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A-MAJOR
C/O Mark Henick
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What Is The A-Major Mental Health Society? We are a non-profit group dedicated to bringing awareness to depression and related illnesses. After a long battle with mental illness Mark Henick, who was only 16 at the time, started the informal group in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. In the seemingly short time since then the idea has grown exponentially. Although we are still learning through experience, we gain more and more valuable first hand experience with the mental health system, administrative duties and community activism everyday. The idea is now on the way to becoming a registered charity. There will soon be an established Board of Directors in two provinces, with sights on a third in the future. We hope to eventually reach all of Canada with our message of understanding and acceptance. In case you do not fully understand the name, “A-Major” expresses both our musical connection as well as our attempt to bring awareness to “a major” social issue. Why Music? We firmly believe in the Arts, music in particular, as both a form of expression and a vessel to reaching the general public. As a medium that touches everyone in some way, this connection is very suiting. Mental illness as well touches everyone either directly or vicariously. It is crucial that people are able to express themselves in some manner. Doing this is key to our mental development and well being. Music offers the opportunity to communicate our feelings in a proactive manner that not only helps ourselves but can even benefit others. For such a simple name, with such an apparently obvious meaning, there is a whole other story. Like the people we aim to help, we are selves are quite the enigma. Why Mental Health? "It's incredible to think, as you look around that wedding reception or board meeting or high-school reunion, that one in five of the people there has or will have a mental illness at some point in their lives. Mood disorders, schizophrenia, eating disorders, substance abuse problems, anxiety, bipolar depression—any of these and other mental illnesses can affect people of all ages, ethnic backgrounds, and income levels" (Canadian Health Network). For the optimistic Canadian, you will be shocked to know how many people still regard those suffering from a mental illness as being of no productive use to society. The sad truth of the matter is that discrimination against people suffering from mental illness is often more detrimental than the illness itself. According to the Canadian Mental Health Association almost half of sufferers never get treatment. For some people, the stigma is so great that they cannot even tell family and friends what they are going through. All too often people throw around words such as “crazy” or “psycho” without ever really thinking about who they may be hurting. According to statistics it is a safe bet that they could be hurting someone close to them. And yet, sometimes even without realizing, people continue to be insensitive. We will be the first to say that it will be far from easy to change this perception. "When someone appears to be different we attach a stigma to them, we do not do it to be cruel, we simply do not understand their differences. Stigma is a reality for people with a mental illness, and their greatest barrier to a complete and satisfying life" (CMHA-TB). How Can We Make A Difference? A little education and public awareness on the topic will go a long way. To start, we will be offering lecturers/motivational speakers free of charge to any school or community group in our region. We will be active in our communities and neighborhoods and we will host a number of public awareness and support programs. "Last year there were over 100 reported suicides in New Brunswick. Experts conclude that the average number of those who have attempted is 100 times that amount- 10,000 attempts. Each of those people have friends, family and acquaintances that are affected. We can all make a difference" (CHIMO Helpline). That is well over ten thousand reasons in New Brunswick alone why there is a need for education. "Talking about suicide with a person in crisis does not incite or push the person to act on it. Rather, it is accepting the person as he or she is, it is breaking his or her isolation, it is defusing the situation and it is offering this person the opportunity to express his or her tensions and problems" (CHIMO Helpline). Together we will bring awareness to a problem that affects everyone, young and old. Together we will fight the stigma associated with depression and other related illnesses. Together we will overcome a major dilemma. Together we can break the silence. |
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