Life Unscripted - Stories of Mental Health and Addiction

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The documentary Insanity – The mental health crisis by Canadian documentary film maker Wendy Hill-Tout tells the story of her brother Bruce – who was schizophrenic – and disappeared 25 years ago. Hill-Tout weaves her poignant family story with the mental health crisis we’re facing today. 

Steve Borisenko, whose son Jacob died of an  overdose, talks about the documentary and the website savemylife.ca.

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The Willow Arts Community is an arts + peer support organization dedicated to reducing barriers and providing opportunities for adult artists and creatives with lived and living experience of mental illness/substance use disorder in Niagara.

The Willow is a non-profit offering free classes in many artistic mediums, including painting, writing and music. It uses the arts as an agent of social change by connecting and engaging with the public through exhibitions, publications, and performances to lessen the effects of stigma and social isolation.

Shauna McLeod is founder and executive director of the Willow.

You’ll find more information on their website: thewillowcommunity.com

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The Valhalla Project Niagara is a free non-profit charity for veterans and first responders with post traumatic stress disorder -PTSD.  Valhalla’s flagship is it’s Learn to Live program which is a 5 day residential respite program based on peer support. Co-founder Graham Bettes says L2L is not a replacement for therapy but is a chance for people to share their experiences and learn some life skills.

For more information: https://www.valhallaprojectniagara.org/

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Kids can express anger in many ways – sometimes it’s a temper tantrum or getting angry at home or at school. A lot of this can be managed by the family, others may need some therapy, but some children need more intentsive anger management skills.  Pathstone Mental Health has a live-in program at its Rotary House that helps kids find ways to deal with their anger. Christine Harvey heads up the program and talks about the problems kids face.

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Achieving real equity, diversity and inclusion in business is more than policies. But how do businesses assess and take action on EDI?

Dr. Tapo Chimbganda helps companies and organizations across North Amerca identify and implement EDI actions and policies.  While racism and gender are often the focus,  she says people with physical disabilities can be overlooked because of the need to create a workplace that is accessible. 

Where to start? Do a search for "human rights code in businesses in Canada". Most of the information needed is included in the federal and provincial human rights codes. 

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Pride month 2023 is in full swing .  Ten years ago there were about a dozen people gathering to Montebello Park in St. Catharines to celebrate. This weekend thousands were in the park. Pride flags are flying at all municipalties around Niagara, schools and most businesses are recognizing the 2SLGBTQ+ community.  Pride Niagara Chair Enzo De Ditivitiis talks with Janice Arnoldi on Life Unscripted about what it was like as a kid growing up gay, where we are today and what he hopes for the future for all 2SLGBTQ+ people.

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Birchway Niagara (formerly Women's Place) has amalgamated its shelters into one to provide more and better services in South Niagara for women and childeren experiencing domestic abuse. Executive Director Jennifer Gauthier says shelter services are growing as gender violence continues to increase. Her dream is to come to work one day and find she doesn't have a job because gender abuse doesn't exist.  For now the Birchway shelter is a safe haven.

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Does society divide people who are homeless into good and bad? Most people would say no, but sub-consciously many of us see a dividing line. The "good" homeless are people who lost their home and are new to living without a roof - maybe they lost their job and can't afford rent. Then there's the "bad" - the people who are living rough because of mental illness, addiction struggles or both. 

Karen Orlandi is studying for a doctorate in social justice, specifically the cost of homelessness. She is minister at Silver Spire Church in downtown St. Catharines and does a lot of outreach in the city's core.

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The Blue Guardian app uses AI to help kids identify how they are feeling. Founder Emmanuel Akindelay had some bad experiences with mental health as a child, including teachers who just brushed him off rather than offering help.  But while AI like ChatGPT uses publicly available intelligence and knowledge to make information hyper available to anyone, Blue Guardian only tracks emotional intelligence based solely on the individual using the app. 

You can dowload Blue Guardian for free from your app store.

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The RAFT started in 1992 as a homeless shelter for young people.  In the last 30 years it has grown into so much more then a shelter. Many of the kids have left school and are estranged from their families. The RAFT teaches them life skills, helps them find housing and work and importantly to rebuild a new relationship with their families. Executive Director Mike Lethby talks about The RAFT.

To learn more go to theraft.ca