#BellLetsTalk is celebrating their 10 year anniversary this year, and our hosts have mixed feelings about the #hastag and slogan.

Do we need more than just talk? What about awareness evolving to action?! Hear our hosts talk about Bell Lets Talk.

It's the most wonderful time of the year... or is it? Lori loves to hate and hates to love Christmastime, and Adrianna just flat out hates it. It's a time of year where we have to learn to just "be" in order to get through and dare we say even enjoy the holidays?

Do you have any insight into how to make the stressful holidays enjoyable? Let us know in comments or on Twitter and Facebook!

Listen to our second annual Stories Like Crazy LIVE event in support of CMHA National / ACSM National Mental Health Awareness Week! Our hosts Lori and Adrianna will share the stage with some amazing mental health advocates and storytellers: first half is Elaine Gold and our very own Lori Lane Murphy.

**For resources page that Adrianna talks about at the end go to: https://www.adrianna-prosser.com/safetalk-trainer/ and scroll to the bottom of the page!

Kristie Jennings talks about being a mental health advocate, dealing with grief, and Ambassador of Hope with Ontario Shores.

Find out more about Ontario Shores Ambassador's of Hope: https://www.ontarioshores.ca/about_us/100years/ambassadors_of_hope/

This week we talk to Andrew about how a little bit of magic (the game) helped him through his truama of abuse.

Andrew Neary is a young restaurateur, learning about business and service through his dream business Drinks & Dragons. On a mission to create a healthier and better community, Andrew created the third-wave board game cafe to bring the best coffee possible to Durham and pair it with the bonding power of board games. This community building includes charity events like this March's Pour for the Shores Latte Art event which raised over $1000 for Ontario Shores Foundation for Mental Health, and the upcoming Speed Monopoly Tournament on June 21st for Ontario Shores and the Keller Williams Turkey Drive.

https://www.drinksanddragons.ca/

https://www.facebook.com/DrinksandDragons/

https://twitter.com/drinksndragons

https://www.instagram.com/drinksanddragonscafe/

We get an update on what Lori has been up to, and she introduces us to the Ontario Shores Centre's Ambassadors of Hope! Here's her profile on their website:

Lori Lane-Murphy

Lori is a full-time mental health advocate, student, wife and mom. Her advocacy includes writing, performing and podcasting all in an effort to change the hearts and minds of people around mental illness.

Mental illness was a part of her family growing up, but it certainly wasn’t the whole story. This reality prompted Lori to show people that while there are undeniable challenges living with or caring for someone mental illness, one should never be identified by illness alone. People have challenges. It’s part of the human experience.

Comedic storytelling keeps Lori busy in her “spare” time and she loves to share and teach others how to craft and tell their own mental health stories. People with mental illness are often dismissed or have their stories told for them. By accepting that they own their own voices and that they do have something to say, compelling and heartfelt stories unfold.

Advocacy also means working toward a more “mental health positive” workplace so that Lori’s teenaged son, who struggles with severe anxiety, OCD and ADHD will have a better experience in the work force than she ever did. It’s important to set the example now that mental health issues needn’t hold a person back from attaining their goals.

Lori is a dedicated volunteer at Ontario Shores who is eager and excited to open up about her lived experience with mental illness.

Find out more about Ambassadors of Hope here: https://www.ontarioshores.ca/about_us/100years/ambassadors_of_hope/

Elizabeth talks to us about her ADHD and how the challenges of her mental illness won't stop her from seeing the world.

Elizabeth Cuffe is the girl geek of 2geeksandaback.com. When forgetting to update her website, she is pushing her mental health boundaries by travelling the world with her husband Wayne. She loves talking freely about having ADHD and anxiety and how to travel long term as a digital nomad with it. You can follow her adventures on:

Instagram @runnerakaelizabeth

Twitter @2geekstravel

https://www.2geeksandabackpack.com/