get even less favorable reviews.
Nerissa Martin sings “Read All About It.” Photography by Emily Doyle.
24% of the participants feel supported by the media, while 38% feel supported by their community. The SSO plans to use this information to advocate for new healthcare and social programming. Sound Off organizers hope that the combined efforts of these young people and community leaders will create discernible positive change in the near future.
The Sound Off process doesn’t end with data collection. In addition to providing information about their experiences, participants are encouraged to keep “Sounding Off” by creating and sharing an art project that allows them to express their own story and increase awareness of mental health issues. The launch showcased several performances to inspire this more creative part of the initiative. The event began with a brief stomp performance by the host. Sexton explained how performance is his way to “Sound Off,” allowing him to shut out all the judgmental voices and express his thoughts and feelings. Following the panel discussion, Nerissa Martin sang a moving rendition of Read All About It. Local spoken word artists Lishai Peel and Greg Frankson performed a poem together entitled Sound Off, calling on the audience to join them in their expression. The event concluded with a riveting dance choreographed by Ana Groppler and performed by students from Rosedale Heights School of the Arts. This excerpt from a larger piece beautifully communicated the struggle of mental illness.
RHSA Dance Company performs an excerpt from “Love Across the Universe.” Photography by Emily Doyle.
We here at Fresh Print eagerly look forward to what will come out of this exciting new initiative. The many people struggling to live their lives with the burden of mental illness deserve our support, attention, and consideration. You can do your part to change the way our society views and approaches the issue of mental health. Visit www.soundoffca.ca to create your own Sound Off. You can also follow Sound Off on Facebook and Twitter to stay up to date on news and upcoming events.
Unless otherwise noted, all statistics in this article come from the Centre for Mental Health and Addiction. Their website is a great resource for those looking for more information about mental illness and the various services out there. If you are or think you may be struggling with a mental health issue, please seek out the resources and support that can help you.
