Mental health is on everyone’s mind these days with all of the of stresses we have to endure on a day-to-day basis; it can be an overwhelming issue. In Canada, one in every five Canadians experiences a mental illness and for Canadians forty years of age or older, one in every two have had or currently have a mental illness.
Canadians continue to work together to advocate for those afflicted with mental health complications, and it is important that we celebrate those individuals and the actions they have taken regarding mental health. An organization that celebrates these individuals is the Canadian Alliance on Mental Illness and Mental Health (CAMIMH).
Every year, CAMIMH awards seven Canadians who have aided in advancing the mental health agenda across the country. These people will be recognized on October 5, 2022, at the annual Champions of Mental Health Awards Gala, though the winners have already been announced.
There were seven categories of distinction and below are the categories and the winners of each:
- The Sharon Johnston Champion of Mental Health Award for Youth – Ervis Musa
- Workplace Mental Health – Steve Tizzard
- Community Organization – SAY OutLoud!
- Community Individual – Waabishkigaabo
- Parliamentarian – Mike Lake
- Innovation – Myra Piat
- Social Media – Moose Jaw’s own Carla O’Reilly.
Carla O’Reilly has been an advocate of mental health for fourteen years, and she was recently nominated to win the Social Media Category by one of her friends. O’Reilly’s journey started in 2008 when O’Reilly co-authored a book alongside Elita Paterson and Tania Bird, titled The Smiling Mask-Truths about Postpartum Depression and Parenthood. This book was written about each author’s own struggles with Postpartum Depression (PPD) and Postpartum Psychosis, which O’Reilly specifically dealt with in silence for a few years. Since then, this book has been adapted into a documentary titled The Smiling Mask and is used as a teaching tool for many mental health activists and universities.
Another book written by O’Reilly is a book titled T.U.R.N. O.N. T.H.E. S.W.I.T.C.H! Find a Passion and Obsess about it! Which is an anagram for the fifteen wellness tools that can HELP transform your life. This book was written after O’Reilly was asked to speak at a health and safety conference in Alberta for a power company; she wanted to cater to her audience so she made a book to do with turning on a light bulb. In this book, she talks about setting goals, what smart goals are, what it means to have a vision for your life, and the importance of surrounding yourself with people that will celebrate your successes. O’Reilly has also started a podcast titled Turn on the Switch, where she explores how you can use the fifteen wellness tools in real life.
Additionally, O’Reilly has also been to many seminars and speaking conferences all over Canada. She started speaking locally in Moose Jaw, eventually getting hired to speak at her first medical conference where she received a standing ovation. After that medical conference, the seminars started multiplying, as well as being invited to more conferences after every time she spoke.
The Champions of Mental Health Awards Gala will take place at the National Art Centre in Ottawa, and that is where O’Reilly will receive her award.
"It is very much an honor to be recognized nationally, but the biggest thing, I think, is that I can look back and I can say that I've saved lives. I have met women all across the world and I have touched a lot of lives; I have touched a lot of families, and there are also husbands that I have helped. So, that to me is the most important thing," says O’Reilly.
Looking toward the future, O’Reilly hopes to spread her message globally. The first place she wants to spread her message is in the United States. Additionally, due to O’Reilly’s belief that knowledge equals power, she hopes to be able to have her book in the hands of High school students. She believes the more tools and skills that our kids and teens have to cope with their mental health, the better equipped they will be if a mental health complication arise. O’Reilly hopes to supply them with those tools and skills.
"I want to say to the community of Moose Jaw, thank you for all your support. When we initially came out with our book we were fully supported, and that is so important when you are coming out with such vulnerable topics," said O’Reilly.
To learn more about this award you can visit the CAMIMH website at https://www.camimh.ca/championsofmentalhealth.
To learn more about Carla O’Reilly and her initiatives you can visit her website at https://thesmilingmask.ca/.
Source for Canadian mental health numbers available here.
